Page:The aquarium - an unveiling of the wonders of the deep sea.djvu/164

Rh square eighth of an inch; or 5760 cells in a square inch. Now, in a moderate-sized specimen of the Eschara, such as several that I have had in my possession, there are at least 100 square inches of wall, including all the convolutions, and all the partitions, which would give a population of 576,000 inhabitants; so that a well-grown mass of this coral may bear rank, for multitude, with Vienna, Paris, or perhaps London itself.

Montgomery's exquisite description of the labours of the Coral-worms are scarcely less applicable to the architects of our humble Eschara than to those which rear the colossal reefs and isles of the Pacific. Familiar as the lines are, I must quote them.

Millions on millions thus, from age to age, With simplest skill, and toil unwearyable, No moment and no movement unimproved, Laid line on line, on terrace terrace spread, To swell the heightening, brightening, gradual mound, By marvellous structure climbing tow'rds the day. Each wrought alone, yet all together wrought, Unconscious, not unworthy instruments, By which a hand invisible was rearing A new creation in the secret deep. I saw the living pile ascend, The mausoleum of its architects, Still dying upwards as their labours clos'd: Slime the material, but the slime was turn'd To adamant, by their petrific touch: Frail were their frames, ephemeral their lives, Their masonry imperishable. All Life's needful functions, food, exertion, rest, By nice economy of Providence, Were overruled to carry on the process, Which out of water brought forth solid rock."