114 THE HONEYCOMB COEAL. 



Tliese are all the species* in wliicli I have noticed 

 the phenomenon of separate eye-movement, but I 

 suspect it will be found to prevail extensively among 

 fishes. It is a subject worthy of investigation by 

 the comparative anatomist. The effect to the be- 

 holder, if he is in a position to see both the eyes 

 of the animal at a glance, is highly singular and 

 interesting. 



THE HONEYCOMB CORAL. 



A person who has never seen it before cannot but 

 be struck with the appearance of a large leafy Coral 

 {Escliara foliacea), which grows in the form of broad 

 but thin plates, twisted and involved in irregular folds, 

 and sending off other plates at right angles, so as to 

 constitute a sort of honeycombed structm-e, rising to 

 the height of five or six inches, and covering a space 

 even much greater than its height. Its colour when 

 recent is a fine light red or brownish orange, and its 

 aspect is so noble that one is tempted to think it 

 rather a production of the tropical seas than a native 

 of our northern clime. It is always a welcome guest, 

 not only for its intrinsic merits, — yet it is a charming 

 object in the Aquarium, — but also because of the 

 variety of animals which make their abode in its 

 ample winding chambers. The Prickly Scallop [Pec- 

 te7i variiis) is frequently found in it ; it is usually 

 crowded with the little Masked Broad-claws {Porcel- 

 lana longicomis)^ which play at bo-peep in the gal- 

 leries ; the deep-water variety of Actinia clavata, and 



* I have since observed it in the Gunnel {Murcenoides guttata). 

 {Second Edition.) 



