FLORIDA REEFS. 9 
It had been stated that the reefs consisted solely of living corals ; and, 
hideed, this report is true of the outer reef, which is called by all the inhabi- 
tants of Florida " the reef ixir excellence, and is unfounded only with regard 
to those few islands which rise above the sui'face of the sea at Sand Key 
and the Sambos. Others, who had noticed only the larger accumulations 
of coral fragments which occur on the shores of some of the islands forming 
part of the Florida Reef, had reported the islands to be formed of coral 
rocks ; Avhile some who had perhaps observed the extensive excava- 
tions made around Key West have told us only of the existence of 
oolitic and compact rocks, almost destitute of corals or other remains 
of animal life ; and from still other localities comes the opinion, that the 
rocks consist of nothing but more or less disintegrated shells, cemented 
together. 
Animal Life. 
This fulness and variety of animal life is particularly obvious within the 
boundaries of coral fields, the natural limits assigned to the growth of these 
animals being those in which animals of other classes range in greater 
profusion, and the coral reefs themselves also affording very favorable 
circumstances for the display of numerous living forms. Hence the extraor- 
dinary assemblage of all classes of animals upon the reef, where, besides 
those particular kinds of corals which contribute largely to its formation, 
we find upon it, or on the foundation from which it rises, a great variety 
of other corals, which, though too insignificant in size to take a conspicuous 
part in building up these extensive accumulations of organic lime-rock, 
add none the less their small share in the work, contributing especially 
to fill up the vacant spaces left by the more rapid and durable growth 
of the larger kinds. They are to the giants of the reef what the more 
slender plants are to the lords of the forest, adding the elegance and 
delicacy of slighter forms to the strength, power, and durability of their 
loftier companions. 
But besides the stony corals, we find in the reef a great variety of soft 
polyps, either attached to the surface of dead corals, dead shells, or of the 
naked rock, or boring into the coral sand and mud. 
A variety of Medusa nurses arise everywhere, either as delicately branch- 
ing tufts or as permanently attached Meduste from the same foundation. 
Their free progeny may be seen floating quietly in myriads in the waters 
above. 
