cclxxxii 
Actinoids. KADIATA. Protozoa. 
is certain death to so much as remains out ol' 
water. Jncrusting specimens upon the walls of Fort 
Jefl'erson liad been growing probably ten years, 
and Oculinas were fonnd on the wooden piers at 
Fort 'I'aylor on Key West. Many of these Corals 
were six inches in diameter, and as much in height. 
'I'aking into consideration the amount of (ZeJj’is that 
naturally accumulates from the remains of the nu- 
merous animal forms on the Reef, and the immense 
quantity of Coral of all species, there is little cause 
for placing the growth at so slow a rate. A speci- 
men of the Meandrina convexa was found on a half 
brick, measuring just an inch in diameter. 'I’his was 
l)laced in an aquarimn which was so connected with 
the sea as to take in (Vesh water constantly ; in one 
year this ]\Ieandrina had increased to two inches in 
diameter, thus proving the growth in a given time. 
'I’his specimen was submitted to Prof. Agassiz, who 
considered it as valuable, in so far as it determined 
the matter of growth, but it conflicted materially 
with his theory. Some time after this. Dr. Wienland 
of Poston, made some observations in the West Indies, 
which fidly confirmed our experience in 'I’ortugas 
with the specimen before mentioned. He noticed 
that the branching Madrepores grew to a certain 
height during the winter, and that when the low 
tides of summer came, the tops were exposed some 
seven inches, showing that they had grown so mnch 
during the year. 'These exposed parts being, as al- 
ready explained, dead, we have thus a large amount 
of the .Madrepores spreading over acres of Reef, the 
tops bleaching and crumbling. 
Along the borders of the deep channels that 
meander through the Reef are vast masses of Madre- 
pores, branching kinds, of the familiar pattern seen 
in shops, and called Shrub or 'Tree-coral. Much of 
this (Joral is six feet in height, with branches two 
inches in diameter. In the quiet lagoons, or shallow 
pools, the J’orites and Manicinas are abundant; the 
latter, being so much like a kidney in shape and 
size, bear the name “Kidney-coral.” Manicina is a 
Meandrine form, belonging to the groiq) of Brain- 
corals, but having a definite characteristic shape 
and size, never exceeding about four inches in great- 
est length. 'The Brain-corals are often very large, 
but seem to tend mostly to the hemispherical form. 
'I'he germ or young Coral is first attached to some 
extraneous object, but when the block has attained 
a considerable size, the base is seen to be loosely set 
in the sand or mud, as any foreign bonlder. 'Theie 
is exquisite beauty in the small spheres of Meandrina ; 
some of the Astreas, also, are of the same shape, 
and present, when <lenuded of flesh, a marvellous 
richness of form in the crape-like cells. 
'I’he Sea-feathers of the Florida Reef are especially 
attractive. In the shallow waters many acres of 
these forms are seen, varying much in color, and 
presenting a most pleasing view. Polyps . — Plate 2, 
fig. 14, exhibits the polyps of a Plumularia or Sea- 
feather, both closed and expanded. At the bases 
of these forms, growing among the Algae and Coral- 
lines, are great numbers of Zoanths, having pretty 
star-shaped, flower-like heads. Fig. 12 is a repre- 
sentation of one of the same genus; the upper sur- 
face of the tentacles is of a rich emerald-green color! 
Figs. 6 and 7 are polyps of the Caryophyllia, named 
from its resemblance to a clove. Specimens of this 
genus are sparsely dredged in the channels near Fort 
Jefferson. Fig. 8 is an OcuTma, species of which 
are found incrusting the piers or large blocks of 
Astreas. Figs. 4 and 5 are those of a most com- 
mon kind — the Astrea, with the polyps closed. On 
Plate 1, fig. 6, is shown a portion of the precious 
Red-coral; and fig. 9 is that of a Gorgonia, showing 
the close relationship between them. 'The black stalks 
of the latter, denuded of their lime coating and fleshy 
parts, are quite like jet, and are nearly as rich for 
jewelry as those bf the red form of the Mediterranean. 
'The Corals of America are mostly found in the 
West Indies, the regions around Central America, 
and the peninsida of Florida. 'I’liey correspond very 
closely, and many species are identical in each place. 
Gorgonias are exceedingly abundant on the Florida 
Reef. 
SEA-FAN {Gorgonia Jlal)ellum ). — 'This is the Sea- 
fan of the dealers, a beautifnl object, particulaily in 
the sea, when its colors are fresh, and an iridescence 
plays upon it. Gorgonias are soft Corals, the lime 
portion being only held in a loose condition around a 
solid black base ; this base is a substance much of 
the consistence and quite of the chemical constituents 
of animal horn. 'The stalk grows upon some rock or 
other solid object on the bottom, and the Gorgonia 
attains the form of a shrub. 'The branches are covered 
with small pores, from which the polyps emerge, as 
in the stone Corals, though in many they are ex- 
ceedingly minute. 
PRO'TOZOA AND PORIFBRA. 
Interesting accounts of these minute animals are 
in vol. ii of this work, and the Plates ollnfusoria 
Rotatoria and Rhizopoda present figures of promi- 
nent individuals. 'The volumes published by the 
Fish Commission contain a good deal of new matter 
relating to these forms. Some pretty Sponges are 
fonnd growing on the piers at Portland, Me., and iii 
Beverly Harbor, Mass., and several kinds are thrown 
upon our beaches during storms. 
