722 KEPORT— 1888. 



ready to believe in subsidence. These opponents of Mr. Darwin's views were 

 bound to bring forward cases in wliich atolLs were formed in connection with cases 

 of elevation. It was necessary for them to show that elevation had taken place in 

 cases where atolls had been formed. The President of Section C had pointed out 

 that elevation must be compensated for by subsidence. Was it not a fact that in 

 a volcanic district elevation often took the form of isolated peaks on which coral 

 ■work could commence, and that these would be diffused over a larger area and only 

 aifect the deep sea, so that it would not so much affect the growth of coral as the 

 elevation which gives rise to the formation of these peaks ? 



Dr. Mill said they must all very much regret the absence of Mr. Murray and 

 Dr. Guppy, the latter of whom was on his way to Christmas Island. He only 

 desired to express on Mr. Murray's behalf the gratification which he was sure he 

 would have felt had he been present to see how fully it was understood by the 

 members of both Sections that his theory was not really antagonistic to Mr. 

 Darwin's, but simply pointed out facts observed by himself and others. Mr. 

 Murray's theory of coral islands was only part of a much wider theory which was 

 formulated by the researches of the ' Challenger.' Mr. Murray referred more 

 particularly to the action of life and to the action of sea- water in dissolving 

 carbonate of lime, i.e., dead carbonate of lime. The observations of the ' Chal- 

 lenger ' and other vessels in deep sea tended to show that in the greatest depths of 

 oceans there was no carbonate of lime, but instead of that there was a red clay. 

 The water, however, contained more carbonate of lime in solution than that 

 in any other part of the oceanic area. This suggested to Mr. Murray that the 

 organisms in falling towards the bottom had their shells gradually dissolved by 

 their passage to the deep sea. In shallower depths the organisms fall more or less. 

 These banks are formed more readily in shallow water. Mr. Murray supposes 

 that the coral is not the only worker, and he prefers to call these islands organic 

 islands. Dr. Guppy found an upheaval bed closely resembling the red clay upon 

 which the coral was growing. One question which was really of importance was, 

 ' Is it possible that there is sufficient carbonate of lime to supply these great coral 

 deposits ? ' That matter was being tested by a series of laboratory experiments, and 

 this research was somewhat difficult to carry out. It is being tested by means of 

 feeding a number of hens with food containing no carbonate of lime. On testing 

 the shells of the eggs it has been found that they have in them more carbonate of 

 lime than they have received, which shows that other processes are able to produce 

 carbonate of lime. 



Mr. PouLTON wished to know whether there was no explanation that would 

 destroy, as a means of argument, the theory that volcanic action was necessary to 

 areas of elevation. He noticed that no data had been given as to the relative 

 thickness of coral. He also wanted to know whether, if these movements of 

 the earth going up and down went on, it were not possible for an atoll to be 

 formed and then upheaved — whether atolls might not be formed by depression 

 and afterwards elevated. Dr. Hickson had pointed out that small atolls probably 

 arose from small peaks and then grew outwards. Mr. Bourne had pointed out that 

 they would grow in the direction of the currents by which food would be conveyed 

 to them, and that they rested on very small bases. The question was whether 

 this would be really and physically possible. 



The President said he was afraid that the time had come when they must 

 bring this interesting discussion to a close. They would, he thought, agree, from 

 the speeches they had heard, that scientific men as a whole did not show any 

 marked disposition to plead one another's views. The fact was that the 

 condition of mind which scientific men exhibited was the best guarantee for the 

 gradual evolution of truth. They were charged by the Duke of Argyll with 

 having entered into a conspiracy of silence; but he appealed to those present that 

 morning and asked them whetlier they could see a shadow of ground for the 

 making of such an accusation. 



Dr. HiCKSOif observed that as the time was so late he would endeavour to 

 make his concluding remarks as short as possible. Mr. Poulton had asked if 

 volcanoes were always found on areas of elevation. That question was really 



