66 DR. H. B. GUPPY. 
The first is from Professor James Gutxin, F.R.S., of Edinburgh 
University, who writes :— 
“ Dear Sir, 
“T regret my inability to attend the meeting of the Institute 
on Monday. I have read Dr, Guppy’s paper with the greatest 
interest, and am of opinion that he has made out a very strong 
case indeed against the theory of coral island formation advanced 
by Darwin. When Mr. Murray published his antagonistic views 
in 1880, I felt that the whole question of the origin of reefs was 
opened up again, and that one could no longer accept Mr. Darwin’s 
theory without some considerable modifications. I consider that 
Dr. Guppy’s researches have removed many of the difficulties in 
the way of accepting the views advocated by Murray, Agassiz, and 
others; and that the famous Darwinian theory of coral reefs can no 
longer be said to hold the field. But, although the theory so ably 
supported and illustrated by Dr. Guppy seems most likely ere long 
to be generally accepted, it does not, I think, forbid the probability 
that some coral reefs may have originated in the manner suggested 
by Darwin.” 
The second is from Mr, Ropertr Irvine, who writes :— 
“Tam sorry I cannot attend the Victoria Institute meeting, and 
that the time at my disposal is too limited to prepare any comments 
upon the paper, other than that I think it places the facts in con- 
nection with this interesting subject in a very clear light; and the 
deductions the author draws seem to me reasonable as accounting 
for the interesting calcareous formations known as coral reefs. I 
presume you have seen my letter in Mature, of March 15th, on this 
subject.” 
The third is from Mr. S, R. Partisoy, F.G.S., who writes :— 
“ Had the late Mr. Darwin possessed the advantage of con- 
sidering the discoveries made, and the careful collation of facts 
observed by Dr. Guppy, and of perusing the able digest of previous 
publications on the subject which he has now put forward, I feel 
convinced that the great naturalist would have accepted the explana- 
tion of the phenomena now formulated, and would have given up 
his ingenious theory of gradual elevations and subsidences of the 
sea bottom. Observation has now shown, that there is simply no 
occasion for Mr. Darwin’s or any other theory in the case, The facts 
should, coupled with our knowledge of the power of sea-water to 
