NATURAL SCIENCE 



A Monthly Review of Scientific Progress 



No. 69— Vol. XI— NOVEMBER 1897 



NOTES AND COMMENTS 



The Confirmation of Darwin's Theory of Coral Islands 



During the past few years there has been a lull in the long contro- 

 versy regarding the origin of the coral atolls of the Pacific. The 

 arguments for and against Darwin's theory had been so often repeated 

 that people were tired of deductive reasoning on a problem which 

 might at any time be solved by a practical test. It has been 

 admitted for many years that the only method of ending the con- 

 troversy is to make a deep boring in an oceanic atoll. The first 

 attempt to apply this method was made during the expedition of 

 the United States cruiser, the Tuscarora, but the boring tools broke 

 at a slight depth. In 1891 a committee was appointed by the 

 British Association to arrange a plan for a new attempt. The 

 Admiralty was willing to assist by help of a surveying ship, and 

 the Government of New South Wales was ready to lend the bor- 

 ing equipment. A report was prepared, and it was recommended 

 that Funafuti, one of the Ellice Islands, should be the site of the 

 experiment. Accordingly a joint expedition was sent out by the 

 Royal Society and the Australian Museum at Sydney, and was led 

 by Prof. Sollas. Valuable natural history collections were made 

 at Funafuti, and many interesting anthropological observations re- 

 corded ; but the main object of the expedition was not accomplished, 

 as the boring failed. The observations collected were claimed by 

 Admiral Sir W. J. L. Wharton as opposed to Darwin's theory ; 

 whereas Mr Chas. Hedley of the Australian Museum maintained 

 that the general survey of the island strongly supported it. With 

 splendid perseverance the Australian authorities resolved to renew 

 the attempt. Accordingly a new expedition was sent out under 

 the command of Prof. T. Edgeworth David of Sydney. A tele- 

 gram from Sydney on October 4 announced that all the difficulties 

 had been successfully overcome, and that the boring had been 

 carried to a depth of 5 5 7 ft. , and was still in coral rock. A further 

 telegram on October 12 announces that the depth of 643 ft. has 

 been reached and the boring is still being carried through coral rock. 



