THE LAND OP THE DANCING CRANE. 21 



"All stones don't sink," said the doctor, 

 laughing to see Harry's look of surprise. " That 

 coral doesn't mean to be left out of our collec- 

 tion ; seriously, I think we had better keep the 

 specimen," he added ; and the floating coral was 

 again picked up. 



" But what is it — and why is it — doctor ? " 

 asked Harry. 



"It is what niio-ht be called the skeleton of 

 the coral called Meandrina spongiosa," explained 

 the doctor; "and when the animals die it be- 

 comes bleached. It is very porous, and the 



pores being full of air, 

 the coral floats easily on 

 the water." 



" Hold on a minute," 

 said Dick, as the boat 

 grated over some branch- 

 coral, knocking off thou- 

 Anthea census (Opeiet). sa nds of tips. The din- 



ghy was stopped, and Dick, leaning over the 

 side, tore off a branch of dead coral. Hanging 

 to it was a beautiful anemone. Dick handed it 

 to the doctor, who placed it in a glass of water. 



