A MONOGRAPH 



OF 



THE BRITISH FOSSIL CORALS. 



INTRODUCTION. 



§ I. 1 



Naturalists often designate under the general name of Coral, not only the stony 

 substance of a vivid red which is found on the coast of Barbary, and has been long used 

 for ornamental purposes, but also a vast number of other marine productions, which have 

 a calcareous structure, and are considered as appertaining to Zoophytes, more or less 

 analogous to the Polypi that form the Isis nobilis of Linnaeus, or real Mediterranean Coral. 

 The remains of the minute plant-like animals which abound in most tropical seas, and con- 

 stitute in some parts of the globe extensive reefs, or even large clusters of islands, have thus 

 been very properly called Corals. But the same appellation has been erroneously given to 

 the lapidified teguments of many beings which differ most essentially from all Zoophytes, 

 and belong some to the great Mollusca tribe, some to the family of Sponges, and others to 

 the Vegetable kingdom. In all Natural classifications it is necessary to separate that which 

 is fundamentally different, and to unite that which is in reality similar. Zoologists must, 

 therefore, be more reserved in the use of this expression, and cannot, without impropriety, 

 continue to comprehend under the same name all the natural productions which are com- 



1 In writing this Monograph in English, a language with which I am not so familiar as I could wish, 

 I much fear that the incorrectness of the phraseology will often strike the reader. I preferred, however, 

 not having recourse to a translator, for the meaning of an author is often misrepresented by those who lend 

 him their pen, and I thought that in a work of this kind accuracy of description would be preferable 

 to elegance of style. Before commencing the task I have undertaken, I must also beg leave to express 

 publicly my grateful feelings for the kind and liberal manner in which Sir H. De la Beche, Mr. Stokes, 

 Mr. J. S. Bowerbank, Frofessor John Phillips, Mr. Frederick Edwards, Mr. Searles Wood, Mr. Dixon, 

 Mr. Pratt,Mr. Sharpe, Dr. Battersby, Mr. F. W. Fletcher, Mr. J. Gray, and the Council of the Geological 

 Society of London, have communicated to me the palaeontological treasures belonging to their respective 

 collections. — H. Milne Edwards. 



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