56 On the Formation and Growth of Coral Reefs and Islands. 



So closely do some naturalists draw these analogies, that the AbW Fortis, 

 iu the Jouru. de Physique for 1786^ says that be has identified some of the 

 fossil fishes from the above locality, with living specimens from Otaheitfe. 

 Certain it is, that the identification of genera has been made out in several 

 instances of late years, by the discovery of recent animals in the southern 

 pacific, whose analogues \vere before only known in a fossil state. Nor 

 are we without direct evidence of such forces now actually operating; nu- 

 merous instances might be quoted, such as the appearance of several 

 islands in the Grecian Archipelago, recorded by Pliny as occurring in his 

 own time, particularly in tiie bay of Santorin j siuce which, others have 

 occurred among the Azores, where, in 1638, a submarine volcano arose close 

 to the island of St. Michael, occupying a space of nine miles in length, by 

 three in breadth, and remained above the water three weeks, when it dis- 

 appeared. In November, 1720, it again appeared, and remained until 

 November, 1723, when it sunk and gave eighty fathoms soundings; and it 

 will be recollected, that in 1811, it once more shewed itself, was taken 

 possession of by the British, and received the name Sabrina, thus giving a 

 periodic distance of time, of about ninety years, though probably this 

 ougiit only to be noticed as a remarkable coincidence; and lately, we have 

 had the evidence of Graham's Island. It in fact is only necessary to read 

 the various geological works, to satisfy the reader, of the very numerous 

 cases of alteration which have taken place on the face of the earth, by 

 volcanic agency and earthquakes. 



That the New Zealanders have a knowledge of such events as the rising 

 of land from the depths of the ocean, is certified by their having a deity, 

 who makes land under the waters when he fastens a hook to it, wiiich it is 

 another god's duty to haul up : Mowheemoha is the name of the god who makes 

 the land ; Mowheebotahec, of the god who hauls it up, and is the giver of life. 



NOTICE 



OF 



PROFESSOR FARADAY'S RECENT DISCOVERIES, 



With regard to the Laws of Electro-Chemical Decomposition. 

 At the period when the first number of this Journal is about to make 

 its appearance, the most important novelty in chemical science appears to 

 be undoubtedly the recent discoveries in Electro-Chemistry, by the indi- 

 vidual to whom both the important branches of physics which have given 

 rise to this compound appellation, have been previously so much indebted. 

 Mr. Faraday has now investigated the general laws of electro-chemical 

 decomposition ; he has reduced those with which we were before acquainted, 

 to a degree of precision far beyond that attained by former discoveries, 

 and he has suggested many which are perfectly new — and one of them of 

 transcendant importance — namely, that electro-chemical action follows the 

 law of definite proportions ; so that if we take the quantity of water 



