The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-07-17
SECOND nAY.-.IlLlV 1st.

Morning .Session-Socety called to order
by President farmer. \ paper on "Cora's
and the coraliine formations Of Iowa, was
read BIZ Mr. c. D. WILDER, (of the Mississippi
Valley Scientific Survey Mr.. ". presented
drawings OF several species Of Zo0phytss;
also. drawings Of their buildings or coral
works ancient and modern. Individuals OF
the tribe XRnJhidia were described as being
from LOCO 10 ! 600 Of az inch in diameter.
These are chiefly found in the chalk strata
OF England They secrete from the waters
OF primal oceans the sick Of English mari
pits, from which al our crockery is made.
Another species, the G@lionella, equally as
minute, work in peat marshes aud make all
our bog iron, which they secre.e from the
waters holding il in solution. Another spe-
cieS, the Coral proper, build. its structures
Of lime which it ,ecretes from the sea.
They are all provided with tentacula or
fingers, and each finger with ciliae or
branches, each individual having mary
thousands. Or. Grant, with microscope,
estimated tia, a specimen 4 E,ustra con-
tanned four hundred millions, each branch
being, Of course, 4 perfect physiological!
structure, having veins, blood vessels, &c.
The ancient Cora's, Is well as modern,
are often Of very delicate and beautiful! con-
structioa. Oae wLo has observed them in
their oceau-home describes them As follows:
Their CalgTs were uurvaiied: vivid
greens, contrasting with the more sober
browns and vellOws, mixed with rich shades
. Of purple, from pale pink to deep blue
Bright red. yellow and peach colored mile
pores clothed those Aeshy masses that were
q ad. mingled v.,jI bCaUt uii pcarly fakes
Of eschararc aul reteporae the latter
locking ,ae lace work in ivory. Al these
-
The ripple q, which gave motion and quick
pay OF light and shadow TO the whole,
formed scene OF the T9rest beauty"
/ Mr. W then described the cora's Of Iowa,
I and presented specimens and drawings Of
such as arc found in the vicinity of Iowa
city and Mt Pleasant, VIZ LoGsdaleia f!o!I-
forlns. or birds eye coral-.Fa7ositcs pO-
. lymorpha, or fish egg corai-Lith0stortion
basaltiiorme and l. ho:iterUs. called also
birds eye coral. These ooral.ines are found
in the Lodges Of lime rock, and, when poll
ished, EXHIBIT betgtifal appearance.
lie then described the works Of modern
cor Is now going on in tie inier-troPica
oceans, snd Showed that their official work
. N the grand economy u Nature IS 10 build
continents and Islands in tie ocean, and
. to keep in constant activity the oceanic
waters. The extent ana grandeur of the
structures Of these microscopic riasCnS IS
( thus dcsCribee by Montgomery.
- SAY the living Pile ascend,
The tnaCsCEeunI % is architects.
/ SCI dying upwards as their labrrs closed.
/ Fran their forms, cIlcUeral their lives,
Their masonry iulTcri-l.atle.
Atom By atom thus the mountain grew,
\ CIrs.l I.i.:Hf. stretching e-s; and ives:
S.eep tie tanks, with pTecipices sharp,
descending 20 their base in ocean rlenm-
Compared S'h this amazing ed fee.
/ Raised by the f.ebies creatures in existence,
! WHIST are the works cs intellectual man,
IIis temples, palaces, and sepulchres:
! Dust in The balance. atoms in the gale,