The coral grows at first at the bottom
of the sea, where it is not disturbed by the winds or waves: by
degrees, as it increases, it advances higher and higher to the surface,
till at last it comes near to the top of the water; then it is stopped
in its growth by the force of the winds and waves, which break it off,
and of course it never grows above the water, for if it did the animals
would die."
"Then how does it become an island?"
"By very slow degrees; the time, perhaps, much depending upon chance:
for instance, a log of wood floating about, and covered with barnacles,
may ground upon the coral reefs; that would be a sufficient
commencement, for it would remain above water, and then shelter the
coral to leeward of it, until a flat rock had formed, level with the
edge of the water. The sea-birds are always looking for a place to rest
upon, and they would soon find it, and then their droppings would, in
course of time, form a little patch above water, and other floating
substances would be thrown on it; and land-birds, who are blown out to
sea, might rest themselves on it, and the seeds from their stomachs,
when dropped, would grow into trees or bushes.
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