MULTUM E PARVO. 



polypes; but they soon protrude again, and ex- 

 pand in their original loveliness. 



The interest with which these gardens are con- 

 templated is enhanced by the multitude of strange 

 creatures which crawl over and through the 

 shrubs. Fishes of the most gorgeous hues, elegant 

 shells, with clouded and spotted animals carrying 

 them, nimble prawns of crimson and yellow, long 

 gliding green worms, and purple sea-urchins, with 

 enormous spines, here find their home and live at 

 ease beneath the unclouded sun. 



The dimensions attained by the labours of the 

 minute workmen are the most astonishing part 

 of the spectacle. "Some individual specimens of 

 I'oritos, in the rock of the inner reef of Tonga tabu, 

 are twenty-five feet in diameter; and Astrais and 

 Me&adrmaBf both there and in the Fejees, measure 

 twelve to fifteen feet. The platform resembles a 

 Cyclopean pavement, except that the cementing 

 material between the huge masses is more solid 

 than any work of art could be. 



"Sometimes the barrier reef recedes from the 

 shore, and forms wide channels or inland seas, 

 where ships find ample room and depth of water, 

 exposed, however, to the danger of hidden reefs. 

 The reef on the north-east coast of New Holland 

 and New Caledonia extends four hundred miles, at 

 a distance varying from thirty to sixty miles from 

 shore, and having as many fathoms of depth in 

 the channel. West of the large Fejee Islands the 

 channel is in some parts twenty-five miles wide, 

 and twelve to forty fathoms in depth. The sloop 

 of-war Peacock sailed along the west coast of 

 both Viti Lebu and Vanua Lebu, within the inner 

 reefs, a distance exceeding two hundred miles. 



"A barrier reef, inclosing a lagoon, is the general 

 formation of the coral islands, though there are 

 93 



