XXill 



when fished from these madreporous rocks, have been 

 found to possess an insufierable stench ; this may be 

 occasioned by the Polypi being in a state of decompo- 

 sition, as their fetidness is then sufficiently powerful to 

 cause vertigos, and even suspended animation ; as I 

 myself experienced whilst preparing the Antipathes 

 Myriophylla, which a friend had sent me from Nice. 



Sometimes they wholly envelope in a calcareous 

 coating the vegetables of the sea, and, in obstructing 

 the pores necessary for their aliment, cause them to 

 perish in an animated prison. Innumerable instances J 

 of their power of annoyance might be adduced, 

 such as choking up harbours, causing shipwrecks, 

 &c. &c. 



But He who formed the Universe, created nothing 

 in vain ! His works all harmonize to blessings, un- 

 bounded by the mightiest or most minute of His cre- 

 ation. Each day displays to the reflecting, new proofs \ 



\ 

 of His wisdom in new developements of His plans, | 



I 

 and gives fresh force to the conviction that our | 



ignorance alone must obscure our view, when we ' 

 cannot comprehend His aim of eternal good. 



On land, the vegetable tribes absorb the carbonic 

 acid oar inhalements have created, and return us the 

 life-giving oxygen. In the bosom of the deep, the 

 Polypi absorb the calcareous salts brought irom the 



