TEANSACTIONS 



|laiia-<f cotian fuj^titute ot Natural $mut 



Art, I. CoNTKiBUTioNS TO THE Nattjral Histoey of the 

 Bermudas. By J. j\La.tthew Jones, F.L.S. 



(Read November 4, 1867.; 



CORALLIARIA. 



The Bermudas afford the naturalist au opportuuitj of specu-^ 

 latiug upon the effects of ocean currents, and the Influence they 

 possess in changing the character of au island group, to one 

 almost distinct from that natural to it ; because, if uninfluenced 

 by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, there is no doubt that 

 the marine fauna of these islands would, in a great measure, 

 coincide with that of the coast of Carolina, lying in the same 

 latitude ; but how different is the case. Here, in latitude 

 32° 15' N., at a distance of about six hundred nautical miles 

 from the American coast, lie a few little islands, begirt by coral 

 reefs, which extend out to sea eren to a distance of ten or 

 twelve miles in some directions, and the various species of coral 

 polyps raise their branched or massive forms, and thrive as 

 luxuriantly, as if placed in their more congenial home within 

 the heated waters of the tropics ; while on that adjacent coast, 

 they are unknown above latitude 26° N. ; and this phenomenon 

 is rendered still more remarkable when we take into considera- 

 tion the fact of the Bermudas being- the most northerlv station 



