36 



jr. J. SOLLAS 



[jANl'Al'.Y 



crowned by the almost vertical cliffs of Chamisso's " table-mountain," 

 which, as he rightly divined, is of a similar nature from base to 

 summit. All this is coral reef; how much more may be so it is 

 impossible in the present state of our knowledge to say. 



The general feeling of disappointment with which our failure to 

 bore through the reef was received was fully shared by our friends in 

 Sydney. Determined not to be put off with a first rebuff, they 

 promptly commenced to make arrangements for a second attempt, and 

 last year (1897) an expedition again left Sydney for Funafuti, this 

 time under the direction of Professor Edgeworth David of the University 

 of Sydney. Under his leadership the boring proved a complete success. 

 The reef was penetrated to a depth of 697 feet, or 116 fathoms. 

 Thus Darwin's wish has now been more than satisfied. The core 



Fig. 13. 



brought up was sent over to this country, and is now in the hands of 

 Professor Judd for investigation. Till he has completed his report it 

 would be premature to enter into details, but from a general examina- 

 tion, made without the aid of the microscope, I think I may fairly 

 venture to say this much, that the material brought up from the 

 boring, and of which the reef is composed, presents much the same 

 general character throughout, and so far supports Darwin's theory ; 

 that layers of chalky ooze, such as on Sir John Murray's hypothesis 

 we might have expected to find in the lower parts, are conspicuously 

 absent ; and finally that it presents no trace of volcanic material. 



On whatever side judgment may ultimately be given in this 

 question, the thanks of the scientific world must undoubtedly be conceded 

 to Sir John Murray for having disturbed a decided opinion from its 

 slumber, for having awakened a fresh interest in Darwin's theory, and 

 in thus leading to renewed investigation, which is both adding to our 

 knowledge and suggesting fresh inquiry. 



The sand showing little trace of consolidation which was noticed in 

 our boring down to 100 feet is maintained in Professor David's boring 

 down to about 100 fathoms, and it is not a little remarkable that 



