fessor Dana has given a very beautiful description of the wonders of coral growths and forms.

4. He says, "Trees of coral are well known, and although not emulating in size the oaks of our forests for they do not exceed six or eight feet in height they are gracefully branched, and — the whole sur

face blooms with

coral polyps in

CORAL FOUND IN THE INDIAN OCEAN.

place of leaves and flowers.

5. "Shrub

bery, tufts of rushes, beds of pinks and feathery mosses are most exactly imitated. Many species spread out in broad leaves or folia, and resemble some largeWhen alive, the

leaved plant just unfolding. surface of each leaf is covered with polyp-flowers. 6. "The cactus, the lichen clinging to the rock, and the fungus in all its varieties have their numerous representatives. Besides these forms imitat

ing vegetation, there are gracefully modelled vases, some of which are three or four feet in diameter, made up of a network of branches and sprigs of flowers.

7. "There are also solid, coral hemispheres like domes among the vases and shrubbery, occasionally ten or even

twenty feet in

diameter, whose

symmetrical sur

face is gorgeously decked with polyp-stars of purple and emerald-green." Under such circumstances one is not surprised at the

fancies of the

ancients connec

ted with ocean

life!

8. Specimens

RED CORAL.

of coral are most desirable for cabinets.

One

can imagine the delight of the coral fisher when some rare piece of coral is brought up by his net or by the dredging machine. The chief coral fisheries are along the coast of Algeria and Tunis.

Here the corals are sorted, packed and sent to Europe.

9. They are then cut and polished for the necklaces and other ornaments which are so much admired. Red coral is the most desirable; it is very hard and capable of being highly polished. While the more lacy corals sway with the moving tides, the red coral is stout enough to withstand the usual movement of the waters.

10. Great quantities of coral are sent to India. It is much admired by the natives of that country and is cheap enough for many of them to procure. The blood-red corals are preferred by this darkcomplexioned people, while the fairer Europeans prefer those of a roseate or pinkish hue.

11. There have been many strange ideas regarding corals. For instance, that they were of a soft vegetable composition, that hardened upon coming to the air; or that in a free condition they were soft, but turned to stone from very terror upon becoming entangled in the fisher's net. Great labor is connected with the coral fisheries and frequently much disappointment, but a few rich finds now and then serve to encourage the coral fisher to continue his occupation.

1. We have all seen many different kinds of plants. We have observed how plants differ from

A PLANT, SHOWING ROOT, STEM, LEAVES AND FLOWERS.

each other in size and shape, in color and appearance.

2. They range from the giant tree to the tiny

blade of grass; from the sober-colored evergreen to the brightest of pretty flowers.

3. Most of us could easily name the different parts of a plant the roots, the stem, the branches, the leaves, the buds, the flowers and the fruit or seeds.

4. After a little thought, we should no doubt remember that the root of a plant is that part of it which is always present; the stem nearly always; while the leaves, flowers and fruits are present only at certain seasons of the year.

5. Just as in an animal there are various parts, or organs, as they are called, which have some particular work to perform, such as the mouth and the stomach, whose work is concerned with the feeding of the body; so in plants there are organs for the performance of various duties.

6. For instance, in a plant, the root, the stem and the leaves are all concerned in the work of its nourishment; while the flowers are concerned with the production of the seeds, from which new plants may grow.

7. Plants, like animals, die in due time; and if there had been no seeds to carry on plant life, after a time all the plants would have disappeared from the earth.

8. Some plants produce flowers from which their seeds are ripened. These are therefore classed as the "flowering plants"; in this class