Com] AND SYMBOLS. 53 



has no power to carry its operations, and the reef, consequently, 

 no longer extends itself upwards. The surrounding parts, how- 

 ever, advance in succession till they reach the surface, whero 

 they also must stop. Thus, as the level of the highest tide is 

 the eventual limit to every part of the reef, a horizontal field 

 comes to be formed coincident with that plane, and perpen- 

 dicular on all sides. The reef, however, continually increases, 

 and being prevented from going higher, extends itself laterally 

 in all directions. The nature of the coral worm does not permit 

 of its working in any other way, and thus, without any design 

 on its part, the necessary result of its activities is the accom- 

 plishment of grand results. It is more than probable that the 

 human race are, in like manner, working out some grand design 

 of the great Architect of the universe, of which they have no 

 more an adequate conception than the coral worm has of the 

 fact that it is engaged in making an island. MY. 



Coloured by our Associations. 



Although the natural hue of the Pholas (Boring-shell) is 

 white, it is often stained with the colour of the substance in 

 which it is imbedded ; and when it lives in the red sandstone, 

 the red is often so deep that it might easily be taken for the 

 natural colour of the shell. Like the stock-jobber on the 

 Exchange, the man at the clubs, or the conventional religionist, 

 the Pholas is toned by its associations, and cannot preserve an 

 independent colour. c. s. 



A Combination of Utility and Beauty. 



Sometimes we meet a man whose character is as beautiful as 

 his versatile abilities are useful. We are amazed almost at the 

 many different ways in which our admiration is challenged by 

 the variety of his valuable works and accomplishments, and the 

 diversity of uses to which his great powers may be applied. 

 He reminds one of that native tree of South America, the 

 Papaw. Its splendid appearance resembles the palm. But it 

 has more than mere beauty of form. It is embellished with 

 luxuriant yellow fruit ; and this fruit, besides being savoury and 



