coral-reefs

Incidentally, he had ideas about coral-reefs, disagreed profoundly with Darwin on that subject, had voiced his opinion in several monographs and one book, and was now back at his hobby, cruising the South Seas in a tiny, thirty-ton yacht and studying reef-formations.

Bunches of Knuckles 2010

Up flushed the rose, up rushed the sun, and the level rays glittered on the smooth stems of the palm-trees, and threw rainbows across the foam upon the coral-reefs, and gilded lonely uplands far away, where now stands many a stately country-seat and busy engine-house.

Westward Ho! 2007

Their width is about fifty miles; but, for a space of two hundred miles on each side of them, evidences of subterranean action are to be found in recently elevated coral-rock, or in barrier coral-reefs, indicating recent submergence.

The Malay Archipelago 2004

We then rowed across to the island of Motir, which is so surrounded with coral-reefs that it is dangerous to approach.

The Malay Archipelago 2004

Finally, if we look to other oceanic islands of about the same height and of similar geological constitution, but not encircled by coral-reefs, we may in vain search for so trifling a circumambient depth as 30 fathoms, except quite near to their shores; for usually land that rises abruptly out of water, as do most of the encircled and non-encircled oceanic islands, plunges abruptly under it.

Journal of researches into the geology and natural history of the various countries visited by H.M.S. Beagle 2003

No theory on the formation of coral-reefs can be considered satisfactory which does not include the three great classes.

Journal of researches into the geology and natural history of the various countries visited by H.M.S. Beagle 2003

I will now give a very brief account of the three great classes of coral-reefs; namely, Atolls, Barrier, and Fringing Reefs, and will explain my views172 on their formation.

Journal of researches into the geology and natural history of the various countries visited by H.M.S. Beagle 2003

These nulliporæ, which are hard, very simply-organised sea-plants, play an analogous and important part in protecting the upper surfaces of coral-reefs, behind and within the breakers, where the true corals, during the outward growth of the mass, become killed by exposure to the sun and air.

Journal of researches into the geology and natural history of the various countries visited by H.M.S. Beagle 2003

These nulliporæ, which are hard, very simply-organised sea-plants, play an analogous and important part in protecting the upper surfaces of coral-reefs, behind and within the breakers, where the true corals, during the outward growth of the mass, become killed by exposure to the sun and air.

Journal of researches into the geology and natural history of the various countries visited by H.M.S. Beagle 2003

Taking into consideration the proofs of recent elevation both on the fringed coasts and on some others (for instance, in South America) where there are no reefs, we are led to conclude that the great continents are for the most part rising areas: and from the nature of the coral-reefs, that the central parts of the great oceans are sinking areas.

Journal of researches into the geology and natural history of the various countries visited by H.M.S. Beagle 2003