1899] FUNAFUTI: THE STUDY OF A CORAL ATOLL 31 



to the state of the tide. Ou the seaward face the storm-beach descends 

 somewhat rapidly, and near its foot a sheet of hard consolidated coral- 

 rag emerges from under it, to form a gently sloping platform, over which 

 the tide ebbs and flows. In places this tidal platform rises in low cliffs, 

 ridges, and pinnacles * of fantastic shape (Fig. 9), but for the most part 

 it presents itself as a sheet of limestone, smoothed and polished by the 

 wearing action of the waves. For about fifty yards from its seaward 

 edge it is hollowed into a broad shallow depression (Fig. 10), not deep 

 enough to be called a channel, and finally swells into a narrow rounded 

 rim formed by the growth of a pink-coloured calcareous seaweed known 

 as Melobesia. Beyond this rim, which projects above the sea at low 



Fig. 10. — Funafuti on the Ocean Side. 



tide, lies the growing surface of the reef, which is constantly submerged, 

 so that under no circumstances are the corals which thickly cover it at 

 any time exposed to the air. 



Deep chasms gash the edge of the tidal platform, the continuation 

 inland of the lanes of clear sea which wander through the growing 

 reef; in these chasms a few corals may generally be found, their 

 polypes sometimes brilliantly coloured and in full expansion. 



The calcareous alga, previously alluded to as Melobesia, forms the 

 lips of these chasms, and by its luxuriant growth may more or less 

 completely roof them over, generally leaving one or more apertures, 

 which act as blow-holes. 



The ocean side of the reef is one of the pleasantest parts of the 

 island : a cool breeze almost always blows there ; and, under the 

 welcome shelter of the palms and pandanus which crowd the summit 

 of the storm-beach, one may watch the beautiful and impressive spectacle 



1 See note 1, p. 29. 



