ON THE SICILIAN CORAL FISHERY. 13^ 



remaining a sufficient time it is drawn up by a windlass. The • 

 Trapanese claim the invention of this machine. 



From my own observations, and from the most accurate Coral adheres 

 informanon I have been able to obtain from the people employ- substance, 

 ed in this fishery, I am persuaded, that the coral grows indis- 

 criminately on all hard substances, as rocks, shells, &c. — I 

 have seen it attached to an eartiien vessel, which had at some 

 lime fallen into the sea, and was taken out in my presence. The its figure and 

 usual appearance of coral is that of a tree without leaves. It size, 

 never grows to a greater height than twelve inches, and is sel- 

 dom an inch thick. The direction of its branches extends 

 always forwards froni the spot to which the rcot is attached; 

 therefore when it grows on the top of a cavern they spread 

 4ownwards J if from a horizontal surface upwards : most com- 

 monly however the branches extend downwards, which enables 

 the nets to enclose it with greater facility when detached by the 

 stone. 



It has been constantly remarked, that (he broken branches of Branches 



coral attach themselves to some hard substances where they broken off fix 



■'on some hard 

 continne their growth. It is very common to find many substance. 



branches of coral, when taken out of the sea, perforated in They are fre- 



several parts. There can be no doubt, that this is the work oi^^^^^^^Jj P^"^" 



theiithophagi ; worms which attack even the hardest gubstancesj worms. 



for it is well known that they pierce and destroy the hardest 



carbonate of lime. The coral (isis nobilis, Linnei) which is j^^^j n^og^ 



most eagerly sought after, is of a fine red colour. Artists and esteemed. 



ladies give it the preference. It improves the charms of a 



beautiful face. Naturalists describe all the varieties ; two 



original colours in coral may be established, white and red, as 



.the two extremes, the^gradations of shade from the one to the 



other producing infinite varieties, among which five principal 



maybe distinguished. 



J, St. The deep red coral resembling in colour minium. This Varieties, 

 is considered as the most perfect sort j in fact, it is the largest 

 and most dense, and receives the highest polish. It is com- 

 monly called the male coral. 



2d. Red coral. This is more or less clear, but always less 

 briliiaiit than the first variety. 



3d. Flesh coloured coral. The ancients call it light red. 



' 4th. 



