PREFACE. 



The Trustees having been pleased to authorize the 

 preparation of a monograph embracing the scientific 

 results of the exploration of Christmas Island by 

 Mr. C. W. Andrews during a visit extending over ten 

 months in 1897-98, I was requested by the Director to 

 make the necessary arrangements, and obtain the assistance 

 of the several members of the staff of the Natural History 

 Departments in the British Museum and other gentlemen 

 (whose names will be found in this W'Ork), without whose 

 kind co-operation Mr. Andrews' task would have been an 

 impossible one. 



The valuable help of various special artists had also to 

 be secured to illustrate the work, and within rather over 

 a year from the time of inception the volume has been 

 completed. 



By Professor Lankester's desire, this monograph has 

 been restricted to a description of the Physical Features 

 and the Geology, together with the Land Fauna and Flora 

 of the island. 



