MARINE MISCELLANEA. 229 



anticipated, many centuries ago, in a single minute, anemone-like polyp, scarcely 

 one-eighth of an inch across. It is this Madreporic genus that commonly forms the 

 bases of the outer or deep-water edge of growing coral reefs, and is especially con- 

 stituted by its hardness and density to oppose a successful resistance to the impact 

 of the breakers. As indicated in our coloured illustration, the tint of the living 

 Corallum of this species of Porites, Forties astrwoides, was in this instance of a 

 delicate lilac or lavender hue. It is, however, subject to considerable variations, 

 and in other localities was observed by the writer to assume diverse shades of light 

 ochre, brown, golden yellow, pale lemon, and also a delicate pink. 



The circumstance that the solid Porites masses constitute the basis upon 

 which an infinite variety of species of lesser dimensions become established is amply 

 demonstrated in both the accompanying coloured plate and many of the photographic 

 reef-views reproduced in the writer's previous volume. The coral species most con- 

 spicuously represented in the coloured plate now under discussion are referable chiefly to 

 the more or less solid Astrteaceae, as typified by such genera as Goniastrsea, Symphyllia, 

 Cseloria, Mreandrina and Mussa, with here and there a few projecting branches of 

 Madreporre or Stag's-horn corals. The variety of tints that may be associated with 

 such an assemblage of distinct types is almost indefinite, and, in conjunction with the 

 marvellous hues of the overlying or surrounding waters in these tropic latitudes, 

 produces a picture that must be actually witnessed to be believed in. While it 

 has been found possible to do but scant justice to this topic in these pages, the 

 present opportunity may be advantageously utilised in indicating to the artistic 

 world what an entirely original and practically inexhaustible field for high achieve- 

 ments lies fallow and awaiting development at their hands in the shape of the reef 

 scenery of the Australian and other coral seas. To the marine artist more especially 

 it opens up a vista of hitherto undreamt-of possibilities. 



A group of the Madreporaria or Stony Corals, which received a brief share of 

 attention among the many others in the author's work on " The Great Barrier Eeef," 

 was the genus Turbinaria. As previously met with on the northern and eastern 

 Australian coasts, nothing especially abnormal was placed on record concerning the 

 species collected. With relation, however, to the development of this generic group 

 recently found by the writer to obtain in Western Australian waters, some more note- 

 worthy data may be chronicled. 



The genus Turbinaria will be familiar to many Australian readers by reason 

 of the fact that the cup or vase-shaped coralla of several of its varieties, popularly 



