New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-10
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
BERMUDA IN SCIENCE

f. q. s. A., F. A. Geogr Soc. etc svo. DIP. 23l.
Philadelphia Published by the author.
Professor Henprin has here made fresh contri-
button to tho long list Of scientific trcatises dealing
with the geology of the Bermuda Islands. The con-
troversy the formation of them and other coral
islands is which Is likely TO be alike protracted
and indeeminae. inasmuch several OF The factors
necessary to definite conclusion at present, and
perhaps ever will be, unattainable. Professor Hell
prn takes the Darwinian position, In opposition to
Professor Louis Agassiz and others. and 1t must be
said that he makes out exceedingly strong case
for the theory Of subsistence nom the Bermudesn
rcologic formation while he follows Professor Agasiz
INTO the qatters own field, the Florldisn coast ana
challenges and taverses his inferences with great
.arncstness and boldness The present volume IS a
ronuabution to the physical history and zoology of
The somers Archipelago with examination Of the
structure Of coral reefs. The researches chronicled
were conducted under the auspices of the Academy
Of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia during summer
tour last year. Professor Helprin accomp anied
and helped by several Of his students and together
they have collected an amount Of information re-
spectng the zoology of the Islands far exceeding
previous results in the same direction.
AS is well known, and has been fully described
by Mr. A. Il. Wallace ia his Island Life the chief
characteristic of the Bemudan fauna, especially the
terrestrial and aerial is its want of special features
By far the greater proportion OF It is American, and
North American, but slight tropical element enter
Ing into It. 1t is also very poor regards variety
this being accounted for by the isolation of the
archipelago by vast spaces, which forbid trans
mission OF species save under conditions and
peculiar circumstances. The presence in Bermuda OF
small species of rats is. Of course, to be accounted
Tor by the visits Of ships. There is, however, but
sne truly indigenous reptile and but few insects
and birds The marine fauna is naturally moro
varied but here also there few special types
Ip0fo llDpfn
mems OF many of the island fauna and In regard to
bats. found them so rare that many Inhabitants had
never seen one He suspects that these animals, Ike
the BIRDS are usually wnd-drftcd. and that they do
not under stress of weather, take up residence
in the Bermudas. The description of the zoology OF
he islands has much interest outside OF Its purely
technical aspects, but the chapters which VIII at
tract most attention those which relate to the
growth and formation of the coral reefs, and the
physical structure and origin of the Islands
The conclusions reached as the result OF PROFESSOR
Hcilpine's researches ars as follows; vi Inc
present form of the Bermudas bears no lelauoh "
the ring Of an atoll, except in so far as the outer
boundary may be more or less colncident WIN inc
boundaries of the ancient atol e. The existence
Of an at0u in the present position Of the Bermudas
Is not demonstrate. 49, The height OF land In the
archipelago was formed during period OF eeVsuoh'
when seemingly tho entire archipelago was con
nected or continuous piece Of land. extending as an
oval island TO what is now thc Douhuihs U5l VI tho
north and on the south II is impossible to deter
mine the absolute amount Of elevation above the
water but IL appears to have been not less than
seventy or eighty feet and 1t may have been CON
sderably more. a. The lagoons and SOUNDS Were
formed during period Of slbsdence which FOL
lowed upon that of elevation and IS seemingly s'ill
IN progress or was so until comparatvely recent
period The great degradation Of the coast-lne took
Mace al this time. 1t is impossible to determine
,hc amount OF such subsistence. but it was at least
sixty TO seventy feet and not improbably very much
more =, The arguments by which Professor Heilpnn
supports these conclusions closely reasoned and
cogent and the whole discussion. together with the
critical notices In the appendix is full Of interest
The volume contains some good Photographic views
OF Bermudan scenery. and number of plates Illus
tratng the geological chapters