The morning call., 1890-08-17
SOME FACTS
ABOUT CORAL.
Wonderful Gardens That Are at
the Bottom of the Seas.
Polyp Mountain Builders, Who Ksep the
Waters of the Oceans Purs by Storing
Away Excessive Lims Salts

49, HE coral groves of the ocean floor are
SiN decorated like the gardens of the
JAfS land, the fiower-like polyps answer
ing to our pinks and daisies, violets and
lilies. Some Of them are Of the brightest
and softest tints, pink, pearl color and
blue, green, purple and yellow. They strew
the bottom, which is of the whtest and
purest sand, or hang like leaves and flow
ers, or cling like MOSES and lichens to tho
branching coral and lend rare enehantment
to the scene.
Is not this an interesting description Of
wonderful garden? asks writer for the
Philadelphia Record.
How delightful it would be to visit one
and see its beauties with our own eyes.
Let US fancy ourselves sailing over the
tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean. AS
we gaze out over the broad expanse circu-
lar island, covered with vegetation and en-
circling lagoon-a body of water, pure,
clear, and from 100 to 400 feet in depth,
comes into view. Through break in one
side OF this island our ship glldeS into
safe harbor. Here the waters are calm,
while outside the waves may be dashed into
fury by wind or storm.
Looking down into the lagoon, in whose
depths our vessel is mirrored, we catch a
glimpse of fairyland-a garden of delicate,
branched corals, tipped with tinted flower
like polyps.
POlyp is the name applied to little coral
animal which so closely resembles flower
in form and cOloring. that, for many years,
scientific men were unable to decide to
which kingdom it rightly belonged-the ami
NAL or the vegetable.
The poyp has often been compared to the
aster. This garden flower has delicately
culored center surrounded by single or dou-
BILE rows Of petals, and is supported on
slender stem. So in the polyp, or animal
flower. there is tinted disk, about which is
a fringe of petai-ike
ORGANS CALLED TENTACLES.
Below this disk, in place of stem, is the
body containing the internal organs of the
tiny animal. Here the resemblance be-
tween the flower animal and the flower
garden ceases, for closely examining the
disk OF the polyp we find in the middle of it
a slit. This is the mouth of the coral AMI
NAL. IL opens directly into the stomach,
which hangs in the middle Of the body.
The food, which is caught by the tentacles,
passes through the mouth into the stomach,
in which it is digested with the aid of salt
water.
This Misunderstanding little animal is the
owner OF myriads Of weapons, which lie
snugly hidden from sight till time of need,
in what Agassiz calls ''Iasso cells" These
cells are very tiny, being less than 1000 of
an inch in diameter, but each cell contains
tubular thu cad coiled up, ready to be
darted forth when its prey is near. Woe to
the little creatures that come in contact with
this weapon. They are instantly benumbed,
and are then drawn into the mouth by the
tentacles.
On leaving its cell the hollow thread turns
inside out, the end containing the poison
appearing last.
AS the coil cannot return to its sheath the
"lasso celP' is then worthless. but this is
matter of small consequence, as the pOlyp
is well armed with these effective weapons
about its mouth, stomach and tentaeles.
About the walls of the stomach are num-
berleSs eggs. When one of these is Matched
a minute animal soft, like jelly, floats into
the water and soon fastens itself to rock.
There it clings, growing into the form al
ready described.
From its sides other polyps spring into
life like buds on the stems of plant. This
way OF propogating is called budding"
These polyps in turn multiply by eggs and
buds, forming colony in which each polyp
is joined by flesh membrane to its neigh
bors.
AS the polYp grows, mysterious change
takes place in its body. By apro9ss called
secretion, carbonate of lime-an eleme ut of
sea water-is deposited first at the base of
the polyp, then throughout its body till it
becomes solid coral skeleton, the only liv-
ing parts being the mouth, stomach and
tentacIes. The feshy membrane likewise
secretes limestone, and with the skeletons
OF the polyps forms
A MASS OF CORAL ROCK.
An hour can be pleasantly and profitably
spent in visiting natural history rooms ana
studying the rare and beautiful cerals which
have been gathered together from all parts
of the world.
Ones attention will be attracted to a mass
of coral so deeply furrowed that it closely
resembles the human brain, and is appro-
priately named the brain coral. IL is found
In Bermuda and the West Indies.
Near it is fine specimen of organ coral.
In iourneying to India by way of the Red
Sea one exclaims al the red sand and the
red rocks covered with tiny stars The
sand consists OF fragments Of coral rock,
and the coral itself is made up of slender
pipes bound together by bands, forming
deep red skeleton.
The Sandwich Islands are the home of
the delicate pink-branehed coral, and from
the Bahamas we obtain q variety which is
quite common and very popular, because
when bleached it is firm and white.
The only one of the family of corals
which has special commercial value is the
precious red coral in shape like trunk of a
tree having short stunted branches.
The most important fisheries extend along
the Mediterranean Sea or the coast of
Morocco, Algiers and Tunis, though the
red specimens are also found near Naples
and Genoa. They are attached to rocks
embedded in mud al the bottom of the sea.
THE MANNER OF PROCURING coRALs
For commerce is novel and interesting. A
crew of seven or eight men sail out into
deep water, carrying with them large
wooden cross. to which cords, nets and
hoops are fastened. The cross is sunk to
the bottom OF the sea aud becomes entaugled
in the branches of coral, which break from
their foundations as the boat pulls away,
dragging its burden after it.
Often the united strength of several
crews is barely sufficient to detaeh the guam
tily of coral which is caught in the nets.
After the owner of the boat has taken
certain percentage of the profits the remain
der is divided among the crew.
The floor of the ocean, like the surface o f
the earth, is diversified by mountains, hills
and valleys. Myriads of ages ago noun
tain reared its head TO within 100 feet of
the surface Of the ocean. About its rocky
sides p0lyps fastened themselves and the
work OF building coral wall was begun.
But tine floor of the ocean is sometimes sub
ject to change, and in the very spot where
the mountain stood it began to subside,
carrying with it the mountain and its fringe
of coral rock.
1t is known that coral animals cannot live
in water more than $50 feet deep and thrive
best at depth Of from 60 to 100 feet. yet
the foundations of reefs are laid many thou
sand feet down in the ocean.
All the life in coral reef is at the sur
face. Below is only solid mass of coral
skeletons. When the ocean bed settles the
coral reef grows upward again till it reaches
the level of the sea.
AS the waves beat against it great masses
of rock are broken off and hurled upon its
top. Drlftwood and other debris floating
thItber, decay and form soil. Seeds are
waited by the winds or are dropped by
birds In their fight, and under the warmth
of the tropical sun the coral reef is trans
formed into an island covered with lux
uriant vegetation.