60 



CORAL AND ATOLLS 



from the site on which they grew and from the actions of all 

 those forces which influenced their growth. 



Unfortunately it is common to measure the truth ot 

 observations made in the field by the knowledge that has 

 been already gleaned from the uncertain data of museum 



Fig. 4. 



Moiitlpora Colony, Living. 



specimens, and until this state of things is changed corals will 

 continue to be unpopular subjects for investigation with people 

 who have the opportunities of studying their forms when 

 alive. 



The maze of literature that has been written upon the 

 description of corals — often in necessary ignorance of any of 

 the conditions of their life and growth — is devoid of any 

 general interest, and is not very helpful. 



Observations must be made upon the living zooid if we 

 are to add to the real knowledge of these creatures, for it is 

 essential that the life-history of the zooids must be carefully 



