. Discovery. Science. photograph by W. H. LongUy. Fig. 3.—schooi, of pork fishes, massive coral and sea- urchins icextrechlxus), portugas. entirely different appearance is the equallv characteristic long-spined urchin, Centrechinns, which is found only at moderate depths or in the quiet pools of the reef (Fig. 3). The variations in the form of the spines of urchins can be thus roughly compared with those of the corals themselves. Of the active population of a coral reef, the fishes are without doubt the most interesting. Even the. Fig. 4. Photograph iy If. H. Longlcy. -SCHOOI, OF GRI
. Discovery. Science. photograph by W. H. LongUy. Fig. 3.—schooi, of pork fishes, massive coral and sea- urchins icextrechlxus), portugas. entirely different appearance is the equallv characteristic long-spined urchin, Centrechinns, which is found only at moderate depths or in the quiet pools of the reef (Fig. 3). The variations in the form of the spines of urchins can be thus roughly compared with those of the corals themselves. Of the active population of a coral reef, the fishes are without doubt the most interesting. Even the. Fig. 4. Photograph iy If. H. Longlcy. -SCHOOI, OF GRISEUS, PORTUGAS. least thoughtful and speculative traveller is always to admiration by them, and indeed they seem such creatures of romance that it is shameful to subject them and their doings to scientific analysis. But coral reef fishes form a biological complex of the greatest interest. The credit of much careful pioneer work in the West Indies and the Pacific is due to Professor Longley, of Baltimore. He has gathered together a mass of information concerning their habits, their coloration and patterns, their conspicuousness against natural backgrounds, their food and many other matters. A permanent record of many of these points has been secured by his remarkable underwater photographs, t xamples of which are shown amongst the illustrations to this article. A diving-hood worn over the shoulders and leaving the hands free to manage a camera enables Longley to work under water in the shallow reef chan- nels for hours at a time. He is able to move about slowly to the limit of the 100 feet of rubber piping which connect him with the boat. Though a diver cuts a strange figure according to our terrestrial ideas, he does not seem so strikingly out of place in a sub- marine landscape. The fishes, which will fly from the shadow of the boat overhead, yet show little or no fear of this uncouth monster groping his way along, and do not suspend their pressing business for him.
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