3386 POPULAR SCRIPTURE ZOOLOGY.

vegetation. When these have once established themselves,
the elevation of the surface continues with greater rapidity,
successive layers of vegetable mould being deposited by the
rapid and luxuriant vegetation of these tropical islands,
which are soon tenanted by various forms of animals, and
at some subsequent period afford a habitation to man.”

The method of fishing for coral is as follows. A net
composed of two rafters of wood tied crosswise, with lead
fixed to them, and a quantity of loose netting and hemp, is
let down where the coral reef is supposed to be, and when
drawn up, the coral is found entangled in the loose netting ;
great care is required in pulling in the net, as the rope is
apt to break. At Trapani, in Sicily, a very simple and in-
genious contrivance is used for the same purpose. A heavy
‘stone is fixed to a large wooden cross, to each limb of which
are fastened pieces of strong net: this machine, being poised
horizontally, is let down to the bottom of the sea, and made
fast by a strong rope to the boat, which then rows about
over the beds of coral; the large stone breaks the branches,
and these becoming entangled in the net, are thus secured.
Red coral is found in the Mediterranean, about Majorca
and Minorca; on the south coast of Sicily, and on the
African coast; also in the Red Sea, where reefs extend