346 On Coral Reefs and Islands. 
Another East Indian coral reef region,*of some extent, is the 
Sooloo Sea, between Mindanao and the north of Borneo. Yet 
the reefs are mostly submerged. We saw no wide platforms 
bordering the high lands, like those of the Pacific. ‘There are, 
however, some small coral islets in the Balabac Passage. 
n other parts of the East Indies, coral reefs are quite incon- 
siderable. Occasional traces, sometimes amounting to a fringing 
reef, occur along Luzon and the other Philippines. 
e coasted by the west shore of Luzon to Manila, and thence 
by Luban, Mindoro, Panay, to Caldera, near Samboangan in Mia- 
danao; and through this distance, no reefs were distinguished, 
as would have been the case had there been any of much extent. 
At the last mentioned place we found coral pebbles on the beach, 
and by dredging obtained living specimens in six to eight fath- 
oms of water. The only large reefs were those between Min- 
doro and the Calaminianes. There are fringing reefs at Singa- 
re. The islands of Borneo, Celebes, Java, and Sumatra, ac- 
cording to all the authorities seen by the writer, have but few 
coral patches about their shores, although affording long lines of 
coast for their growth. In the China Seas, there are numerous 
shoals, banks and island reefs of coral. Moreover, shore-reefs 
occur about Loochoo, and the islands between it and Formosa. 
ut the whole eastern coast of China appears to be without 
coral. Quelpaert’s island, south of Corea, in 34° N., is described 
as having coral about it; and this has been confirmed by late in- 
rmanion. ; 
_ Why should the reefs of the East India Archipelago be so 
limited in extent, and large parts be almost destitute, notwith- 
standing their situation in the warmest seas of the ocean, and in — 
the most favorable region for tropicai productions?) We are not 
we have not the data for fixing the extent of the influence. f 
the thousand vents which have been in action, several still make 
themselves felt over wide areas. The Sooloo islands are about 
one hundred in number, and nearly all are pointed with volcanic 
