()4 CORAL, BY MERTA LNDERHILL. 



All of the papers were excellent. The greatest number 

 of facts recorded by any one was one hundred and nine- 

 teen. This paper is printed below. The smallest num- 

 ber of facts was fifty-two. 



Out of the twenty-eight papers, in three were re- 

 corded between sixty and seventy facts; in four, between 

 seventy and eighty; in six, between eighty and ninety; in 

 eight, between ninety and one hundred; and in six, over one 

 hundred. The drawings were, in/ most cases, good, and in 

 many papers, excellent, and as will be seen by reproduc- 

 tions given, in some cases above the average of children 

 of their age. 



In justice to the teacher of this class, we will state 

 that she has had these children in charge from last Sep- 

 tember only, but since that time, although Miss Warren 

 has had many difficulties to overcome, she has, through 

 superior management, brought about a marked improve- 

 ment in her class. In fact, we have seldom met with 

 children who were capable of answering questions upon 

 varied subjects so readily as are these children at the 

 present time. Ed.] 



Coral, by Merta Underhill. 



Many persons make the great mistake of calling the little animal that 

 builds the coral islands, the coral insect, for it does not in the least re- 

 semble an insect. The correct name is the coral polyp. 



The coral which we see brought into our country from tropical coun- 

 tries, is not the coral animal as many people suppose it to be. It is the 

 skeleton of the little polyp. This skeleton is formed inside the polyps , 

 just as our bones are formed inside of us, Our bonea are made of phos- 

 phate of lime and are not brittle, while the coral skeleton is made of car- 

 bonate of lime, and is very brittle. 



The structure of the little polyp cell is just the same as that of the 

 sea anemone. It consists of a trunk, or body shaped like cylinder. On the 

 top of the body are rows of tentacles, which, when extended, form a crown. 

 The number of rows differ according to the species. On the top of the 

 trunk in the center, is an opening or hole, which is the mouth. This- 



