ITS POPULATION. 123 



square eighth of an inch ; or 5760 cells in a square 

 inch. Now, in a moderate-sized specimen of the 

 Eschara, such as several that I have had in my 

 possession, there are at least 100 square inches of 

 wall, including all the convolutions, and all the par- 

 titions, which would give a population of 576,000 

 inhabitants ; so that a well-grown mass of this coral 

 may bear rank, for multitude, with Vienna, Paris, or 

 perhaps London itself. 



Montgomery's exquisite description of the labours 

 of the Coral-worms are scarcely less applicable to the 

 architects of our humble Eschara than to those which 

 rear the colossal reefs and isles of the Pacific. Fa- 

 miliar as the lines are, I must quote them. 



" Millions on millions thus, from age to age. 

 With simplest skill, and toil unwearyable, 

 No moment and no movement imimproved. 

 Laid line on line, on terrace terrace spread. 

 To swell the heightening, brightening, gradual mound. 

 By marvellous structure climbing tow'rds the day. 

 Each wrought alone, yet all together wrought, 

 Unconscious, not unworthy instruments. 

 By which a hand invisible was rearing 

 A new creation in the secret deep. 



. I saw the living pile ascend. 

 The mausoleum of its architects. 

 Still dying upwards as their labours clos'd : 

 Slime the material, but the slime was turn'd 

 To adamant, by their petrific touch : 

 Frail were their frames, ephemeral their lives. 

 Their masonry imperishable. All 

 Life's needful functions, food, exertion, rest. 

 By nice economy of Providence, 

 Were overruled to carry on the process. 

 Which out of water brought forth solid rock." 



Pelican Islanu. 



