Geological facts; or, the crust of the earth, what it is, and what are its usesBarrett, W. G. (William Garland)
Religion
Geological facts; or, the crust of the earth, what it is, and what are its uses
Barrett, W. G. (William Garland)
Geology
That a better idea still may be formed of this zoophyte, let the
following diagrams be added: 1 is the body or bulbous head of the
pear-encrinite, curiously laminated, and geometrically divided; 2 is a
stem the natural size, and 3 a section, or one of the articulations, in
which its entrochal and radiated character will appear.
Below is a root of the pear-encrinite (1); this will give some idea how
rudely the graceful stems were broken off by the mud sea that came upon
them, and how firm a hold the roots of these beautiful zoophytes took of
the ocean bottom; many of these roots are covered with serpulæ and
coral, that only reveal their beauty under the lens. In the root before
us, a little coral insect has begun to reticulate his tiny links of
network; these may be seen in 3, magnified, and by comparison with 2,
which is a piece of Jamaica coral, found plenteously on the seashore of
the north side of the island, the similarity in structure and symmetry
will be immediately detected.
[Illustration: Fossil]
We have already spoken of the Ammonite, but we give here a specimen of a
rare kind, preserved in the fine clay near Chippenham. The form of this
ammonite is more remarkable than that of any other; its delicate
nautilus shell has been sadly compressed, and some of its external
protuberances have been broken off, and are here restored by dotted
lines; but, more striking still, the delicate horn-like structure that
terminated its mouth or aperture has been perfectly embalmed by Nature’s
kindly hand.
[Illustration: Fossil]
[Illustration:
AM. JASON, OR AM. ELIZABETHÆ. _Oolite._
]
We have no ammonites afloat now: its twin brother, the nautilus,
survives still in sunny climes on the tropic seas; and, perhaps, when a
“new heaven and a new earth” shall usher in another act in the great
drama of creation, the nautilus may be superseded by other forms of
molluscous life, to show forth the exhaustless resources of His skill
and wisdom, who is “wonderful in counsel and excellent in working.” Thus
sings a poet and a geologist:—
“The nautilus and the ammonite
Were launch’d in storm and strife;
Each sent to float, in its tiny boat,
On the wide, wild sea of life.
“And each could swim on the ocean’s brim,
And anon, its sails could furl;
And sink to sleep in the great sea deep,
In a palace all of pearl.
“Thus hand in hand, from strand to strand,
They sail’d in mirth and glee,
Those fairy shells, with their crystal cells,
Twin creatures of the sea.
“But they came at last to a sea long past,
And as they reach’d its shore,
The Almighty’s breath spake out in death,
And the ammonite lived no more.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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