6 
Natural, Hiftory of 
TOURA Paavo, 
Of the Keratophyta. 
~ ‘EXT in Order to the Corallines, may be ranked the 
Frutices coralloides, or Sea-fhrubs ; now more gene- 
rally known among Naturalifts by the different Appellations, 
of Lithophyta, Lithoxyla, or Keratophyta; Epithets intended to 
convey an Idea of their Compofition, which, at firft View, 
feems to confift partly of a woody or horny, partly of a 
ftony or calcareous, Subftance, varioufly difpofed with refpect 
‘to each other. 
The general Form of thefe Bodies approaches to that of 
Shrubs, having a Root-like Bafe, by which they adhere to 
fome folid Support in the Ocean; and a Stem or Trunk, ° 
and Branches differently difpofed ; fome rifing up in one or 
more diftin&t Twigs, and thefe fubdivided into {maller and 
feparate Ramifications ; while others have their {maller 
Branches conne¢ted in fuch a manner, as to form a curious 
Net-hke Structure: From this Diverfity of Figure, and ex- 
ternal Appearance, they commonly borrow the Names, by 
which they are known in the Cabinets of the Curious, as Sea-__ 
Fans, Feathers, and the like. 
But as it is not my Defign to write an exprefS Treatife on 
this Subject, I fhall only obferve, That moft of thefe Kerato- 
_ phyta when perfeé, if their Structure is carefully examined, . 
exhibit the following Appearances : | 
_. Firfl, A woody kind of Bafe or Root, which either ftill 
adheres, or fhews that it has adhered, to fome folid Body, as 
Rocks, Corals, large Shells, or the like. 
2 View 
