. Ocean wonders: a companion for the seaside. Clttstee of Coeal-Polyps {Asteroides calycularis,Milne-Edwards), in various stages of expansion. Dead Coeal {Asteroides caly-cularis, Milne-Edwards).. Meandeina ceeebeifoemis. branched coral growths which, though so slender of form,are really very strong. The facility with which polyps repair an injury, a fract-ure, or disturbance of any kind, is common to many of the LIVING CORALS. 31 lower marine organisms. A blow or sudden shock given toa mass of coral wonld probably cause the whole communityto withdraw into their cells for a short time, perhaps
. Ocean wonders: a companion for the seaside. Clttstee of Coeal-Polyps {Asteroides calycularis,Milne-Edwards), in various stages of expansion. Dead Coeal {Asteroides caly-cularis, Milne-Edwards).. Meandeina ceeebeifoemis. branched coral growths which, though so slender of form,are really very strong. The facility with which polyps repair an injury, a fract-ure, or disturbance of any kind, is common to many of the LIVING CORALS. 31 lower marine organisms. A blow or sudden shock given toa mass of coral wonld probably cause the whole communityto withdraw into their cells for a short time, perhaps an houror more. Should even a portion be broken off, the inhabi-tants of the remaining mass would not long remain in re-treat ; but very soon we should see them, with their uppersurface exposed, and their tentacles all expanded, commenc-ing the process of restoration without loss of time. Theseparated portion would either adhere in some crook orcranny of the mass, and reunite with its old associates, or, iftoo far removed for contact, would become fixed on somerock or other firm substance, and continue to grow regardlessof the accident, perhaps becoming the nucleus of a mass aslarge as it
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectmarineanimals, bookye
