184 FUNCTIONS AND INSTINCTS. 



eastern and south-western extremities are fur- 

 nished with points which project under water with 

 less inclination than the sides of the island, and 

 break the sea before it can reach the barrier to 

 the little lagoon formed within it. It is singular 

 that these buttresses are opposed to the only two 

 quarters whence their structure has to apprehend 

 danger, that on the north-east, from the constant 

 action of the trade wind, and that on the other 

 extremity, from the long rolling swell from the 

 south-west so prevalent in these latitudes ; and 

 it is worthy of observation, that this barrier, 

 which has the most powerful enemy to oppose, 

 is carried out much farther and with less abrupt- 

 ness than the other." We should feel seme sur- 

 prise if a bee, in the construction of its comb, 

 should strengthen the points most exposed to in- 

 jury ; but that an animal apparently gifted with 

 the lowest degree of sensation, and no intellect, 

 should know where to erect buttresses so as best 

 to provide for the security of its structure indi- 

 cates in a striking degree the superintendence of 

 Providence directing its blind efforts and un- 

 conscious operations. 



After considering all the wonderful facts here 

 stated with regard to the proceeding and progress 

 of these seemingly insignificant animals, a specu- 

 lative imagination may not only picture to itself, 

 with respect to any group of coral islands, its 



