242 On the Islands and Coral-reefs of the Fiji Group. 



of the worms, and in a few minutes the water was full of 

 them. Canoes put off from the shore : men, women, and 

 children were wading on the reef with nets and all kinds of 

 utensils to catch " Bololo." With the increase of daylight 

 the " Bololo " became more abundant, and at one time they 

 were so plentiful that the water surrounding the boat was 

 filled with them to such an extent as to resemble thick vermi- 

 celli soup. We made an excellent collection of the worms, 

 preserving a large number by different methods. We found, 

 as we had expected, that their sudden appearance was con- 

 nected with spawning. There were males and females full of 

 sperm and eggs. When in captivity the discharged sperma- 

 tozoa rendered the water milky, and the masses of eggs were 

 left as patches of dark green granules on the bottom of the 

 dish. The discharge of the eggs and spermatozoa was followed 

 by the collapse of the worms, of which nothing Avas left but 

 an empty skin scarcely visible. The "Bololo" seems thus 

 suddenly to disappear. The males are light brown or greenish, 

 while the lemalcs are coloured dark green. Their activity 

 while swimming about is something wonderful, and the 

 bursting of the animal when it discharges its eggs or sperma- 

 tozoa is quite a peculiar phenomenon. Dr. Woolworth has 

 made it an object to collect all the material possible in regard 

 to the " Bololo," and on our return he will prepare a paper on 

 this interesting annelid. 



I have to thank the State Department at Washington for 

 their kind offices in obtaining for us letters from the Foreign 

 Office to the Government of Fiji. Sir George O'Brien, the 

 High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, gave us all 

 possible facilities for "visiting the different islands of the group. 

 I am also indebted to the Hon. Charles Stuart, the Colonial 

 Secretary, and to the Hon. W. L. Allardyce, assistant native 

 Commissioner, for assistance and advice. To Dr. Corney and 

 the Hon. John Berry I owe information regarding the 

 presence of elevated reefs at various points I had not examined. 

 To Captain D. Calder 1 am greatly indebted for his interest in 

 our behalf. We were fortunate in retaining the services of 

 Captain Robert Cocks as pilot during our expedition. His 

 knowledge of the reefs is accurate and extensive. Finally I 

 have to thank Captain Thomson, as well as the officers and 

 crew of the * Yaralla,' who have been indefatigable in our 

 interest. 



I hope during the coming summer to prepare a fully illus- 

 trated report of this interesting cruise 



