. Piotograplt by A. G. Mayor, -EDOE; of CORAT. reef IX PAGO PAGO harbour, SAMOA. on the rate of growth, it certainly results in character- istic modifications of coral form. In the picture already alluded to the colonies of Acropora (= Madrc- pora) are shown with their spreading mushroom-shaped base and closely set stumpy branches, hugging the reef surface tightly and offering as little chance as possible to the disruptive force of the Pacific rollers. Many colonies die, but their form is preserved by an enamel- like coat of encrusting Lithothamnion—a calcareous plant. (Such colonies appear in
. Piotograplt by A. G. Mayor, -EDOE; of CORAT. reef IX PAGO PAGO harbour, SAMOA. on the rate of growth, it certainly results in character- istic modifications of coral form. In the picture already alluded to the colonies of Acropora (= Madrc- pora) are shown with their spreading mushroom-shaped base and closely set stumpy branches, hugging the reef surface tightly and offering as little chance as possible to the disruptive force of the Pacific rollers. Many colonies die, but their form is preserved by an enamel- like coat of encrusting Lithothamnion—a calcareous plant. (Such colonies appear in the photographs as white patches.) This will grow, however exposed the position ; and on coral pinnacles, where no corals and graceful, or spreading branches, as are generally associated with their growth. This, too, is the effect always to be traced passing shoreward over the reef flat. The Lithothamnion ridge acts as a breakwater a^ad protects the inshore corals from the full brunt of the waves. It also ponds back the seawater at low tide, so that on a fringing reef a gigantic shore pool extends between the reef edge and the sandy beach, of uniform depth, in which the numberless coral colonies flourish—resembling a series of low bushes witli their tops reaching a uniform level of about i8 inches.
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