The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-15 00:00:00

CORAL FORMATIONS.

Our readers, says Sir David, no doubt are aware that the
•coral rocks which form islands and reefs, hundreds of
miles in extent, are built by small animals called polypi
that secrete from the lower portions of their body a large
quantity of carbonate of lime, which when diffused around
the body and deposited between the folds of its abdominal
coats constitutes a cell or polypidox, or polyghary, into the
hollow :of which the animal can retire. The solid thus
formed is called a coral, which represents exactly the ani-
mal itself. These strong cells are sometimes single and
cupped, ramifying like a tree, and sometimes grouped like
a cauliflower; or, imitating the human brain, the calcareous
cells which they build remain fixed to the rocks in which
they began their labours. After the animals themselves
are dead, a new set of workmen take their places, and add
a new story to the rising edifice, the same process going on
from generation to generation until the wall reaches the
surface of the ocean, where it necessarily terminates. The
industrious labourers act as scavengers of the lowest class,
perpetually employed in cleansing the waters of the sea

from impiritiei which escape even the smallest crwiacea,
in the same manner as the inseet tribes, in their various
stages, are destined to find their food, by devouring impu-
rities calved by dead animals and vegetable matter on the
land. Were we to unite in one mass the immense coral
reefs three hundred miles long, and the numberless coral
islands, some of which are forty to fifty miles in
diameter, and if we add to this all the coraline

limestone and the other formations,
i whether cal-
careous or silicious, that are the works of insect labour, we
should have an accumulation of solid matter whioh would
compose a planet or satellite, at least one of the smaller
planets between Mars and Jupiter, and if such a planet
could be constructed, may we not conceive that the solid
materials of a whole system of worlds might have been,
formed by the tiny but long-continued labours of beings
that are invisible.

After visiting the Russian station at Petropaulo-
vowsky, we are carried to British Columbia and
Vancover Island. Here the author made some

stay, and has written in consequence at greater
length on the climate, geological formations, and
products of the country. The remarks upon all
subjects are sensible and straightforward, the
writer choosing rather to express his own convic-
tions than caring to pleas• the parties about whom
he writes. His comments upon the Romish priests
in South America are severe in the extreme, but
only express the feeling of abhorrence with which
the immoralities of these reverend gentlemen must
be regarded by all right-minded individuals:

Athletic and Gyoznastlc Exercises. By John H.
Howard. Illustrated with upwards of 70 En-
gravings. Longman.
Thanks to Mr. Kingsley and his followers the
importance of developing the physical powers, as
well as cultivating the mental faculties,
is now recognised by most of the instruc-
tors of youth ; and since the rapid extension
of the Volunteer movement we are more likely to
devote too much attention to athletic exercises than
too little. The establishment of gymnasiums is of
great advantage to boys, who would be oftener
kept out of mischief if they had some active recrea-
tion upon which to expend their redundant ener-
gies. This little volume will be of great assistance
to all such youthful Spartans ; and if they are
somewhat dismayed by the startling postures re-
presented in the numerous woodcuts, they may be
encouraged by the information that all the exer-
cises mentioned in this volume have been performed
by Mr. Howard and his pupils. "In France and
Belgium," says the preface, " gymnastic exercises
form a part of the education of youth, and happy is
he who succeeds in achieving any one feat which
leaves him sole master of the gymnasium." Those
of our young compatriots who wish to achieve
similar distinction, and outstrip their competitors,
should study Mr. Howard's little mansal.