126 THE TALL OF SHELLS. 
nets swung from their shoulders im which they 
had deposited the coral. 
“The bulk of coral used for ornamentation 
is fished from the Mediterranean Sea, and some- 
times at a depth of seven or eight hundred 
feet. 
“The red is susceptible of a fine polish, and 
is much sought after by many Eastern nations 
for personal adornment, for sword hilts, for 
amulets, which are superstitiously believed to 
have power to avert evil. The name given it 
by the Greeks commemorated their belief that 
it was originally the blood drops that fell 
upon the seashore from the head of Medusa, 
hardened and planted in the sea by ocean 
nymphs. 
“Formerly the red commanded the highest 
price of all the corals, but this pomt has been 
yielded to the delicate pink, which vies in 
color with the tinted petals of the queen of 
flowers. 
“Besides the red, pink, and white coral, 
there are many shades of green, brown, yellow, 
and black. All are more or less beautiful, both 
in life and in death. 
“The flowerlike inhabitants have disap- 
peared, but their workmanship remains in these 
exquisite marbles before you, Tom,” continued 
