P<K) THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA. 



3. Slowness of the growth of Coral Ecefs — Florida Keys— Destru<'tiou 

 of Coral Islands during a tempest in January KS(J5 — Kegions 

 in which Coral Reefs are found. 



Although it is certain that the growth of coral 

 reefs is very slow, yet we have no very precise obser- 

 vations on this point. Dana estimates tJie growth of 

 the madreporic polypier at the rate of (0°**41) more 

 than a foot, annually. 



According to an observation by Hunt in West 

 Key, Florida, in 1857, a meandrina increased six 

 inches in radius in eleven years. According to the 

 observations of the same naturalist, an occulina grew 

 rather faster. 



Some large specimens of meandrinae, observed by 

 Ehrenberg in the Eed Sea, would thus appear to be 

 thousands of years old, and must at least have been 

 contemporaneous with Moses. But Ehrenberg's esti- 

 mate of size was perhaps a little exaggerated. 



The growth of a reef is much slower than that of 

 the coral which composes it. The sea incessantly 

 effects its partial destruction. Sometimes, indeed, 

 the violence of the waves uproots it completely. 

 Such a case occurred in the Palmerston Islands in 

 January 1865, as described by Captain Dunn, of the 

 English brig Annie Laurie, in an account to the 



