318 



" ALBATROSS " TROPICAL PACIFIC EXPEDITION. 



179 ; 180, fig. 1) is flanked by two sand spits. The beach on the higoon side 

 is about seven feet high (PI. 179, fig. 2), while on the sea side it is at least 

 twelve to thirteen feet. The shore of the gaps towards the lagoon are 

 flanked on the outer edge with beach rock conglomerate ; this is gradually 

 changed into fine coral sand as we reach the edge of the lagoon (PL 179j. 

 A line of breakers extends directly across the gap ; the light green color 

 of the water shows there is only a shallow passage between the lagoon 

 and the sea face (PI. 180). 



We anchoi'ed in twelve fathoms, about three quarters of a mile off Wotje 

 Island. Corals grow in large patches between 6ur anchorage and the shore, 

 mainly blocks of Porites, patches of Pocillipores, of Millepores, and of Mad- 

 repores ; wide patches of AlgJB and Nullipores, separated by lanes of sand, 

 extend to seven or eight fathoms in depth. Along the slope of the beaches 

 both the corals and the Algse diminish in number with increasing depth, 

 to twelve or fifteen fathoms, and more rapidl}' to twenty fathoms. The 

 island of Wotje (PI. 227, fig. 4) is fully three quarters of a mile wide; it 



is formed by a succession of 

 low ridges, — four where we 

 crossed it, — forming sinks, in 

 which the natives have dug 

 water-holes. The ridges are 

 covered with magnificent Pan- 

 danus, breadfruit, and Pouka 

 trees. The belt of vegetation 

 is much finer (PI. 178) than 

 on any other atoll we have 

 visited. Rolled beach corals are met with across the whole island ; on the 

 sea face the island is flanked by a wide reef flat, edged with Nullipore and 

 Pocillipore knolls. The reef flat is about 150 yards in width ; it slopes 

 gently ; large numbers of coral heads have been thrown upon its surface. 

 The sea beach is at least fourteen feet high, composed in part of shingle, 

 in part of sand. At the base of the beach extend masses of beach rock 

 conglomerate, made up of large blocks of coral heads, and of smaller 

 fragments of beach rock and corals. On the lagoon side the beach rock 



Ska Fack of WDi.ik Island. 



