Gulf of St. Lawrence. 5 



mass which, at fust, we mistook for sea-weed, and were 

 only aware of our mistake when we observed them to 

 shrink from the touch. These were perfectly flexible, like 

 sea-weed, and appeared to have nothing to do with the 

 formation of coral. They have become so brittle, that they 

 could not easily be preserved, and only one or two remained 

 on the specimen, but several others I have placed in the 

 accompanying scallop shell. There are also several small 

 shells agglutinated to the coral, and one or two minute 

 and radiated crustaceous animals. 



The specimen No. 2, is a small sprig or branch of perfect 

 coral, also from the coast of Anticosti. It was brought up 

 from a dei)th exceeding twenty fathoms, sticking to the 

 tallow at the bottom of the sounding lead. 



From its radiated structure, which may be discovered by 

 inspecting it with a lens, it was in all probability the abode 

 and the produce of a species of madrepore. 



The specimen No. 'A, was submitted to my inspection by 

 our worthy President, the Chief Justice, it was also brought 

 up from the bottom, adhering to a sounding lead, and with 

 the exception of the polypi at its top, aj)pears similar to 

 No. 1 ; but as I did not see it living 1 cannot speak parti- 

 cularly respecting it. 



The specimen No. 1, w;is hooked up from a depth of 

 thirty fathoms, in the bay of Gaspe. There are traces of 

 coral-like concretions on it, but I give it principally on 

 account of the ciu.staceous animals which were living in 

 its cavities, and which still ri-main. 



In pi esenting these specimens and accompanying remarks 

 to tlie society, I have been actuated, less by u hope of 

 communicating a new fact, than l)y a conviction of the 

 ntiliiy uf pulling thus upon record, the existence of conil 



