272 



Marvels of the Universe 



collection, was brought from Japan to the Natural Historj' Museum of Munich by Professor F. 

 Dofiein. 



The Spider Crabs live on the sea-bottom, at var^dng depths from the surface. They clamber 

 about amongst the weeds and rocks, and often show in their structure or adornments a remarkable 

 resemblance to their surroundings. Some species actually plant upon their spiny shells anemones, 

 sponges, or seaweeds, causing them to take root there. But in spite of all attempts at disguising 

 themselves and of their sometimes enormous size, they are constantly preyed on by the octopus 

 and many fishes. 



"ORGAN-PIPE" CORAL 



BY EDW.\RD A. IMARTIX, F.G.S. 



Amongst the great variety of forms assumed by the hard skeletons of the coral-polyps none is 

 more beautiful than the group known as the " Oi-gan-Pipe Corals." The chief living form has the 

 remarkable peculiarity which has given it its popular name, and bears what is really a remarkable 

 resemblance to a number of pipes of an organ clustered together, as though placed in position by 

 the hand of man, rather than a normal natural growth. The pipes are arranged in fairly parallel 

 upright rows, with spaces between them, and they are seen under the microscope to be made up of 

 an immense number of chalky spicules fused together by the animal. All these pipes are held together 

 by transverse plates, or platforms, placed at distances of about an inch apart, as though dividing 

 the whole into floors or stories, with the cUfferent floors supported b}- a large number of hollow 



Photo liy] IE. step, F.L.S. 



THE ORGAN-PIPE CORAL. 



This coral. wKich is of a fine though dull red colour, forms colonies of a foot or more across. It attaches itself to other 

 corals, and can be found at low tide in the pools near the edge of the coral reefs. The little platforms connecting the tubes are 

 the stage from which new growths begin Dy budding from the older ones. The tubes are here slightly enlarged. 



