PREFACE. 



DAY-DREAM of the author, when attached, in years gone by, to the 

 Natural History Department of the British Museum, and for the nonce 

 engaged in the arrangement and nomenclature of the magnificent 

 collection of Madrepores or Stony-corals in that Institution, was to be 

 afforded an opportunity of seeing those organisms growing in their 

 native seas and in their wonderful living tints. That this day-dream, 

 contrary to many of its order, has been substantially realised, this 

 volume, to a large extent, bears witness. The impressions which the actual sight of growing 

 coral-reefs yielded the author are here reproduced, with the fidelity that nhotography alone can 

 compass, for the benefit of those who, possessing the desire, lack opportunity of making a 

 personal acquaintance with- this fairy-land of fact. 



The motives of this volume are, at the same time, manifold. A primary object is to place 

 the reading public generally, and the scientific world in particular, in possession of more 

 extensive and accurate information than has hitherto been at their disposal, concerning the 

 external features and the detailed composition of coral-reefs, as represented by that largest 

 existing coral structure, the Great Barrier Reef of Australia; also to bring forward evidence 

 bearing upon the opposing theories concerning the telluric conditions under which that vast 

 reef originated. 



Another prominent purpose of the work is to direct attention to the harvest-field, rich from 

 both a commercial and a scientific standpoint, that this Queensland possession constitutes, with 

 the hope that it may lead, on both sides, to a more thorough exploration and development 

 of its marvellous resources. 



A leading feature in this volume is the series of monochrome illustrations. It is 



anticipated that they will assist materially towards demonstrating the capabilities of photo- 



