1864. | Dutuiers on the Formation of Coral. 615 
investigations ; and let it be observed that this mode is not always 
either easy or even possible, for most commonly the popieri, or boat 
masters, are but little disposed to receive on board strangers, whose 
only object they deem to be that of mastering their secrets and profit- 
ing by their skill in finding the localities most favourable for obtaining 
an abundant supply of coral. They cannot understand that anyone 
would expose himself to the discomforts of their mode of life, merely 
to satisfy a curiosity which they are not able to comprehend, by poring 
over a branch of living coral as it is withdrawn from the water. 
I had obtained, at Bonifacio, in Corsica, a promise of all that would 
be necessary for my purpose; the most gracious assent was given 
to my expressed desires, but when night came the expedition put to 
sea, and ] saw no more of those upon whose aid I had too confidently 
reckoned. The search for coral, moreover, is not managed on the 
same plan as other fisheries. The coral-seekers have to look for banks 
in very different, and often far distant, localities, according as the 
wind happens to be favourable or otherwise. They therefore carry 
provisions for some considerable time, and the period of their return 
to the port from whence they sailed is indefinite to a degree. I 
encountered one day, in the Gulf of Propriano, on the shores of 
Corsica, a little fleet of sixty coral boats; a week afterwards not one 
remained, nor did I again fall in with them. During my stay at 
Calle all the fishermen sailed in the month of June for the island of 
Galito and the waters of Bizerta; they did not return until the com- 
mencement of August. 
It will be no subject of surprise, then, if the naturalist hesitates 
before he undertakes a voyage which is so uncertain in the time it 
will occupy, and constantly attended with fatigue and discomfort. These 
difficulties, to which indeed many others might be added, serve to 
explain the slow advance of knowledge in this branch of inquiry, for 
the task of obtaining living coral, now sufficiently arduous, must have 
been still more so in former years. It should be observed, however, 
that if the materials can only be obtained with comparative ease by the 
dredge, the necessary inquiries may be made with far greater facility. 
Leaving unnoticed the fables and prejudices of the ancients, and 
without enterimg upon an unsuitable historical résumé, we may 
remark that Reaumur and Swammerdam classed coral among stones ; 
that Marsigli, having seen its flowers, regarded it as a plant; while 
ultimately the discovery of Peyssonnel assigned to it, in 1729, its 
legitimate position in the animal kingdom. MReaumur, a singu- 
larly truthful and clear-sighted observer, thoroughly recognized — 
the great importance of direct observations, and succeeded in 
obtaining orders from the Duke of Orleans that messengers should 
start on foot from Marseilles, to bring to him with all possible care 
the coral freshly taken on the coasts of Provence. Unfortunately the 
precious burden had far too feeble a hold of life, and the distance over 
which it had to pass was much too great. The coral arrived in Paris, 
it is true, but quite dead, and its examination elicited no new facts; 
its only result, indeed, being to confirm Reaumur in his erroneous 
impressions. It is worthy of special note that the most important 
