378 Mr. Couthouy’s Reply to Mr. Dana. 
Art. XV.—Reply of J. P. Cournovy, to the accusations of J. D. 
Dana, Geologist to the Exploring Expedition, contained on 
pp. 130 and 145 of this Volume. 
Messrs. Editors—I have only this day been made aware, 
that in the July number of your Journal, p. 130, are the fol- 
lowing remarks, forming part of an article “‘on the temperature 
limiting the distribution of corals, by J. D. Dana, geologist to 
the U. 8. Exploring Expedition.” “Ihave before stated to the 
Association, that the temperature limiting the distribution of co- 
rals in the ocean is not far from 66° Fahr. On ascertaining the 
influence of temperature on the growth of corals, I was at once 
enabled to explain the singular fact, that no coral occurs at the 
Gallapagos although under the equator, while growing reefs have 
formed the Bermudas in latitude 33°, four or five degrees beyond 
the usual coral limits. In justice to myself I may state here, 
that this explanation, which was published some two years since 
by another, was originally derived from my manuscripts, which 
were laid open most confidingly for his perusal, while at the Sand- 
wich Islands in 1840. ‘The anomalies which the Gallapagos and 
Bermudas seemed to present, were dwelt upon at some length in 
the manuscript, and attributed in the datter case to the influence 
of the warm waters of the Gulf Stream; in the former to the 
southern current up the South American coast, whose cold waters 
reduce the ocean temperature about the Gallapagos to 60° F’. du- 
ring some seasons, although twenty degrees to the west, the 
waters stand at 84° F'.” ‘To this passage, is appended the ensu- 
ing editorial note of explanation. ‘'The publication here alluded 
to we understand refers to an article by Mr. J. P. Couthouy, 
which appeared last year in the Boston Journal of Natural His- 
tory.” 
I am at a loss for words that shall express the mingled feelings 
of astonishment, indignation and sorrow, excited in me by a peru- 
sal of the above most serious accusation, against which I claim 
the privilege of defending myself through your pages. In doing 
this I shall endeavor to be as calm and dispassionate as the case 
will permit. From the wording of the passage above cited, I 
am somewhat in doubt whether the idea intended to be convey- 
ed by Mr. Dana, is that I am indebted to him for my views upon 
