THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 71 



It was diflficult then to understand how so hard a body 

 was still merely vegetable tissue. The fishermen, follow- 

 ing the ancient tradition, explained the matter perfectly 

 and all the world gave credence to what they said. They 

 maintained that this maiine shrub, so long as it is under 

 water, is not harder than analogous terrestrial plants, but 

 that it hardens suddenly when brought in contact with the 

 air. This strange opinion was deeply rooted among the 

 common people, and ranked among the best established 

 facts. 



However, M. Nicolai, inspector of fisheries, wished to 

 verify the whole affair. 



He made one of his coral-fishers dive and see what was 

 really the consistence of the polypoid; the man brought 

 back word that the coral was as hard in the sea as in the 

 air. But such is the empire of prejudice, that M. Nicolai 

 only half-believed his servant, and finally decided to dive 

 also and satisfy himself as to the facts. He did so, and 

 found out that the polypoid is really just as hard in the 

 midst of the waves. 



Thus have men for two thousand years oscillated in 

 this hopeless way, before determining the true nature of 

 coral. 



All this time was requisite to prove that it is only a 

 simple marine polypoid, and that in the gulfs of the sea 

 which it inhaljits, and from whence the fishermen tear it 

 with their nets, it is as hard as when it is fashioned into 

 those bracelets and rich necklaces, the vermilion of which 

 forms such a charming contrast with the white skins of our 

 most attractive women. ^ 



' The natural history of coral has been completed quite recently by M. Lacaze- 

 Duthiera. This zoologist observed that the individuals scattered over the 

 branches of the polypoid imitate in their sexual disposition an arrangement seen 



