> Presently, we observe big bounds backward: the term reef is used in
> whatever context.
Perhaps we should adopt récif internationally instead for the coral
buildings? It resonates of exotic warm tropical islands, at least to me, but no
doubt in France seems just as prosaic as reef.
I do not know if récif has the same origin but reef in English comes from
rib (human bone) and probably was in use as nicely characterising long
rock strata projecting into the sea, veins of gold ore, etc, long before coral
reefs were discovered.
Now I must go harvest a reef of mushrooms. It is dark here - the
supermarket shelf variety must suffice.
Thank you Helmut for a lighter note on which to end a bad week in the
world.
Geoff
--
Geoff Read <g.read at niwa.cri.nz>
http://www.annelida.net/
-- ANNELIDA LIST
Discuss = <annelida at net.bio.net> = talk to all members
Server = <biosci-server at net.bio.net> = un/subscribes
Archives = http://www.bio.net/hypermail/annelida/
Resources = http://www.annelida.net/
--
