62 bulletin: museum of compjleative zoology. 



and denudation, and the accompanying weathering, had been more in- 

 tense as we proceeded southward along the windward islands of Fiji. 

 The islets and rocks remaining as evidence of the former connection of 

 tlie islands of this group are perhaps as good illustrations as any we 

 have seen of the f)rocess which has been going on to reduce to its present 

 proportions the original reef flat or island, which probably once covered 

 the whole of the area of the Ongea Lagoon. The bottom of the lasoon 

 is made np of coral and coralline sand. Half a mile from the north- 

 eastern horn of the outer reef of Ongea rises a sharp submarine peak, ot 

 which only the rock rising on the western edge remains, and on which 

 has been formed the suiall circular reef of Thakau Teteika, about three 

 quarters of a mile in diameter; while to the southeast, distant about 

 three miles and a quarter, rises Xuku Songea, a triangularly shaped 

 atoll enclosing a shallow lagoon with a low sand key at its northern 

 extremity. 



Fulanga. 



Plates 22, 22^, Figs. 4, 3, and Plates S0-S4. 



Fulanga is an elliptical island deeply indented on its southwestern 

 face (Plate 22), along which rises a ridge of elevated limestone to the 

 height of 240 feet. This tertiary limestone rock has been elevated to a 

 height of 2G0 feet at Quoin Hill, on the northeastern foce of the island. 

 The " Sailing Directions" (p. 214) represent Fulanga as " of volcanic and 



ENTRANCE TO FULANGA. 



coral formation, and the circular shape of the island leads to the suppo- 

 sition that it is the rim of an extinct crater." What I have seen of 

 Fulanga shows no trace of volcanic rocks, though they may exist on the 

 southwest shore, which we did not see. ]\Ir. Gardiner,^ who visited 

 Fulanga, classifies it among the limestone islands. It is quite natural 



1 Proc. Cambridge Pliil. Soc, Vol. IX. Part VIIL p. 458 (1898). 



