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Coral Arbor and Mysterious Cuttle-Fish
reefs. The different varieties of Coral The Coral animals and marine shells are consist almost solely of carbonate of lime. the agents destined to keep pure the There is a small portion of animal matter. waters of the great deep, to take up and store away the excess of the lime salts Sea-cucumbers have a slightly cylindriand preserve the balance in this depart- cal body, sometimes worm-shaped, proment of Nature, as the vegetable growth vided with numerous tentacular suckers. performs a similar office in keeping down At each extremity occurs an orifice. The the excess of carbonic acid in the atmo- mouth occupies the anterior extremity; it sphere. is surrounded with very complex branch- The ocean currents spread their waters ing tentacles, which the animal can comamong the Coral groves as the winds con- pletely draw in, and which are set upon vey the air through the forests. The a circle of bony pieces. Coral which is used in jewelry is called The circulatory apparatus of the Seaprecious Coral. It is mostly obtained in cucumbers is exceeding complicated, their the Mediterranean, the Barbary coast fur- digestive tube is very long, their secrenishing the dark-red; Sardinia, the yellow tory organs are numerous, and their musor salmon-colored, and the coast of Italy cles powerful. When disturbed, they the rose-pink; in Europe and America, sometimes contract themselves so viothe latter is most valued, while in the lently as to burst asunder, and vomit Orient the dark-red is preferred. The forth their intestines. There are Sea- Coral fishermen with large rude nets cucumbers in every sea, and several spebreak off the Coral from the submerged cies which live on weedy and surf-beaten rocks. rocks. One of the largest species lodges and nourishes a curious parasitical fish.
Marvellous Coral Reefs.
Coral reefs are abundant in the West In some countries these animals are used Indies, but still more so in the Central for food. The poor inhabitants of the Pacific, where there are a much greater Neapolitan coast consume it largely ; and number of species of Corals. Along the the Asiatic people seek with avidity a Brazilian coast as far south as Cape Frio species to which they ascribe peculiar Coral reefs are found. Dana divides virtues.
Coral reefs into outer or barrier reefs and Long famous under the name of "Treinner reefs. The barrier reefs are formed pang, bestowed upon it by the Malays, it from the growth of Corals exposed to the is the staple of an extensive commerce open seas while the inner or fringing between all the Indian islands of Malayreefs are formed in quiet water between a sia and China, Cambodia and Cochinbarrier reef and the island. As Coral China. Thousands of Malay junks are reefs are usually built upon islands which equipped yearly for the fishing of the are slowly sinking, barrier reefs are sim- zoöphyte, and English and American ply ancient fringing reefs formed when ships are engaged in its sale. the island stood higher above the sea ; they are built up as rapidly as the land sinks and thus the top of the reef keeps at the level of the sea.
Fishing for Sea-Cucumbers.
The Trepangs of the inhabitants of Sumatra form one of the most consider. able branches of the coasting trade be tween Borneo, Sumatra, the Moluccas, the Papuan lands of Malaysia and China.
Darwin has estimated that some reefs are at least 2,000 feet in thickness. The Bermudas are the remnants of a Coral For the rest, their substance, according island (Atoll) and are situated farther to travellers, has no special flavor, at least north than any other reefs. if the taste be not masked by the enor mous dose of spices or aromatic substances with which the Malayans overload their food. The fishing for Seacucumbers requires great patience and dexterity. The Malays, bending over the prow of their boats, hold in their hands several long bamboos arranged like the joints of a fishing-rod, the last joint terminating with a sharp hook.
At the favorable season, that is, in the calms, the eyes of these skilful fishers pierce the depth of the waters, and easily discover, at a distance frequently not less, as we are assured, than MR 120 feet, the Sea-cucumber coral or rocks. misses his aim, so great is his skill. strikes its victim; and the Malay rarely clinging to the Then the harpoon, descending softly, Sea-cucumbers are generally small on
