218 CORALS AND CORAL ISLANDS. 



oolites through the action of high waves, the beds are pretty 

 regular in themselves, but slant in every direction toward the 

 sea, showing that they were deposited under the action of 

 winds blowing at different times from every quarter. It is 

 further noteworthy, that, while the thicker layers consist of 

 oolitic grains distinguishable by the naked eye, there are at 

 intervals thin layers of very hard, compact limestone, alterna- 

 ting with the oolitic beds, which have no doubt been formed 

 in the same manner as the coating of the pot-holes." 





I 



as 



w \ 



\ ■■-. V 



THE BERMUDA ISLANDS. 



The oolitic limestones, referred to by Prof. Agassiz as 

 the description states, are not the true coral reef-rock, the base- 

 ment rock of the reefs, but the superficial beach sand-rock and 

 drift sand-rock of the preceding pages, which are very gener- 

 ally oolitic in structure. 



The Bermuda, or Somers 1 Islands. — The Bermudas are the 



