i 505 ] 
LXXXVI. A Letter from James Parfons, 
M. D. F. R. S. to the Rev. Mr. Birch, 
Seer. R. S. concerning the Formation of 
Corals, Corallines, &c. 
S I R, 
Read jane feveral ingenious opinions of 
I/3 “‘ X fome of this learned Society, upon 
what M. Peyffonnel has advanced, concerning the 
formation of fome of the fabmarine bodies by ani- 
mals, have occafion’d the following conjectures; 
which I lay before you, not at all prefuming ab- 
folutely to decide a queftion of fo difficult a na- 
ture, but only to endeavour at throwing a little more 
light upon the fubjeCt, in general, by fuch further 
obfervations, as I thought would be mod conducive 
at lead, to come to a little more certainty about it. 
I believe it may be faid, that there can be no ocular 
demonft ration of the fabrication of any of thefe bodies, 
whether by animals, or by vegetation ; becaufe this 
happens under the water, far enough from any human 
obfervation. Therefore, when at any time fuch of 
thefe, as are faid to be the work of animals, have been 
taken up, there is no doubt, but that thofe foft gelati- 
nous weakly animals may have been fecn upon them, 
and thence have been concluded to be the makers of 
them. Certainly there is nothing impoffible to Di- 
vine Providence, in the order and difpolition of every 
thing to the bed; advantage. Among the animals, 
from the larged; to the mod minute, none are de- 
ditute of proper habitations ; and we fee, amongd 
S f f them 
