Living Lights tJiat Never Die 



285 



The foregoing facts in this chapter convey some Idea 

 of that stupendous abundance of animal Hfe contained 

 In the sea, whose beauties and even whose very existence 

 are barely known to the world at large. But my men- 

 tioning the coral reefs prompts me here to add some- 

 thing In regard to another type of small creature, which, 

 notwithstanding the world-wide acquaintance with Its 



SHELLS OF RADIOLARIANS. (GREATLY ENLARGED.) 



skeleton, seems little known as it Is in life. All corals, 

 by the way, are not confined to the warm waters of the 

 tropics. Some colonial forms are found on our western 

 coast, and certain kinds grow In the Atlantic as far 

 north as Long Island Sound, where the water Is often 

 icy cold. Solitary species, like Fungia, flourish In the 

 cold water of very great depths. 



The reef-buildlncr corals are of a different character. 

 They are rarely found below a depth of about one hun- 



