OCEANIA. 167 



Melliss, J. C. St. Helena ; a Physical, Historical, and Topographical 

 Description of the Island, including its Geology, Fauna, ilora, 

 and Meteorology. Pp. xiv, 426 ; plates. London. 



Part II. Geology and Mineralogy, pp. 46, with sketch map, sections, 

 &c. The rock masses are volcanic. The vent from which the lavas, 

 ashes, and mud composing the island have come forms that part in the 

 S. end called Sandy Bay. The old crater is 4 miles across, with its S. 

 edge beneath the sea. The N. edge forms Sandy Bay Ridge, on which 

 are some of the highest peaks — Diana's Peak, 2679 feet, and the High 

 Peak, 2635 ft. The floor of the crater is crossed by many dykes run- 

 ning N.E. and S.W., along the course of some of which monolithic pillars 

 have been left, as "Lot," 290 ft. high, 100 ft. thick at the base, 

 and " Lot's wife," 260 ft. high. Outside the edge of the crater the 

 layers of mud, rubble, and lava forming the mass of the island are 

 visible ; on the N. side, 40 to 50 beds of lava and 11 of mud may be 

 seen. The volcanic mud, " ochre," or laterite beds are from a few 

 inches to several feet thick, and here and there contain traces of small 

 plant-roots. The rubble or agglomerate beds are composed of small 

 stones, cinders, and ashes, and are usually 2 to 3 feet thick. Cylindri- 

 cal holes are found in these beds, which are thought to be casts of 

 trunks of trees. The lava-beds, of which 60 to 70 are recognizable, 

 vary much in composition and texture ; some are hard and compact ; 

 others scoriaceous and vesicular. The N.E. and W. parts of St. Helena 

 are intersected by deep gorges or ravines originating in the high 

 grounds near the crater-edge, and wider and deeper towards the coast 

 line. Their formation is ascribed to the action of rain and other 

 atmospheric agents on pre-existing hoUows in the newly formed sur- 

 faces of the flows. A slight upheaval is supposed to have taken place 

 along the N. part of the Island, and slightly tilted seawards that 

 part which lies on its outer side. St. Helena is believed to have 

 been both much higher, longer, and broader than now. The peculiar 

 fauna and flora in themselves point to a great antiquity. A calculation 

 from the apparent rate of denudation gives about 40,000 years as the 

 age of the Island. Earthquakes are not common, only 4 having been 

 known in the last 370 years. There are no hot springs, and the 

 minerals are not of importance. There is no evidence to show that St. 

 Helena was ever connected with any continental land. It. E., Jun. 



Moresby, Capt. J. Discoveries in Eastern New Guinea, by the 

 officers of H.M.S. ' Basilisk.' Journ. B. Geogr. Soc. vol. xlv. 

 pp. 153-170 ; map (not geological). 



The newly discovered islands at the E. end of N. Guinea are chiefly 

 lofty and volcanic, although some are low and of coral formation. On 

 the W. side of Ferguson Is. (D'Eutrecasteaux group) recent upheaval 

 is shown by the occurrence of masses of coral some distance inland ; 

 boiling alkaline springs also occur on its N. side. On the shore of the 

 inner harbour of Port Moresby gold-quartz was discovered, and again 

 at Pitt Bay, Moresby Is., in the bed of a stream. Lesson Is., oft* Cape 

 Do la Tarrc, is an active volcano. U. E., Jun. 



