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for the naturalist, its immediate vicinity abounding with easily 

 accessible forms of infinite variety of shape and colour. Con- 

 cerning the aspect and structure of the living polyps, of which 

 these corals in their more familiar bleached condition constitute 

 but the inorganic skeletons, much yet remains to be discovered. 

 In no locality probably, could they be so effectivel}'^ studied as at 

 a zoological station or biological laboratory established at Thurs- 

 day Island. The record of a few observations of interest, relat- 

 ing to the structure and appearances of certain coral animals and 

 allied organisms, personally made during my recent visits to 

 this island and the Torres Straits district, may help towards 

 indicating a few landmarks in the extensive field that 

 exists here for original work b}' the biologist. To assist in the 

 faithful representation of the natural aspect of the living 

 organisms, I, on the last occasion of my A'isit, enlisted the aid of 

 the camera, and thus availed myself of such opportunities as 

 occurred of photographing the animals, as naturally expanded in 

 the rock pools, or when transferred to suitable receptacles. The 

 results obtained have, ou the whole, been so successful that they 

 will, I think, recommend themselves to the attention of all 

 interested in marine biology, and lead to the extensive adoption 

 of the method employed. 



Among the examples that are more especially noteworthy, 

 I may refer to the several photographs illustrative of what are 

 known as mushroom corals, Fioigice, in various stages of con- 

 traction and expansion. 



In most standard works on corals, including Milne Edwards' 

 " Histoire des Corallaires," J. D. Dana's " Report on Zoophytes," 

 " U.S. Exploring Expedition," and " Corals and Coral Islands," 

 the tentacles of the living animals of the mushroom corals are 

 represented as being comparatively small and inconspicuous ; 

 Dana, more particularly, maintains this feature to have been 

 true of all the living Funr/ice he examined, and adds, that 

 the power in their tentacles must reside wholly in their 

 urticating or lasso cells. Erom the observations made by 

 myself and recorded by the camera, of certain of the Torres 



