The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-09-03
CORALS AND
THEIR WAYS
Or. burdens interesting
Talk to Research
Society.

At the last meeting of the current
year of the Young Mems Research
Club, held last evening at the resi-
dence of. w. c. Parke, DR.. burden of
Michigan University who has made a
special study OF corals and is now
investigating the habits and variety
of the local forms delivered an in
teresting informal talk upon the polyp
to the members of the club.
DR.. burden prefaeed his remarks by
stating that the study of the polyp
skeleton having been found uasatis-
factory as regards thoroughness, he
had made a speciality of observing the
coral as aside from the caleareous mat
ter His earlier work was performed
on the West Indies but extension to
Pacific waters was soon found neces-
sary and Hawaii was selected both
from its proximity and the fact of its
possessing an aquarium. the convent
ences of which had proven a great
boon to him through the extended
courtesies of the Rapid Transit Com
pany
In happy conversational strain the
specialist described his. method of col
lecting live corals. the taking of notes
of color and the fixing of tissues by
preservation for leisure study. all rend-
cred difficult by the habit the insect
it is most necessary that it be fully
expanded ready for activity, for ac-
curate observation.
In the jars where DIR. burden in
generates his specimens he gently in
PRODUCES a solution of magnesium sui
phate (Epsom's SaIts) which slowly
numbs the expanded polyps and al
lows them to re fixed in formalin and
corrosive. sublimate for preservation.
Nitric acid is then used to dissolve the
calcareous skeleton leaving only the
bare polyp which is thus preserved in
formalin or saturated in paraffin for
sectional microscopic investigation at
leisure.
An interesting fact told how the
poIyp is a first cousin to the sea ane-
none which is only a skeletonless coral
of slightly lower form of life.
The gorgeous coloring of coral so of
ten described by writer's can never, the
speaker said, adequately describe the
rainbow reefs of living coral though
the prevailing color is brown caused by
the existence of a minute uncellular
alga which lives within the tissues of
the insect and lends it its own color j.
Another alga. this time of the boring
Harmonious variety, is held RESPONSE
BILE for thes Totting of coral, it's sep
aration from ocean beds and decom-
position from organic to inorganic eie-
ments. such as lime salts, playing the
same function as bacteria in animal
organizations. This alga is, DR.. Dur
den believes, largely responsible for the
by disintegration of the
inner coral of lagoons and atolls.
The reproduction of coral comes by
several methods, the large masses of
coral found often twelve feet in width
all emanate from one polyp which has
grown, plant fashion, by budding, diff ,,
ferent forms of termination producing |
different shapes of coral.
Other forms as the fungi or mush |
room, and the brain polyp, are formed |
~ the fssion of large polyps into Sec |
lions more or less regular so that this |
form of coral is practically one living |
organism with many mouths. while the |
other. or branching coral, may be said |
to be rather an insect colony.
Some corals form spermatozoa eggs |
and larvae while having no distinct |
sexual differentiation, these larvae be- |
ing elected from the mouths of the |
parent polyp and, driven by oar-like
ciliae, leading a free existence before |
settling down and building them a
house of lime.
DIR. burden then described the
growth of the larvae into a fully fledg-
ed coral insect and mentioned his in
vestigation of FOSSIL corals of the Pale
ozaic period, which he averred against :
some contrary opinions, varied much
from those of today. The speaker was
thanked at the close of his
talk and business. after refreshment
had been served led up to the cleo
ion of officers for the ensuing year.
Despite his demurrer DR.. Bryan of
he Bishop Museum, retiring president,
was urged and finally prevailed upon
% continue office, the members being (
unanimous in their praise of his work
IN connection with the society. w.
>. Parke was elected vice president !
md q q Owen SAcrefarx-