3U. Mr. W. R, Ogilvie-Graut oti 



Henderson or Elizabeth Island, one of the most soutlicrn 

 and easterly islands of the Southern Pacific, lies about 120 

 miles to the north-east of Pitcairn^ at about 128° W. Long, 

 and 22° S. Lat. 



The account given by the members of the expedition 

 which recently visited it difters somewhat from that pub- 

 lished by the Rev. T. B. Murray and quoted in my paper in 

 the ' Bulletin.'' No trace of volcanic rock was found, and the 

 island is said to be an upraised atoll, rising about eighty feet 

 al)ove the sea. Phosphate rocks are found, but not in suffi- 

 cient quantity to pay the cost of working. There is a slight 

 depression on the top apparently representing the lagoon 

 of the atoll, which seems to have been upraised in compara- 

 tively recent geological times. 



The general account of Henderson Island by Mr. Stephen 

 published by Mr. A. J. North, is so much better than any 

 other that I have taken the liberty of quoting it : — 



"Henderson Island is an elevated coral islet about six 

 miles knig and three miles broad, rising fifty feet above 

 sea-level. The tableland is flat and roughly strewn with 

 dead coral-fragments and pointed or knife-edged weathered 

 compact coralline limestone. The vegetation is dense scrub, 

 with vines and ferns. Pandanus trees were about the highest 

 on the island, some being quite thirty feet high. The soil 

 is very scanty, and the vegetation is often thickest in 

 slight de[)ression-areas, where soil is more abundant. No 

 water or swampy places Avere found, drinking-water having 

 to be taken on the various excursions. The island is un- 

 inhabited, and has rarely been visited by vessels, but the 

 Piteairn islanders occasionally visit it for fishing ^lUi'poses, 

 since fish are very plentiful there. There are two cocoanut 

 trees on the beach on the north end of the island, planted 

 many years ago by some of the Piteairn islanders. 



" . . . . Animal life noticed during the short stay was as 

 follows : — One variety of rat, very similar to the Pacific 

 type ; one skink (very plentiful); one small butterfly; one 

 paroquet (not very plentiful — only seen on the high part of 

 the island, and generally in pairs) ; one black crake (fairly 



