40 J. STANLEY GARDINER. 



shallow pits. Often bare patches of rock occur, the pinnacles are constantly falling, and 

 there is no doubt but that they are being rapidly eroded to the level of the outer terrace. 



Off Moii-Rainbu there are four terraces, the most seaward with the same characters as 

 the outer of those described above, but about 35 yards in breadth. The second has only 

 a very few pinnacles, mostly at the outer edge. The third is studded with blocks, the 

 outer limit being marked by an almost complete line, and the fourth, or iimennost, is a 

 rocky mass of conglomerate with top awash at ordinary high tide, broken up by a number 

 of fissures, through which the water escapes after each successive wave. 



In Ko-Vari bay the inner terrace forms a ridge at the base of the beach, 3^ feet above 

 the low-tide limit. It is quite smooth, and formed of a conglomerate of sand and coral 

 fragments. Parts consist of the ordinary coral conglomerate, but most is of beach formation 

 (see page 37). It is being worn away on the surface, eroded underneath, and great slabs 

 are constantly being broken off, the action nevertheless being much slower than on the 

 coral-rock. The reef outside this inner terrace varies in breadth to 45 yards. Two terraces, 

 each 10 to 12 yards across, occur, the inner smooth and bare of organic growth with a well- 

 marked line of pinnacles on its outer edge, the seaward 1 foot lower, somewhat hollowed 

 out in the centre, edge marked only by an occasional pinnacle and the surface covered 

 with green algal growths with nuUipores to seaward. An outer flat starts 1 foot lower ; 

 it varies up to 25 yards in breadth, and slopes gradually to a depth of about 5 feet, 

 where it gives place to a succession of coral and nullipore masses. Its surface is covered 

 with green algae, nullipores and corals of the usual genera in addition to massive and 

 branching facies of Porites. 



From Ko-Vari bay westwards the terrace formation disappears, giving place to a broad 

 reef-flat. Masses of conglomerate, however, crop out at the base of the beach right round to 

 the end of the island. Off Teveratu point the beach is very steep, — being formed of large 

 boulders from the conglomerate, — and merges below into the reef, which is about 80 yards 

 across. Three parts may be readily distinguished ; an inner 20 yards broad, bare with a few 

 rock masses, the remains of the terrace formation ; a middle part, 40 yards across, never 

 completely uncovered at low tide, the typical reef-flat ; and an outer part, which slopes for 

 about 1 foot in a breadth of 20 yards, consisting of great buttresses, perhaps divided across, 

 the fissure zone. The reef-flat is noticeable in this position for the remarkable abundance 

 and luxuriance of coral growth, as compared with the same part to the south and west 

 of the atoll, and generally with the Maldivan reefs. Three or four facies' of Madrepora 

 abound, with low branches and spreading masses, in places covering over 20 per cent, of 

 the surface. Other corals spread over an additional 20 per cent., Coeloria daedalea, Pocillo- 

 pora coespitosa, Leptoria tenuis, Orbicella (two or three species), Pavonia repens. Psammocora 

 plicata and Porites pulniata being the most numerous''. The fissure zone is simply a part 



' By the term facies I imply simply a mode of growth. were also obtained in addition to specimens of Prionastraea, 



I cannot use the term species in referring to Madrepora ; Hydiwpltora, Goniastraea and Astraea. 



it is too precise, as I am uncertain whether all, while - I am at a loss for a complete explanation of this great 

 appearing distinct, are not really the same species. The luxuriance of coral growth, unparalleled in my experience 

 determinations of the species, while usually accurate, are of similar reef-flats, both for quantity of coral and variety 

 only intended to convey an idea of the facies of the genera of genera and species. Teveratu point projects to the south- 

 represented. More massive species of Pucillopora and Porites east, eight points from either of the prevailing winds, the 



