. The ocean [microform]. Marine biology; Marine animals; Marine plants; Biologie marine; Faune marine; Flore marine. THB PAaraO OCEAN. 2Y5. corals leave off building higher; sea-shells, frag- ments of coral, sea-hedgehog shells, and their broken- off prickles, are united by the burning sun through the medium of the cementing calcareous sand, which has arisen from the pulverization of the above-men- tioned shells, into one whole or solid stone, which, strengthened by the continual throwing up of new materials, gradually increases in thickness, till it at lasi becomes so high that it is covered
. The ocean [microform]. Marine biology; Marine animals; Marine plants; Biologie marine; Faune marine; Flore marine. THB PAaraO OCEAN. 2Y5. corals leave off building higher; sea-shells, frag- ments of coral, sea-hedgehog shells, and their broken- off prickles, are united by the burning sun through the medium of the cementing calcareous sand, which has arisen from the pulverization of the above-men- tioned shells, into one whole or solid stone, which, strengthened by the continual throwing up of new materials, gradually increases in thickness, till it at lasi becomes so high that it is covered only during some seasons of the year by the spring-tides. The heat of the sun so penetrates the mass of stone when it is dry, that it splits in many places, and breaks off in flakes. These flakes, so separated, are raised one upon another by the waves, at the time of high- water. The always-active surf throws blocks of coral (frequently of a fathom in length, and three or four feet thick), and shells of marine animals, between and upon the foundation stones. After this the cal- careous sand lies undisturbed, and offers to the seeds of trees and plants cast upon it by the waves, a soil upon which they rapidly grow, to overshadow its dazzling white surface. Entire trunks of trees, which are carried by the rivers from other countries and islands, find here, at length, a resting-place, after their long wanderings; with these come some small animals, such as lizards and insects, as the first inha- bitants. Even before the trees form a wood, the real sea-birds nestle there; strayed land-birds take refuge in the bushes; and i\t a much later period, when the work has been long since completed, man also appears, builds his hut on the fruitful soil formed by the corruption of the leaves of the trees, and. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not per
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, booksubjectmarineanimals, bookye
