ea eT ee 
' 
(66 
-. Subftances. 
very dry. 
‘Natural Hiftory 
to the Circumference, among the comprefled longitudinal — 
Tubes and Veflels of thefe Keratephyta; fo that the Vifci- 
dity, derived from the Animals, {cems to be the chief Caufe 
of thefe Tubes uniting fo clofely together; for in fome par- 
ticular Specimens from the hotteftClimate, they form a Body 
much harder than Wood, efpecially after they are become © 
If we examine the ftony red Coral of the Mediterranean 
Sea, we fhall find a great Affinity between it and the Kera- 
tophyta, in Texture, and chemical Productions; only the 
Ramifications are very fhort, and the Tubes turn to Stone 
inftead of Horn. But if we confider the Courfe of the Tubes 
in each, the Manner of their furrounding the Stem, aug- 
menting its Circumference and that of the Branches, its 
rough, friable, bark-like Surface, together with the ftarry 
Openings of the Cells, we muft think they are not far re- 
moved from-each other, in the great Scale of Nature. 
We frequently meet with Specimens among the reticu- 
lated Keratophyta, where the Animals, in their Progrefs up 
the Stems and Branches, pafs with their Tubes over, and in- 
clofe, {mall Shells, and other extraneous Bodies. 
‘Something of the fame kind is found in the Progrefs of the 
Animals, that form the red Coral, the Tubes of thefe are 
often found furrounding, and fpread upon a great Variety of 
As many of the Sea-plants, I mean thofe that are undoubt- 
edly of a vegetable Nature, difcover fome kind of Seed-veffels, 
we fhould naturally expeét they would be manifeft enough on 
the largeft kind of this Tribe of Sea-produétions; for we have _ 
been informed, from very good Authority, that, upon the - 
Coaft of WVorway, fome of thefe Species have been feen to _ 
extend 
