THE INFLUENCE OF ANIMAL LIFE ON LIME. 87 



adapted to afford the means of respiration to 

 the numberless living things that flourish in its 

 vast space. 



But there is another operating cause, which I 

 have already hinted at, and most wonderful it is, 

 in rendering the waters of the sea conducive to 

 the well-being of the animals which are to be 

 found in it, and which I will now do my best to 

 explain to you. You are aware that all rivers 

 discharge themselves into the sea, and these 

 waters have a strong impregnation of lime, which 

 is obnoxious to animal life. Now, let us see 

 how this is obviated. It is a curious and inte- 

 resting fact, and I have the authority of the first 

 naturalist and philosopher of this, or, perhaps, 

 any other country (Professor Owen), for what I 

 am going to tell you. You have all of you pro- 

 bably heard of the coral insect a very small one, 

 indeed. By the agency of these coral animal- 

 culse, two hurtful influences of the caustic lime 

 are neutralized. These animalculse absorb the 

 lime which is in solution, combine it with a sub- 

 stance called carbonic acid, and thus form what 

 is called carbonate of lime, which is insolu- 

 ble, and perfectly innocuous, or not detrimental 

 to animal life. By thus forming and precipi- 



