118 EXTREME SLOPE OF REEF. 



those masses that were dead, mingled with beau- 

 tiful pearly flakes of eschara and retepora ; the 

 latter looking like lace-work in ivory. In among 

 the branches of the corals, like birds among trees, 

 floated many beautiful fish, radiant with metallic 

 greens or crimsons, or fantastically banded with 

 black and yellow stripes. Patches of clear white 

 sand were seen here and there for the floor, with 

 dark hollows and recesses, beneath overhanging 

 masses and ledges. All these, seen through the 

 clear crystal water, the ripple of which gave motion 

 and quick play of light and shadow to the whole, 

 formed a scene of the rarest beauty, and left nothing 

 to be desired by the eye, either in elegance of form, 

 or brilliancy and harmony of colouring. 



This beautiful portion is, however, only to be 

 seen on the extreme verge and outer slope of a 

 coral reef, when circumstances are favourable for its 

 examination, which is not often the case. 



The flat surface of the reef is a dull affair enough, 

 though many elegant corals may be seen in the 

 detached pools, or in the parts which are perma- 

 nently covered by water. 



I spent a long time at low water, wading about 

 on the higher pinnacles of the coral and collecting 

 specimens These, however, when dry, lose half their 

 beauty, from losing all their colour, which seems to 

 belong wholly to the animal matter. Madrepore 

 branches, the living tips of which were of rich blue, 

 gradually faded towards the dead base into the yellow- 



