94 
Natural Hiftory 
Branches of fome marine Shrub petrified. 
different Direétions, fo as to look like Stumps, or fhort 
In fome Specimens, which I have before me, many of the 
Tubuli are to be feen creeping, as it were, together over — 
Pieces of White Coral, and varying their DireGions, accord- 
ing to the Oppofition they meet with in their Progrefs. _ 
But thefe we find comprefled and fhrunk ; and, no doubt 
it is the fame on the main Branches. The Ziduli, being 
compofed of cretaceous Matter, mixt with a vifcid animal 
Subftance, fhrink in and become folid, as their Inhabitants. 
defert them that is, thefe different component Particles,. 
ftrongly attracting each other, become hard like Cement 
made of animal Serusz and Terras. | 
When the Specimens are recent, we find them covered. 
over with ared mealy Subftance, which looks like a Bark to’ 
the Coral; but, upon examining it narrowly, we find many 
_ Star-like Cavities on this Surface (See Fig. a, p. 35). and, 
upon raifing up the mealy Subftance, we find thefe Stars 
have a Communication with the Tubes underneath. If 
we view the Points of the Branches, we may fee evident 
Marks of the Ends of ‘Tubes, as at Fig. c, Plate XXXV. 
And further, if we examine the laft inclofing Series of Tz- 
bili, that have rofe up, and encompaffed the Coral, we thall 
find them of a yellowith Colour, and not folid like thofe in. 
the inner Part. ‘Thefe the Coral-Fifhers find full of a milky 
Juice, which is no more than the tender Bodies of the Ani- 
mals. | ae . 
The Star-like Cavities, no doubt, receive their Figure 
_ from the Claws of certain Polypes, which, we may naturally 
_ conclude, are the Builders, as. well as the Inhabitants, of 
this beautiful Fabricl: 
The 
