PREFACE. 



The Coral Gallery, the contents of which are briefly described in 

 the following pages, is a long narrow corridor situated between the 

 Bird Gallery and the series of galleries on the north side of the 

 building, being interrupted by three cross-passages between the 

 galleries referred to. The collections exhibited in this gallery 

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

 other lower types of animal life scientifically known as Hydrozoa, 

 Porifera and Protozoa, which include jelly-fish and their allies, 

 sponges, and microscopic organisms such as Foraminifera and 

 Radiolaria, which in the remote past have played an important 

 part in the formation of the chalk and limestone rocks of the 

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

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

 an endeavour has been made to make the text as comprehensible as 

 possible to the general public. Much care has been bestowed upon 

 the selection and preparation of the numerous illustrations, many 

 of which are entirely new. The part of the Guide referring 

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

 Kirkpatrick and the description of the Anthozoa by Mr. F. J. Bell. 

 In conclusion, thanks are due to Messrs. F. Warne & Co., Messrs. 

 Cassell & Co., Messrs, Macmillan & Co., Messrs. A. and C. Black, 

 and the Royal Society, for kindly allowing the use of illustrations 

 in various works published by them. 



E. Ray Lankestek. 



