186 



THE POPULAR EDUCATOR. 



duce corals in a similar way, but of different shape. These 

 are not fixed like the red coral, but consist of a main axis 

 from which many parallel branches, forming two series on 

 opposite sides, spring. The appearance is so exactly like that 

 of a wing-feather of a bird with its barbules, that the family is 

 called Pennatulidai, or the family of little quill-pens. 



Another widely different order is represented by the Pleuro- 

 brachia, an illustration of which is given in the last lesson. This 

 little animal may be found washed up at the edge of the wave 

 on the eastern coast. It is about the size of a large gooseberry, 

 but in shape more like a lemon, with a small elevation at one 

 end and a depression at the other. The substance of the 

 animal is as transparent and as clear as crystal, and it shines 

 in the sun like opal. Attracted by the appearance of this 

 little symmetrical lump of jelly, the beholder on further 

 examination finds that a flickering motion is seen to play 

 along eight bands which run from pole to pole of the animal. 

 If he take the little glistening globe and place it in a tumbler 

 of sea-water, it puts forth two long streaming tentacles, whose 

 secondary branches look like long fringes. The anatomical 

 study of this animal reveals that the flickering along the 

 meridional zones is caused by an apparatus consisting of a 

 number of semi-circular plates which are set on the body with 

 their diameters applied to the surface, the half-circular side 

 free and bearing a fringe of hairs which are constantly in 

 motion, and which in fact are the means of propelling the 

 animal. These plates with their cilia are considered to be 

 like combs, and the order is called Ctenophora, or comb- 

 bearing animals. The mouth opens at the end, where there 

 is a slight protuberance, and it leads down to a curious 

 branched system of canals, best understood by a reference to 

 the illustration. 



Another family of the Ctenophora is represented by a 

 strap-shaped animal, which is called Cesium Veneris, or the 

 girdle of Venus. This animal occurs in the Mediterranean 

 Sea, and is dt scribed as very beautiful. The idea which 

 suggested the name is poetic and appropriate, for from the 

 foam of the sea which washes classic shores Venus was sup- 

 posed to have sprung, and as she emerged, she left behind her 

 zone. 



The Actinozoa, especially the Zoanthoria, play an important 

 part in modifying the earth's crust, for these are the animals 

 which produce the coral reefs and coral islands. The animals 

 mainly concerned in building up coral reefs cannot live at 

 more than about 100 to 200 feet below the surface, and of 

 course they cannot live above it, but they delight in the 

 boisterous waters of the surface. Their instincts guide them 

 to build up on almost all coasts of the tropical seas long banks 

 or bars, which are always highest on the ocean side, and 

 highest of all towards the direction from which the fiercest 

 winds blow. 



These banks or reefs come to the surface at some distance 

 from the shore, and enclose a lagoon of still water which is a 

 safe harbour for ships. Certain islands in the South Seas are 

 entirely composed of coral, and they are almost all of a circular 

 form, enclosing a basin of water. These ring-like islands are 

 called atolls. The enclosed basin is shallow, but outside the 

 island, even close to the shore, the sea is too deep to> be 

 fathomed. The phenomena of reefs furnished to our renowned 

 naturalist, Darwin, a means of proving that the crust of the 

 earth was being slowly upheaved or slowly depressed in different 

 areas. 



In Figs. VII., VIII., and IX., in the preceding page, the 

 principal forms of reefs are represented as though we had cut 

 perpendicularly down through land, reef, and sea, and so could 

 see their relations. 



In Fig. IX., A represents a volcanic island surrounded by a 

 barrier reef with its enclosed lagoon. Suppose this to be slowly 

 lowered in relation to the surrounding sea, the corals will con- 

 tinue to build upon their old foundation, maintaining their 

 position at the surface, while the solid mountain disappears, 

 until finally a ring-like reef, or atoll, will be formed. 



If, on the other hand, the land rise the corals are killed, and 

 fresh ones must begin further down on the submarine flanks of 

 the mountain, while a fringing reef (Fig. VII.) is left on the side 

 of the mountain above sea level. 



The actual position of coral reefs corresponds well with this 

 theory. 



KEADING AND ELOCUTION. XIX. 



ANALYSIS OP THE VOICE. 

 RULES ON EXPRESSIVE TONE (continued). 



Rule 10. Moderate grief and sorrow, pity, and tender love 

 and admiration are expressed by "softened force," "high" 

 notes, and slow "movement;" by prolonged and swelling 

 "medial stress;" and by "pure," but "chromatic," or plaintiva 

 utterance. The " rising inflection," in the form of " semitone " 

 (half tone), prevails in the expression of these emotions. 



Example of Moderate Grief. 

 Enamoured death, with sweetly pensive grace, 

 Was awful beauty to his silent face. 

 No more his sad eye looked me into tears / 

 Closed was that eye, beneath his pale, c6ld br6w ; 

 And on his calm lips, which had lost their gl6w, 

 But which, though pale, seemed half-unclosed to speak, 

 Loitered a smile, like moonlight on the snow. 



Pity. 



Morn came again ; 



But the young lamb was dead. 

 Yet the poor mother's fond distress 



Its every art had tried 

 To shield, with sleepless tenderness, 



The weak one at her side. 

 Bound it, all night, she gathered warm 



Her woolly limbs, her head 

 Close curved across its feeble form j 



Day dawned, and it was dead. 

 It lay before her stiff and cold ; 



Yet fondly she essayed 

 To cherish it in love's warm fold ; 



Then restless trial made, 

 Moving, with still reverted face, 



And low complaining bWat, 

 To entice from their damp resting-place 



Those little stiffening feet. 



Tender Love and Admiration. 

 Hushed were his Gertrude's lips, but still their bland 

 And beautiful expression ' seemed to melt 

 With love that could not die ! and still his hand 



She presses to the heart no more that felt. 



[ ] Ah ! heart, where once each fond affection dwelt, 

 And/eatures | yet | that spoke a soul more fair ! 



Rule 11. Impatience, eagerness, and hurry are denoted by 

 "loud," "high," and "quick movement;" impatience, by 

 " vanishing," or final " stress ; " eagerness, by " expulsive 

 medial stress ;" hurry, by abrupt "radical" or initial " explo- 

 sive " "stress:" all three emotions are sometimes marked by 

 the "tremor," and by " aspirated," and sometimes " anhelose" 

 or panting utterance eagerness occasionally by the " orotund." 

 The " falling inflection " characterises the tones of these 

 emotions. 



Example of Impatience. 



Mortimer. Fie ! cousin Percy how you cross my father ! 



Hotspur. I cannot choose : sometimes he angers me, 

 With telling me of the mdlditarp and the dnt, 

 Of the dreamer Merlin, and his prophecies ; 

 And of a dragon, and a finless fish, 

 A clip-uiinged griffin, and a moulten raven, 

 A couching lion, and a ramping cat, 

 And such a deal of SKIMBLE SKAMBLE STU'FF, 

 As puts me from my faith. I tell you what, 

 He held me, but lost night, at least NINE HOURS, 

 In reckoning up the several DEVILS' names 



That were his lackeys .- I cried " humph.'" and "wtll!" "go tb .''' 

 But marked him not a word. Oh ! he's as tedious 

 As is a ti?-ed horse, a railing wife ; 

 Worse than a SMOKY HOUSE : I had rather live 

 With cheese and garlic in a WINDMILL, FAR, 

 Than feed on'cdtes and have him TALK to me, 

 In any summer-house in CHRISTENDOM. 



Eagerness. 



Hotspur. Send danger from the east unto the west 

 So honour cross it from the north to sduth, 

 And let them grapple : Oh .' the blood more stirs, 

 To rouse a L!ON, than to start a HARE. 

 By heaven, methinks it were an easy leap, 



