COEALS. 245 



polypi, which, rising up in beautiful and delicate 

 forms, displace the mighty ocean, defying its 

 gigantic strength, and displaying a shelly bosom 

 to the expanse of day ! The vegetation of the sea, 

 cast on its surface, undergoes a chemical change ; 

 the deposit from rains aids in filling up the little 

 gaping catacombs ; the fowls of the air and of the 

 ocean find a resting-place, and assist in clothing 

 the rocks ; mosses carpet the surface ;' seed brought 

 by birds, plants carried by the oceanic currents, 

 animalculse floating in the atmosphere, live, propa- 

 gate, and die, and are succeeded by more advanced 

 vegetable and animal life. This process continues 

 while generation after generation is passing away ; 

 and at length these coral islands bloom out like a 

 paradise, filled with the choicest exotics, most beau- 

 tiful birds, and most delicious fruits — where man 

 may indolently revel to the utmost desire of his 

 heart ! 



Polypifera (Polypes). — Several species of zoo- 

 phytes, or polypes, are found in the water around 

 the smaller islands. The Alcyonium digitatum (which 

 signifies toes, or claws) is one of the commonest of 

 the polypes, being attached to almost every stone 

 or shell brought up from the bottom of the sea. 

 Sometimes it is very small, but when larger, it is 



16 — 2 



