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POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
the kilogramme. 3rd_, Corcdl en caisse : this is the commonest 
variety and includes pieces of every possible size, from the 
merest points to the largest branches. The price varies 
exceedingly, being 45, 50, 60, and 70 francs the kilogramme, 
according to the quality. 4th, Corail de choix : this includes 
the finest and largest specimens which have been selected 
from the mass. Consequently, it is exceedingly difiicult to 
fix its exact value, as the manufacturer only is capable of 
appreciating the samples. The price varies from 400 to 500 
francs per kilogramme. There is another variety which, from 
its very delicate pink hue, has been termed Peaii-d’ ange : 
this is the most valuable of all, and is much prized by the 
Italians, M. Lacaze-Duthiers having seen an exceedingly small 
unchiselled specimen purchased at the enormous price of 
115 francs. 
From what we have already written, sufficient ' can be 
gathered to show the immense importance of the coral 
fisheries as a branch of French commerce. But we apprehend 
there is something more than this to be learned from the 
foregoing paragraphs. The coral is an animal which can be 
easily propagated in seas where the temperature is equal to 
that of the Mediterranean. Such seas abound in the colonies 
of Great Britain. Is the subject therefore worthy of the 
consideration of the Government ? Does it behove us to 
create new resources as well as to develop existing ones ? If 
so, then, in our opinion, is the matter one which deserves 
immediate and serious attention, and as we have already 
inquired in the cases of the oyster and the herring, so now also 
we would ask in the instance of the coral — are we to cultivate it ? 
EXPLANATION OF PLATE V. (after Lacaze-Duthiers). 
Fig. 1. Adult Zoanthodeme. E, part of epidermis detached from sarcosome ; 
A, sarcosome detached from polypidom, and showing polypites (B) 
connected with the stem ; P, grooves for the longitudinal canals. 
Fig. 2. Portion of coral enlarged, showing two polypites divided horizontally ; 
one, (B) is female, and encloses only eggs (o). The other (B') is 
hermaphrodite, and exhibits the radiating partitions (r) enclosing an 
egg (o) and capsule of zoosperms (t). 
Fig. 3. Portion of coral-branch very much enlarged, showing the 
polypites and larvae. B, a polypite showing larvae (a and e) escaping 
from the parent’s mouth. B", a polypite contracted, the larvae 
(/ and g) being seen through the transparent walls. B', larvae 
set free, the polypite having been cut open. 
A kilogramme is equivalent to 2 ’679 lbs. Troy. 
