Association of American Geologists and Naturalists. 123 



declare that every unkind feeling which the unfortunate controversy be- 

 tween us may have engendered, has passed away, and that to me, by 

 far the most gratifying consideration connected with the manly acknowl- 

 edgment of Mr. Dana is, that it opens the way for a renewal of that 

 friendship with which it was so long both my pride and happiness to be 

 honored. 



Washington, May 14, 1844. 

 Mr, C out Jim ill ma rip 



J. P. COUTHOUY. 



of his views relating to the influence of temperature on the de- 

 velopment of corals, as compared with those entertained by Jas. 

 D. Dana, Esq, 



The satisfactory withdrawal by Mr. Dana of his charge of plagia- 

 rism, made against me at the last meeting of this Association, leaves me 



at liberty to do what was out of my power while that was impending 

 over me. 



As I have ascertained that there exists considerable difference of opin- 

 ion as to the precise nature of my views on the influence of tempera- 

 ture upon the distribution of corals, owing evidently to my not having 

 expressed them with sufficient clearness, I am desirous of embracing 

 this opportunity of defining with precision the extent of those views 

 which were original with me. This is due no less to Mr. Dana than to 

 m }self, inasmuch as he not only arrived at similar conclusions, although 

 a consi derably later period, but in consequence of longer continued 

 Pportunities and a series of more minute observations than it was ever 

 m my power to institute, has been enabled to extend these conclusions 

 ftr beyond any to which I attained. 



will therefore briefly remark, that the general conclusions which I 



P u ished in my article on coral formations three years ago, were the 



a jjral result of a very considerable series of observations, conducted 



J 1 * special reference to this question of temperature as influencing the 



ls tnbution of corals. Within two months after our arrival in the coral 



r ° u P e ' a go, I had from the evidence collected, assigned an approximate 



Provisional range of temperature as that most favorable to the develop- 



^ ent of cor *ls. At Vincennes Island, September 2d, 1839, this was 



** su med to be « from 77° or thereabouts to 82° or 83° ;" but at Onua, 



sh t0ber Hth ' h Was estimated as between 76° or 77° and 80°, as is 

 ^ Wn in the following extract from my private MSS. containing the en- 



**)e on the spot. 



s s helf has satisfied me that the suspicion entertained on our 

 aI enter] ng upon the Paumotus is correct, and that the growth of cor- 

 als i a Certa * n ex tent) depends on temperature as much as depth. It 



S lows inclusively that they flourish to a depth at least three times 



try 



