70 THE STORY OF LIFE IN THE SEAS. 



tended in this work to enter into a discussion 

 of the various alternative theories of Coral- 

 reef formation, but a few words may be added 

 on the method of formation of Coral limestone. 



In studying any one particular form of reef- 

 building Coral we can find a long series 

 of specimens from one inch in length up 

 to a certain maximum, which varies with the 

 species and the reef, but may reach over five 

 feet in diameter as can be seen in the specimens 

 now in the British Museum at South Kensington. 

 Beyond this maximum size let us say four feet 

 in diameter the Coral rarely grows, because at 

 a certain age, probably when the vitality of the 

 Coral is on the wane, the stalk of attachment 

 becomes so bored with parasitic Sponges, Worms, 

 Fungi and other organisms, that it is thoroughly 

 rotten. If a large block be picked up from the 

 reef, and with the help of two or three strong 

 natives carried ashore and broken up with a 

 hammer, a most interesting migration of Crabs, 

 Worms and other creatures occurs, and the 

 collecting bottles may be filled with a rich 

 variety of animals parasitic on the Coral. Now 

 the time comes when the stalk becomes so brittle 

 that a heavy wave breaks it in two, and the 

 Coral topples over and dies. If it falls into the 

 sand, either on the inside or the outside of the 

 reef and becomes buried, it may be preserved 

 fairly complete, but if it lodges between other 

 Corals the waves and the parasites between them 

 dissolve it and break it up into thousands of 

 pieces. This constant disintegration leads to 

 the formation of great quantities of coralline 



