PREFACE. vii 



have been of essential aid. Lamouroux, Ellis, and the numerous older authors, have been 

 lively consulted, wherever a new fact could be obtained, or doubt and obscurity removed ; 

 and all figures have been cited, and full references given to descriptions. In few instances 

 have these references been derived from any but the original works. 



The subject of Corals, in this volume, is treated of exclusively in a zoological point of 

 view. The geological questions with regard to the formation and structure of coral-reefs 

 and islands, will come up for discussion in the author's Geological Report. 



JAMES D. DANA. 

 Now Haven, January 1, 



