THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 21 



They soon die, but some kinds seem to live in such circum- 

 stances longer than others. The branched varieties die first, being 

 more quickly heated through When being rowed in a boat at 

 low tide over the living coral reefs, which perhaps were in some 

 places only about six inches below the surface, the sight was of 

 extreme beauty and interest. It grows very unevenly, and is 

 very difficult to walk over, there often being deep holes of various 

 sizes among it. There were many different kinds, of all shapes, 

 sizes, and colours, and some grew into immense blocks. The 

 green colour seemed to prevail. One plentiful branched variety 

 was pure white, another pink of various shades, and another 

 bright blue, and often near it was seen lying on the bottom blue 

 Star Fish of exactly the same hue as the coral. Another coral was 

 dark red ; one variety often predominated over small areas. 

 Among all this extremely beautiful growth various fish were 

 noticed, and their vivid colours harmonized wonderfully with 

 their surroundings. When a coral reef has grown to the level of 

 low water it dies, but still continues to grow all round the edges 

 in the deeper water, and so is continually making the reef larger. 

 Some of the coarser sponges were numerous ; their prevailing 

 colour when alive was also like the coral — different shades of 

 green, but sometimes blue or purple ; they were of various 

 shapes and sizes, but the cup-shaped variety predominated. 

 On walking over a dead coral reef at low tide it was found to 

 be full of insect life, many of the Fringed Star Fish, Sea Worms, 

 &c, &c, being of beautiful colours. On wading through some 

 shallow water my companion jumped on one side, calling out 

 "Snake !" but on examining it we found a long green and very soft 

 slug, about 2^ feet long, and with a bright-coloured beautiful 

 fringe on one end, round its mouth. One black-coloured eel 

 disdained to run away when approached in the shallow water, 

 but opened his mouth at the intruder as if to scare him away. 

 I have seen the same kind at Singapore, and it is there known as 

 the Coral Eel, and feared by the natives, as it readily attacks 

 them when among the coral. The clear water by the reef was 

 seen to be full of life, which glittered in the bright sunlight. 

 Cowries and other shells were found on the reef. 



Towards evening we sailed to the other island and made our 

 camp under a thick clump of Pandanus Palms. This island was 

 almost circular, and all composed of sand and covered with scrub. 

 A small clearing had been made in the centre by some Beche-de- 

 mer fishers, but it was mostly overgrown again, one or two 

 plants of sugar cane and manioc being still left. In the clear 

 water round the island large shoals of small fish were seen, and 

 they kept as near the beach in the shallow water as they could, 

 and looked like a long, broad black band slowly moving forward. 

 Sharks and other larger fish were continually making a dash at 



