CHAPTER XIII 



THE STUDY OF CORALS 



Prolonged Studies of Zoophytes and Coral Islands Extracts from the Vol, 

 ume on Corals Darwin's Coral Reef s Erroneous Notions of the Coral 

 World Montgomery's Pelican Island Origin of Coral Sands and 

 Reef Rock Life of Primitive People Changes of Level in the Ocean 

 Bed One of Dana's Lectures. 



THE growth of coral reefs and islands and the life of 

 the zoophytes were among the subjects which 

 always had a special fascination for Professor Dana. He 

 frequently recurred to them in his leisure hours as well 

 as in his serious work. If the scientific reader desires to 

 know the conclusions which this naturalist reached, he 

 will, of course, acquaint himself with the great memoirs 

 of the Exploring Expedition (on Geology and on Zoophytes, 

 already referred to), and with numerous papers that are 

 printed in the American Journal of Science and Arts. 

 But the general reader may enter this attractive field 

 through a more accessible doorway, and he may find his 

 excursion enlightened by diagrams, maps, and engrav- 

 ings, and by many glowing passages of enthusiastic de- 

 scription. The doorway referred to is an octavo volume 

 on Corals and Coral Islands, first printed in 1872, revised 

 in 1874, ajid carried to a third edition in 1890. It is to 

 this latest revision that reference should be made.* Visits 

 to the fine collections which may be seen in the Peabody 



* Corals and Coral Islands, by James D. Dana. Third edition. New 

 York : Dodd & Mead, 1890, 8vo. 



208 



