222 Cruise of the "Alert" 



as the limit in depth at which reef-forming corals live. Polyzoa 

 were numerous. I noticed representatives of the genera Retepora, 

 Crista, Eschara, Cellepora, Lepralia, and Myriozoum. There were 

 also some examples of Sertularia and other flexible hydroids. 



Our gropings over the platform of fringing reef, which formed 

 the foreshore at low water, resulted in the acquisition of several 

 species of holothurians. Among these was a large Synapta, which 

 was abundant, and a very tough-skinned holothurian — of the genus 

 Moliria — provided with organs resembling teeth at its posterior 

 extremity. 



On March 23rd we moved over to Poivre Island — a few miles 

 distant — where we anchored, and remained for part of two days. 



Poivre Island was colonized for the first time in the year 1820. 

 It is now the property of a Frenchman residing at Paris, and is 

 managed by his agent, a Monsieur Bertaut, who, with his wife 

 and family, and some twenty negroes and their wives, form the 

 population of the island, altogether amounting to twenty-seven. 

 Of course the staple produce is cocoa-nut oil, and the island 

 having been planted with cocoa-nuts at an early period in its 

 history, the trees are in good condition for bearing, and covei 

 every available spot of ground. Among the other trees on the 

 island I noticed a Casnarina and a Ficus. Two shrubs were com- 

 mon ; one, called the "Bois D'aimanthe" {Suriana maritime*), formed 

 a sort of hedge around the island, and the other was a Tonrne- 

 fortia, which seems to be the first plant to establish itself on these 

 islands. The fauna included a black-and-white rabbit — of course 

 introduced — which was very abundant, and some pigeons of a 

 dark-brown plumage. Pigs and domestic poultry seemed to be 

 largely favoured by the colonists, and were indeed in a thriving 

 state. 



Like all the Amirantes, Poivre Island is low and flat, and is 

 only exceptional in being the most prosperous island of the group, 

 for which it is indebted to the zeal of the earlier colonists who 

 planted its splendid grove of cocoa-nuts. The island is oval in 



