THE RED OKGAN-PIPED CORAL, 391 



well-kuown glass bottles which are used for holding salad dress- 

 ing, and which make up for lack of contents by profusion of 

 glass. In the very centre of the top is placed the mouth, and 

 round it are grouped a vast number of little tentacles that radiate 

 like the flowerets of a daisy or dandelion. In the present species 

 the animal is about half an inch in length, and the animals are 

 clustered together in masses that are often as large as the fist. 

 They are rather variable in shape, but are always more or less 

 globular. 



The colour of this species is simple and pleasing. The body 

 of the animal is pale grey-blue, and the tentacles are bright 

 green, so that when a number of the animals are simultaneously 

 ■protruding themselves, the general effect is very striking. These 

 zoophytes are able to retract themselves almost wholly within 

 their ho\ises, so that nothing is visible except that round the 

 mouth there is a small green circle, which is formed by the pro- 

 jecting tips of the tentacles. This species is found at Vanikoro. 



There are many species of Astraea, all very pretty, and some 

 quite beautiful. Among the most conspicuous are the Abnormal 

 AsTRfflA {Astroea abditd), in which the mouth is scarlet and the 

 tentacles yellow ; the Anana AsTR.fflA (Astrcea ananas), where 

 the tentacles are yellow, but the mouth white; and the Chocolate 

 AstRj15A (Astrcea fusco-viridis), when the mouth is green, sur- 

 rounded with a broad chocolate border, and the tentacles are 

 white. 



In the left centre of the illustration is seen a group of that 

 most beautiful zoophyte which is known as the Eed Okgan-pipe 

 Coral {TvMpora rubeola [or syringa]). 



This handsome zoophyte is found chiefly off Carteret, in New 

 Ireland, and is grouped together in masses that are often many 

 yards in diameter. It is usually found in about two or three 

 feet of water, but is sometimes placed so high that at very low 

 tides it is laid bare by the receding waters. 



The animal which forms this wonderful tubing is cylindrical, 

 and the tentacles are pinkish, not possessing the briUiant red of 

 the tubes, and in its native state, the animals envelop so com- 

 pletely the upper part of the general mass, that the bright red 

 head is not perceptible. The coral masses are very fragile, and 

 will not bear the pressure of the human foot, crumbling beneath 



