ADVENTURES OF A PARTICLE OF WATER. 55 



In fact, the waters of the sea require to be stirred, 

 because numerous agents are at work day and night, 

 from pole to pole, altering their specific gravity and 

 deranging, so to speak, the mixture. This stirring 

 is secured by the unalterable laws which the Creator 

 has fixed for the carrying on of the processes of 

 nature. The currents of the sea may be said to be 

 the result of this process of stirring its waters. 



It is curious and interesting to note the apparently 

 insignificant instruments which God has- seen fit to 

 use in the carrying out of his plans. The smallest 

 coral insect that builds its little cell in the southern 

 seas exercises an influence in the production of the 

 Gulf Stream. It has been said, with some degree of 

 truth, that one such insect is capable of setting in 

 motion the entire ocean ! The coral insect has, in 

 common with many other marine creatures, been 

 gifted with the powder of extracting from sea water 

 the lime which it contains, in order to build its cell 

 The lime thus extracted leaves a minute particle of 

 water necessarily destitute of that substance. Be- 

 fore that particle can be restored to its original con- 

 dition of equality, every other particle of water in 

 the ocean must part with a share of its super- 

 abundant lime ! The thing must be done. That 

 bereaved particle cannot rest without its lime. It 

 forthwith commences to travel for the purpose of lay- 

 ing its brother-particles under contribution; and it 

 travels far and wide round and round the world. 

 Myriads upon myriads of coral insects are perpetu- 



