PREFACE 



Vll 



assistance. The last chapter on the history of the trade in 

 coral could not have been written without the help of several 

 of my classical friends. I am also indebted to Sir Thomas 

 Arnold, Professor Pelliot, and Professor Parker for refer- 

 ences to coral in Arabic and Chinese literature. 



Nearly all the illustrations are new, and have been 

 prepared by the Lyth Engraving Company from photographs 

 of specimens in the Manchester Museum or from drawings 

 by Miss D. Davison. Some of the photographs were taken 

 by Mr. J. T. Wadsworth of the Zoological Department, and 

 by Mr. J. W. Jackson and Mr. H. Britten of the Man- 

 chester Museum. To Professor W. C. Mcintosh, F.R.S., 

 I am indebted for the fine specimen of Filogvana implexa 

 illustrated on p. 194. 



S. J. HICKSON. 



zZ til June 1924. 



