66 Couthouy on Coral Formations 



nating from the inner side of the upper edge of the cup ; no appear- 

 ance of reticulation under the base ; disc of column convex, processes 

 on surface eleven, one of which is in the centre, the rest arranged 

 around it, their summits entire and hispid ; lower part of tube of per- 

 ianth studded with thick glandular hairs ; anthers ten, with cells and 

 pores, as in the other species ; no moniliform cord at base of column ; 

 sporiferous cavities not apparent, flowers examined probably male ; 

 interior of perianth covered with various formed tubercles. 



Art. IX.— remarks UPON CORAL FORMATIONS IN THE 

 PACIFIC; WITH SUGGESTIONS AS TO THE CAUSES OF 

 THEIR ABSENCE IN THE SAME PARALLELS OF LATI- 

 TUDE ON THE COAST OF SOUTH AJNIERICA. By Joseph 

 i*. CouTHour. (Read December 15, 1841.) 



Among the various geological phenomena which at once 

 bear record of the past changes in the structure, conditions 

 and climate of our planet, and indicate the alterations at this 

 moment slowly and silently, but effectually going forward ; 

 few have given rise to more speculation, than the countless 

 coral isles and reefs, which stud the equatorial seas, especially 

 in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. 



It is my intention, in this communication to, throw together 

 a few observations upon this class of rocks, and such correl- 

 ative topics as may present themselves as I proceed. With 

 regard to the latter, no fixed system or order of introduction 

 will be pursued, but they will be taken up at random, as 

 suggested by the main subject. 



The vastness of the region over which these singular for- 

 mations are scattered ; the evidence they afford, by analogy, 

 of the existence, in former epochs, of a more uniformly warm 

 temperature of the earth than has pi evailed since its present or- 

 ganization — in the fact that such rocks now form only in the 

 more heated parts of the ocean, while their fossil types and 

 analogues extend even into the arctic regions — the great den- 

 sity of the beds of coral, exhibited in some of the uplifted 

 islands - — the light thrown by an examination of them, on the 



