APPENDIX. 419 
In the winter of 1881-82, the last time they were examined, their growth 
for the fourteen years was as follows : — 
Dichoceenia had an upward growth of a fraction less than half an inch; 
Orbicella cavernosa, seven eighths of an inch; O. annularis, one and a quarter 
inches large; Siderastrzea, a fraction less than five eighths of an inch; Diplo- 
ria cerebriformis, almost three fourths of an inch; Meandrina sinuosa, an 
inch and a quarter large; M. labyrinthica, an inch and seven eighths; Mani- 
cina areolata, a fraction less than five eighths of an inch. 
We could not get the exact rate of growth of the Mzandrina clivosa for 
‘the reason that it was not regular. The specimen, when placed in the chan- 
nel, measured less than six inches and in the fourteen years had spread out 
over eight inches, being, when last measured, about fourteen inches in diame- 
ter, while its upward growth was three or four inches in some places and less 
than an inch in others; and what appeared still more strange was the fact 
that the thickest piece was near the edge. I regard the growth of this species 
very uncertain. I have frequently seen it on bricks and other objects in the 
form of an incrusting coral and measuring six or more inches in diameter with 
perhaps less than half an inch in thickness. It is the most abundant coral at 
Fort Taylor as well as at Fort Jefferson. 
Madrepora cervicornis had so encroached upon the channel as to oblit- 
erate all of my marks, hence I know but little of its rate of growth; but it is 
certain that the channel had been narrowed from six to eight or perhaps ten 
feet by this coral. 
The temperature of the water has much to do with the growth of some 
species of corals. I do not now recall a single instance of finding a specimen 
of Dichoccenia or of Orbicella cavernosa, except in close proximity to the Gulf 
Stream. The largest specimen of O. cavernosa I have ever found was in a 
four foot channel where the waters of the Gulf Stream encroached upon the 
reef. This specimen, as nearly as I can recall, was about eighteen or twenty 
inches in diameter and is now in the Washington University, St. Louis, Mo. 
Should I live until 1892-93 it is my intention to remove these corals, when I 
shall be glad to give you the exact increase in twenty-five years.” 
Respecting the supply of food for the growing corals of a reef, it is to be 
considered that the amount of life is elsewhere unequalled. Prof. 'T. Fuchs, 
in his paper on the Distribution of Oceanic Life (page 118), speaks of such 
seas within the depth of twenty fathoms as “the gathering ground of an 
> 
extremely rich fauna;” a fauna that embraces “the whole splendor of the 
animal life of the Indian and Pacific Oceans,” and as being of so peculiar 
29 
character that the terms “coral fishes” and “coral mollusks”? would not be 
inappropriate. 
