The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-09-13

DEEP SEA CoRALs.-A correspondent OF the N.
Y. Evening Post at the late meeting Of the Aca-
deny OF Science, in Northampton, Mass. writes
as follows: One of the most interesting things in
this meeting has been the presentation by Count
Pourtales OF specimens of shells and corals OBJ
tanned by deep-sea dredgings, some Of them from
the depth of three thousand feet. Many of these
are Of unreasonable value TO science determining
by their mute indisputable witness points which
had been hitherto uncertain or in regard to which,
until these specimens were obtained, erroneous
opinions had been held. In a little round box,
carefully packed between layers Of cottonwood
like jew e, were two tiny bits Of white coral.
They we're originally one. but had been sawed
through In the middle. IL was shaped like COM
mon tin horn, and had many compartments il
was perhaps one inch long and third of an inch
IN diameter al the mouth. Agassiz has said that
be would rather have it than a pure diamond Of /;
the came size.
There were glass jars in which the specimens
bad been put unassorted In the same neighbory
confusicn in which they came up. As you turned
these jars over and over, at each turn you saw ,
some Lew shape or tint of coral or shell. The
names were bewilderiDg; the genealogies Of the
uibes Of men seem trivial and simple in compare
eon with these.
In glass bottle. all alone by himself sealed
up Ike firstclsss passenger, was little fellow,
Kind Of star fsh. He consisted of a head about !
twice as big as common pin, several inches of /
stem, like fine white sewing silk, and a root like !
the same sewing silk frnged out at the end. This;
was all there was of him. They said, h0weverS
that there were but eight more like him in thee
world, and We bowed In reverence before his un{
approaehabe aristocracy. Ninth ehevaler Of G.
pure booded race, and to come TO the bottle az
last
Nothing impressed me more in looking at Thesis
specimens, not even the thought Of the dark.
deep-sea country from which they had come, than
their reproduction of shapes which We see in the
woods. As lifted up one after another said 70
myself Our great sage never saw these. BeE
he knew it ALL Years ago he said
"'By 's's. not optirn. frugal nature gave :
One scent TO hyson Aud TO wall-nower.
One ,ognd to pine grove. . and -, 70 .s.erfsls'
Iva, hersie' necessity all things
Are OF one pattern made
Andin the secosd teapp ars the nrst'
Here the coral worker had buiIded him a thlA,
fiat, orange colored palace, on ground plan 80
like the shape Of some Of the lichens on NJR
Hampshire rocks that, knowing both, no one can
see one and not think of the other. Other corals
were shaped like tiny umbrellas two-thirds opesi,
the hollow room divided OF by many thin walls. con.
verEing towards the center like spokes Of wheel.
These grew like convolvulus flowers, branching
out or hanging down from stalks.
In the woods" said, there are piok and
yellow and white fungus umbrellas like these,
only larger, and with The ends Of the handles
rooted in the ground"
yes" said Count Pourtales, f" and these are
pink and yellow when they are alive"
But the most striking similitude Of all | founi in
one Of the Jars. Pressed fat against the glaga, L
saw tiny thing which looked ike the fern uslss.
'Oh," | cried, here is plant, little sea weed
less than an inch long exactly like fern mo4s."
No, it was an animal. have forgotten his Chsis-
tian name but there was no doubt about his
kingdom, and the iDinitesimal fern.like branches
were his legs and arms and feelers.
There were also several solid pieces Of :the
formation on which these specimens were for1d
tiles, so 20 speak, wrenched mp from the oSean
foor. They looked like refuse bits l have seen
thrown out from iron foundries, as If centuries Of
fires had fused and cemented all sorus OF thints to-
gether 70 make them.
Il was one of the commonest sort OF rousk .bas-
kets IN which these precious things were pa ikad
I'D the morning they were carried away; bnt we
felt as " We were part Of royal retinne wheh we
walked by ne side.