GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 311 



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. The author saw no wide 

 platforms bordering the high lands, like those of the Pacific. 

 There are, however, some small coral islets in the Balabac 

 Passage. 



In other parts of the East Indies, coral reefs are quite in- 

 considerable. Occasional traces, sometimes amounting to a 

 fringing reef, occur along Luzon and the other Philippines. 



The Wilkes Exploring Expedition coasted by the west 

 shore of Luzon to Manila, and thence by Luban, Mindoro, 

 Panay, to Caldera, near Samboangan in Mindanao ; 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 

 fathoms of water. The only large reefs were those between 

 Mindoro and the Calaminianes. There are fringing reefs at 

 Singapore. The islands of Borneo, Celebes, Java, and Su- 

 matra, according 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 be- 

 tween it and Formosa. But the whole eastern coast of China 

 appears to be without coral. Quelpaert's island, south of Co- 

 rea, in 34° N., is described as having coral about it ; and this 

 has been confirmed by late information. 



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 tropical productions ? We are 



