48 



CORALS AND CORAL LSLANDS. 



Professor Verrill, to the Astrangiae, and belongs to that family. 

 Its cylindrical stems are gathered into crowded clumps. The 

 C. arbtcscula is figured on page 34. 



A West India species of another genus of the group, the 

 Fhyllangia Americana^ is represented in the preceding figure. 



In the following cut, figure i represents the extremity of a 

 branch of an Oculina, the O. varicosa, of the family Ocnlinidce. 

 The species of this genus grow in clumps of round branches, 

 and have very solid corolla, so white and firm when bleached 



CORALS OF THP: OCl'LINy\ TRIIiF. 



as to go by the popular name of " white coral," and to be 

 sometimes pohshed for beads and other such ornamental 

 purposes. 



Figure 2 is a branch of a beautiful little coral called Sty- 

 laster eriihescens Pourt., and 3, a portion of the same enlarged. 

 It has the firmness, and something of the habit of an Oculina, 

 but is rather like a miniature Oculina, its calicles never exceed- 

 ing a twentieth of an inch in breadth. There are a number of 

 genera in this Stylaster family, the Stylasteridce, and the corals 

 are among the most delicate of species. 



