HEXAGONAL STRUCTURES 



65 



Fig. 20. — Palaeozoic type of lamelliferous cup-shaped coral. Order Zoantharia rugosa (Milne 

 Edwards). 



A. Vertical section of Gampophyllum jlexuosum, half natural size, from the Devonian of the 

 Eifel. The lamellss are arranged aronnd the inside of the cup ; the walls consist of cellular tissue, 

 and large transverse plates, called tubidx, divide the interior into chamhers. 



B. Arrangement of the lamellte in Polycmlia profunda, natural size, from the magnesian 

 limestone, Durham. Shows quadripartite arrangement of primary septa, there being four principal 

 and eight intermediate laniellse — multiples of four. 



C. Stauria adrxiformis (Milne Edwards). Young group, natural size. Upper Silurian, Gothland. 

 The lamella in each cup are divided by four prominent ridges into four groups. These corals 

 illustrate radiating, concentric, and segmented arrangements (M. Edwards — interpreted by the 

 Author). 



Fk;. 21. 



Pig. 21. — A. Body and arms of crinoid (Oyalho- 

 crinus planux, Miller). Occurs in mountain limestone. 

 Shows hexagonal arrangement at base and branching 

 aiTangement at body and free extremity. Naturally 

 occupies vertical position. 



B. Young specimen of tora\ {Lonsdaleia floriformis, 

 M. Edwards), with buds or corallites on the disc illus- 

 trating calycular gemmation. 



(J. Lithdstrotion flm-iforme (Fleming). Part of a 

 full-grown compound mass. Shows hexagonal outline 

 of tubules and concentric radiating arrangements of 

 interior. Bristol, &c., Russia (after Lyell). 



Fig. 22.— Neozoic type of lamelliferous cup-shaped coral. Order Zoantliaria aporosa (Milne Edwards). 



A. Parasmitia centralis (Mantell). Vertical section, natural size. Upper chalk, Gravesend. In 

 this type the lamellae are massive and extend to the axis or columella, composed of loose cellular tissue 

 without any transverse plates. 



B. C'yathina hoicerba iihii (M. Edwards). Transverse section enlarged. Gault, Folkestone. In 

 this coral the primary septa are a multiple of six. There are twelve principal plates, and between each 

 pair three secondaries — in all forty-eight. 



0. Fungia patella ris (Lamkj. Recent ; very young state. Magnified. Shows six primary and 

 six secondary septa. Illustrates radiating arrangement (after Lyell — interpreted by the Author), 



The columnar, hexagonal, prismatic, radiating, and concentric arrangements met with in inorganic and organic 

 structures are, it appears to me, governed by laws not at present understood. Neither physical pressure, contrac- 

 tion and shrinkage, growth and expansion, nor the action of heat and cold of themselves fully account for them. 

 The hexagonal, prismatic columns of basalt and starch are solid ; the hexagonal columns of corals and the honey- 

 comb of the bee are hollow. The basaltic columns are produced from a hot fluid mixture, those of starch from a 

 cold fluid mixture. The columns divide transversely as well as longitudinally. The more or less shapeless living 

 sarcode of the coral cannot possibly supply the model for the hexagonal symmetrical tubes which these interesting 

 creatures produce singly and collectively ; neither can the cylindrical body of the bee furnish the model for the 

 hexagonal cells of the honeycomb ; a cyhnder cannot be the pattern for a hexagon, the cyhnder being round, the 

 hexagon angular. Neither can shrinkage and expansion, taken separately, wholly explain the phenomena. The 

 basalt and starch assume the hexagonal prismatic form presumably on contracting ; the epithehal cells of the skin, 

 the liver cells, and the pigment cells of the choroid of the eye presumably on expanding and indenting each other. 

 The same results are obtained by apparently diametrically opposite methods and, what is remarkable, in inorganic or 

 dead, and in organic or living matter equally. Similar observations have to be made regarding the radiating and 

 concentric arrangements. These, curiously enough, occur in crystals and in plants and animals. Here again the 

 boundary between the dead and Uving disappears. The more this subject is looked into, the more it will appear 

 that a hard and fast Une cannot be drawn between inorganic and organic matter, and between physical and vital 

 force. This circumstance, singly and alone, goes far to prove the presence of a Creator and the existence of laws 

 which apply equally to the rocks, crystals, &c., and to plants and animals. The atoms and molecules which enter 

 into the composition of all known substances, dead and living, behave similarly in the inorganic and organic kingdoms. 

 Of this I am fully convinced. 



The two great kingdoms of nature are correlated, and interact to an extent at present undreamt of. They 

 are not opposed to each other, as some hastily conclude. The organic is taken from and returns to the inorganic, 

 and the inorganic, or part of it, becomes animated from time to time. Both kingdoms form one great whole, and 

 they are created, regulated, and supervised by the same master-intellect. It is not a case of a house divided against 

 itself, but one of complete harmony, where everything works to a given end, and for good, 



VOL. I. ^ 



