THE ATOLL OF MINIKOI. 41 



of the reef-flat, which is broken into buttresses and masses by the channels along which 

 the superincumbent water escapes. The fissures vary enormously, some being only a few 

 inches across, others many yards, serving perhaps as boat-channels, the waves surging 

 through and not piling up as breakers. The channels gradually slope from the reef to a 

 depth of about 2^ fathoms at the ends of the buttresses. The latter may be of almost 

 any size, and are often much intersected. The rollers break just outside their seaward 

 ends, which in any one position lie approximately in line with one another. Off Teveratu 

 the buttresses are smooth on the top, covered with seaweeds, with all the species of corals 

 of the true reef-flat, together with many stunted colonies of some massive facies of Pocillo- 

 jyora. To seaward they end more or less precipitously, but towards the fissures often ovei-- 

 hang from 1 to 2 feet ; their edges and sides — except where they are overhung — are com- 

 pletely covered with encrusting nuUipores. Some of the channels extend right into the true 

 flat, but none are large enough for boats. They have no coral growth, but boulders of recent 

 coral origin may lie in them, generally more or less bedded in sand, perhaps being con- 

 solidated to the rock by nuUipores. 



The reef off the lighthouse and the western parts of the island exhibits the same 

 divisions as at Teveratu, but the true reef-flat is about twice as broad. The beach is 

 formed of small boulders and sand, tailing off into a rough area, 20 yards broad, which 

 represents the inner zone of Teveratu. It has the same characters as the latter but less 

 intensified, and further is strewn with coral masses, some thrown up by the waves, but 

 the majority washed down from the land behind. I could find no trace of any consolidation 

 going on at the present day, the loose masses usually lying bedded in a little sand, which 

 may have a few crustaceans and worms, perhaps also a holothurian or two and some 

 actinians. The under sides of the blocks, where exposed freely to the water, are bare, or 

 covered in patches with thin sponge and Tunicate colonies. The broad flat is almost devoid 

 of life of any sort ; its surface has a somewhat slimy appearance from the mud and dirt. 

 Such algae as grow on it are small and filamentous, silted at their roots with mud A few 

 small pits are found, having perchance a boulder or two bedded in sand, the whole of the 

 rest of the hollow obliterated by Halimeda, or some .similar alga with calcareous leaves. 

 The fissure zone is the same breadth as off Teveratu, but it is higher, and resembles 

 more the same zone, described by me at Funafuti and Rotuma'. Its surface is pitted, and 

 almost completely covered with low green algae and nuUipores. In larger pits corals may 

 grow, but the colonies are of small size-, a species resembling Pocillopora coespitosa being 

 the most common ; an incrusting Montipora alone attains any magnitude, although most of 

 the genera found at Teveratu may be represented. The seaward edge of the zone forms 



ordinary currents caused by which would be bound to sweep Proc. Camb. Phil. Soc, vol. ix., pp. 417-503. (1898.) 

 round it. Probably the seas always break on it heavily, - This is a most remarkable feature along the whole reef 

 keeping the water of the reef-flat cool, and practically at the in this position, few of the colonies being more than a few 

 lowest tides preventing any drying up of the coral polj'ps. inches across. At the commencement of the much delayed 

 The whole reef, too, having a rocky shore, is singularly free south-west monsoon in August, 1899, the beach was strewn 

 from mud and dirt of all sorts. On the whole I am inclined with small coral fragments, and there seemed to be consider- 

 to think that this luxuriance only dates back for two or three able death among the reef corals, owing to dirt and mud. 

 seasons, which have been peculiarly favourable. The small I am inclined to think that most of the branching coral 

 size of most of the coral growths lends this view some colonies had been formed since the last south-west monsoon 

 support. (in this ease 10 months), and that few or none survive it. 

 ^ "The Coral Reefs of Funafuti, Eotuma and Fiji, etc." 



G. 6 



