DEEP-SEA CORALS. 123 



several tubes or polypidoms. In the Bay of 

 Macri these masses of coral are very numerous 

 and conspicuous near the water's edge, and to a 

 depth of from one to two fathoms. The future 

 visitor at Telmessus who may wish to observe 

 these curious and elegant polypes, may see plenty 

 of them by stepping from the ancient theatre 

 to the rocks immediately below it. The red 

 coral is also found on this coast, but so small 

 as to be of no value. The depth at which 

 some corals, both Heliantlioid and Ascidioid, live 

 here is very surprising. Thus a Caryophyllia 

 allied to cyathus was found ranging from five to 

 ninety fathoms : Myriapora truncata was taken 

 alive from a depth of seventy fathoms : an Alecto 

 was found creeping upon shells from one hundred 

 and fifty fathoms; and an Idmonea, closely re- 

 sembling a species found fossil in the English 

 chalk, was taken abundantly in various depths 

 between one hundred and one hundred and 

 eighty fathoms, though never met with in shallow 

 water. 



Sponges are abundant in the Lycian sea. 

 The more valued kinds are sought for about the 

 Gulf of Macri, and along the Carian coast, and 

 the opposite islands. Rhodes is the seat of one 



