PREFACE 

 TO THE ENGLISH EDITION. 



In presenting this volume to English readers, the prominent 

 part which the science of Britain has borne in the develop- 

 ment of the subjects discussed comes naturally to mind. 

 The remarkable works and memoirs of Ellis, from 1754 to 

 1786, which forced Linn/eus and Pallas ultimately to admit 

 that corals belong to the animal kingdom, gave the earliest 

 great impulse to the study of this branch of Zoology. On 

 the other hand, Darwin's admirable investigations first made 

 known the true nature and theory of coral reefs and islands. 

 The publications of Ellis were constantly by my side in the 

 preparation of my " Report on Zoophytes ; " and the theory 

 of Darwin — as I have stated in my general preface — gave 

 mc, in my ocean journeyings, not only light, but delight, 

 since facts found their places under it so readily, and derived 

 from it so wide a bearing on the earth's history. In later 

 years have appeared the works of Johnston, Gosse, and 

 HiNCKS, and the many memoirs of Gray, Forbes, Wright, 

 Duncan, and other workers in science, which have aided 

 largely in giving this department of Zoology its present 

 advanced position. Since the subject of polyps is only 

 incidental to the main topic of this volume, I have not 

 had occasion to refer to the details of these memoirs. But 

 the name of Gosse appears often in connection with passages 

 cited from his " British Sea-Anemones ; " and I heartily com- 

 mend his work to all who would appreciate the beauties ot 



