I' i: i:i- AcK. 



Till'] Coral Gallerv, the contents of whieli are Itrielly deHeribcil in 

 the following pa;4es, is a lung narrow curridDr situat^jd between the 

 IJird (Jalleryand the series of galleries on the north side of the 

 l)uiidiug, being interrupted by three cross-passages between the 

 galleries referred to. The collectiuns exhibited in this gall'-ry 

 include not only the objects commonly recognised as Corals, but also 

 other lower types of animal life scientifically known as Hydrozoa, 

 Forifera and Protozoa, which include jelly-fish and their alli<s, 

 sponges, and microscopic organisms such as Foraminifcra ami 

 liadiolaria, which in the remote past have played an important 

 part ill the formation of the chalk and lime-tune rocks of the 

 earth's crust. In giving an account of such objects as these it is 

 (liHicult to avoid the use of many scientific and technical terms, but 

 au endeavom' has been made to make the text as comprehensible iks 

 possible to the general pul)lic. Much care has been bestowed upon 

 the si'lcction and preparation of the numerous illustrations, many 

 of which are entirely new. The part of the (iuide referring 

 to Protozoa, Porifera and Hydrozoa has been prepared by Mr. R. 

 Kirkpatrick and the description of the Anthozoa l)y Mr. F. J. Bell. 

 In conclusion, thanks are due to Dr. Gust-.iv Fischer of Jena, to 

 Messrs. F. Warae & Co., Messrs. Cassell & Co., :Messrs. Macmillan 

 & Co., Messrs. A. and C. Black, Messrs. J. and A. Churchill, the 

 Royal and the Royal ^licroscopical Societies for kindly allowing the 

 use of illustrations in various works published by them. 



E. li.VY L.VNKKSTKU. 



PKEFACE TO THE SbX'OND KDlTloN. 



Ax additional eight pages on the important subject of Sporozoa 



and certain allied organisms (including the ]>arasites which cause 



.^[daria and SL-epiiig Sickn.'S-;) have been inserted between paire-s 



1 1 and !."», anl have been numl)er.'d 1 kv -it ; also eight additional 



figures designated Kia— ii have been added. 



K. Kav liANKt:sri;it. 



