86 CORALS AND CORAL LSLANDS. 



broad disks in the spaces among the other kinds. Many of 

 the species may be gathered from the shallow pools about the 

 reefs. But with a native canoe, and a Feejee to paddle and 

 dive, the scenes in the deeper waters may not only be enjoyed, 

 but boat-loads of the beautiful corals be easily secured. 



The Hawaian Islands, in the North Pacific, between the 

 latitudes 19° and 22°, are outside of the torrid zone of oceanic 

 temperature, in the siibton'id^ and the corals are consequently 

 less luxuriant and much fewer in species. There are no 

 Madrepores, and but few of the Astraea and Fungia tribes ; 

 while there is a profusion of corals of the hardier genera, 

 Porites and Pocilliporae. 



The genera of corals occurring in the East Indies and Red 

 Sea are mainly the same as in the Central Pacific ; and the 

 same also occur on the coast of Zanzibar. 



To the eastward of the Pacific coral islands, the Paumotus, 

 which are within the limits of the torrid region, the variety of 

 species and genera is large, but less so than to the westward. 

 Special facts respecting this sea have not been obtained. The 

 author's observations were confined to the groups of islands 

 farther west, the department of corals having been in the hands 

 of another during the earlier part of the cruise of the Govern- 

 ment Expedition with which he was connected. 



The Gulf of Panama and the neighbouring seas, north to 

 the extremity of the California peninsula and south to Guay- 

 aquil, lie within the ior7'id region ; but in the cooler part of it. 

 The species have throughout a Pacific character, and nothing 

 of the West Indian ; but they are few in number, and are 

 much restricted in genera. There are none, yet known, of the 

 Astra^acea, and no Madrepores. Prof. Verrill, through the 

 study of collections made by F. H. Bradley and others, has 

 observed that there are, near Panama, a few species of Porites 

 and Dendrophyllise, a Stephanaria (near Pavonia), two species 

 of Pocilliporae, two of Pavonise, one of them very large and 

 named P. gigafitea V., several Astrangids, and a few other 

 small species, besides a large variety under the Gorgonia 

 tribe. At La Paz, on the California peninsula at the entrance 



