72 THE BERMUDA ISLANDS. 



worth, in all theories bearing upon the formation of coral 

 islands. 



Since the preceding notes were sent to press Alexander 

 Agassiz has published his observations on the " Coral Reefs of 

 the Hawaiian Islands."* This paper, apart from giving de- 

 tailed descriptions of the reefs of the Sandwich Islands, 

 presents, on the whole, perhaps the clearest statement of views 

 bearing upon the structure of coral islands that has yet been 

 published, but it can scarcely be said that it contributes 

 materially toward the solution of the general problem. Mr. 

 Agassiz asserts himself to be a pronounced opponent of the 

 theory of subsidence, as, indeed, he has always been since he 

 first undertook the very careful survey of the Florida reefs. 

 I think it will be generally admitted, however, that the evi- 

 dence which is now brought forward is, as far as the substitute 

 theory is concerned, almost wholly negative, while much of it 

 favors the theory of subsidence. Mr. Agassiz assumes certain 

 definite premises or propositions, which are dogmatically 

 stated, but it is difficult to find the exact evidence upon which 

 these premises are based. The special points of evidence 

 which, in the opinion of this authority, render the subsidence 

 theory unnecessary and untenable are practically the same as 

 those which have already been discussed, and consequently 

 they call for but little detailed consideration. 



Mr. Agassiz considers it "remarkable that Darwin, who is so 

 strongly opposed to all cataclysmic explanations, should in 

 the case of the coral reefs cling to a theory which is based 

 upon the disappearance of a Pacific continent, and be appar- 

 ently so unwilling to recognize the agency of more natural 

 and far simpler causes ; " and he further expresses himself : 

 " as long as we can in so many districts explain the formation 

 of atolls and of barrier reefs by other causes, fully sufficient to 

 account for the numerous exceptions to the theory of Darwin, 

 which have been observed by so many investigators since the 



^Bulletin Mus. Comp. Zoology, XVII, April, 1889. 



