NOV 82 1897 
NATURAL SCIENCE 
A Monthly Review of Scientific Progress 
No. 69—Vo.t. XI—NOVEMBER 1897 
NOTES AND COMMENTS 
THE CONFIRMATION OF DARWIN’S THEORY OF CORAL ISLANDS 
DuRinG the past few years there has been a lull in the long contro- 
versy regarding the origin of the coral atolls of the Pacific. The 
arguments for and against Darwin’s theory had been so often repeated 
that people were tired of deductive reasoning on a problem which 
might at any time be solved by a practical test. It has been 
admitted for many years that the only method of ending the con- 
troversy is to make a deep boring in an oceanic atoll. The first 
attempt to apply this method was made during the expedition of 
the United States cruiser, the Zuscarora, but the boring tools broke 
at a slight depth. In 1891 a committee was appointed by the 
British Association to arrange a plan for a new attempt. The 
Admiralty was willing to assist by help of a surveying ship, and 
the Government of New South Wales was ready to lend the bor- 
ing equipment. A report was prepared, and it was recommended 
that Funafuti, one of the Ellice Islands, should be the site of the 
experiment. Accordingly a joint expedition was sent out by the 
Royal Society and the Australian Museum at Sydney, and was led 
by Prof. Sollas. Valuable natural history collections were made 
at Funafuti, and many interesting anthropological observations re- 
corded ; but the main object of the expedition was not accomplished, 
as the boring failed. The observations collected were claimed by 
Admiral Sir W. J. L. Wharton as opposed to Darwin’s theory; 
whereas Mr Chas. Hedley of the Australian Museum maintained 
that the general survey of the island strongly supported it. With 
splendid perseverance the Australian authorities resolved to renew 
the attempt. Accordingly a new expedition was sent out under 
the command of Prof. T. Edgeworth David of Sydney. A tele- 
gram from Sydney on October 4 announced that all the difficulties 
had been successfully overcome, and that the boring had been 
carried to a depth of 557 ft., and was still in coral rock. <A further 
telegram on October 12 announces that the depth of 643 ft. has 
been reached and the boring is still being carried through coral rock. 
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