ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 201 



I reached after a hard climb, I found a little basin containing a couple of buckets 

 full. The caverns were dreary looking places, dark and wet, and echoing to the 

 hoarse cries of the sea-birds. The rock, on its sides, is rounded and smoothed 

 by the action of the waves, at some long past time, and in many places ' the tcalls 

 are crusted with coral.' 1 



"The highest pinnacle of the rock is about 120 feet high, and it covers, I should 

 think, about two acres. It stands on the edge of the lagoon, or rather within it, 

 being connected with the coral barrier only by a narrow isthmus of coral clinker. 

 Between this rock and the sea, however, the barrier, instead of being as else- 

 where, a solid platform of coral, is only a heap of fragments, piled in winrows by 

 the waves, 250 or 300 yards in width. The lagoon is a quiet fresh water pond, 

 two miles long and about oue broad, with a long spit of mud running out into the 

 middle of it, but elsewhere of a light green color, which seemed to indicate a 

 considerable depth. Its .shores are abrupt, the coral platform in most places pro- 

 jecting out over water of a considerable depth. I did not find the least sign of 

 vegetable life upon the island. 



" The only plant* seen, grew in considerable quantities in the lagoon, which I 

 pulled out of the water, where it was gi owing. There is nothing but a coral 

 platform, coral clinker and coral sand. We foui.d nothing to detain us and left 

 the island on the afternoon of the day on which we landed." 



Mr. Darwin, on his remarks on the geographical distribution of reef-building 

 corals, states that he could find no evidence of their living on or near the west 

 coast of America, and consequently discredits the statement made by Sir Edward 

 Belcher; for after examining a Ms. chart of Clipperton Rock, at the Admiralty 

 Office, drawn by Sir Edward, came to the conclusion that it was more of the 

 shape of a crater. The Island is, however, a true Atoll and has been elevated at 

 least 100 feet. 



It must have been closed since 1839, and the freshening of the water has pro- 

 bably been caused by rain. 



We may also add, that it stands within the limits of reef building corals, as 

 deduced by Mr. Dana, from tables of the temperature of the sea, and consequently 

 is confirmatory of his opinion. 



We might add other facts in support of Mr. Dana's theory, but from other 

 parts of the Pacific. 



Discussion as to the adaptation of certain semi-tropical 

 plants to the climate of California. 



Regular Meeting, July 3, 1865. 



President in the chair. 



Eight members present. Prof. John Torrey, R. Kennicott 

 W. H. Dall, Horace Mann, and Capt. Wright, visitors. 



* Specimens of the plant referred to by Mr. Pease, were received by the Academy. 



