The herald., 1894-11-06
The Rain OF shelis-Ths Deposits In
California - Infusorist Earth
Lends Microscopic
Wonders.
by c. F. HOLDER


sand years ago this happened it is
difficult to tell, but geologic ally speak
ing, say 1000 or $4,000 or 80, Los An
geles WAS on bay-the sandy bottom
can be seen now south OF the city--and
not long before that the present site of
the city was under water, as have
seen workmen dig out the bones of O
big whale near the city hall. and in the
mountains back of the city the ak eletoh
OF one OF these monsters protruded some
time ago. All along the shore these
evidences can be found, showing that
the shore has been lifted and the water
pushed eff to ths left.
At Ell Toro beneath the farms about
| 10 feet, is bed OF solid clam ehells, 10
miles from the sea. the shells as perfect
as possible. Not five miles away was
| found huge elephant that once wand
cred on theee shores, end | eboveled in
the very quickssnd that was its trap.
All along here the shore has been lifted
by the agency that made the coast range
! and the results are fascinating to any
one interested in nature.
San Pedro long has been famous for
it's infusorisl earth, and teaspoonful of
thie, or, as far as that goes, piece the
size of pinhead, would afford natur-
alist material for volume. This de-
posit-and il crops up in a more inter.
esting way at Santa Catalina island, 20
milss to the eoa.h-is the most interest
ing work of the old ocean, aud tells
remarkable story of its duration and the
extent OF time.
The infueonians comprise 30 many
groups Of minute animals, go small that
| 1000, 000 OF some kinds, it is said,
would find their world in q single drop
OF water. The shelled variety, with
diatoms, swarm in the ocean, and COM
prise some of the most beautiful OF
| covered with radiations; Others, under a
glass, call to mind the strange forms
seen in q kaleidoscope. These little
creatures, according to Murray, fill the
ocean to such an extent that the upper.
most 100 fathoms of every square mile
of the ocean contain 16 tons OF their
shells. In other words. from each
square mile OF the ocean O certain per-
centage of 16 tons of lime in the form of
shells is falling to the bottom, with q
result that would see the filling OF oceans
in time.
All the deepsea dredging of recent years
has shown that the bottom at Q certain
depth is made up of fine, soft ooze,
formed by one OF the larger
forms of these animals. Enormous
deposits are formed by it. and if
man could penetrate to these great
depths, he would stand literally in a
rain OF shells. the offcssts of those that
have died st the surface. They sink and
are finally covered by others, the inoress-
ing weight crushing the lower stratum
out OF shape until they become ooze. In
time this deposit becomes an enorm-
GUS bank and is lifted out Of wster, be-
coming dry land.
Such deposit, or a similar one. are
the Dover cliffs OF England that attract
the attention of the traveller. In these
clffa We shall find shells of these minute
creatures identical with those living in
the Atlantic today that is being filled by
them.
If we can imagine the world remaining
just as it is for vast ages without the sp-
pearance Of earthquakes or notifications
of the crust, we can realize the fact that
the present oceans would in time be-
come filled with this deposit of ooze and
the water evaporated by the sun. But
nature has evidently foreaeen this: The
deposits of these shells have been lifted
| in one case, and the water pushed over
into other valleys and declivities.
The infusorial earth deposits in Cali
fornis are very interesting, especially
that at Santa Catalina island, where, at
the iethmus, it stands out almost as
white as enow, and being soft has been
worn into wonderful caves and singular
shapes. Where the water has reached
tho earth the latter 10 dark, and wiud
and weather have colored many ledges a
rich brown. Several OF the caves are
large enough to enter, and one which l
examined recently is well worthy of
being rated with the curiosltiss OF the
coast. The entrance of the cave is
about 40 ieet in height, and 80 near
deep water that a ship of the largest
kind could approach 1t and the men
walk ashore on the bowsprit, which
would touch the cliff. In fact, five feet
from the interior of the cave the water
ia as blue as deep water we'll can be. 80
that the azure tint ia seen when we'll in
the cave.
The latter appears to have been beaten
out by the waves piling in against the
cliff in winter storms, and at the farther
end ia little beach OF pebbles. exposed
at low tide. Rowing in, surprise await
ed me, as unseen from without, and
turning sharp to the north, was tun-
mel about four feet high. through which
the boat was pushed. 1t was not wide
enough for the oars to be used, and was.
if the water had been taken out. about
10 feet deep and $50 feet long. When
half way through there was false lead
or tunnel to the wes. for few feet,
showing that the sea had started tun-
mel into the very bowels OF the island,
The waves were felt in the interior OF the
cave, making the boat jump about, but
it was perfectly safe. We came out
around point entirely out of sight OF
the south entrance. haying passed di-
rectiy beneath this portion OF the island
that rises here as high hill, showing
that the belt of infusorial earth extend
ed far inland and probably cropped out
at various places.
A Child Enjoys
| Tho y,1o Aouor oOtinu and