5384 
NALORE 
[Apri 21, 1904 
largely of Foraminifera with casts of corals, the whole 
cemented together by crystalline calcite. Foraminifera 
predominate still more between 637 and 748 feet, where 
the rock becomes soft and chalky looking, crystalline 
dolomite largely replacing calcite as the cementing 
material. From this depth to the bottom, 3663 feet, 
the core was 3113 feet long, the rock being a hard 
dolomitic limestone, with frequent cavities 
organisms had been dissolved out. Corals are only 
represented by casts, and these are generally very 
badly preserved, though in some places protected by 
incrustations of Polytrema or Lithothamnion. Here 
and there occurs a disposition to form alternate bands 
of corals and Foraminifera mixed with detritus, the 
thickness of the latter considerably exceeding that of 
the former. 
The whole core was divided into 1065 lengths, each 
of which has been separately examined and described 
where | 
| grown at a greater depth 
| characteristic sedentary organisms of 50 to 200 fathoms 
which the various expeditions were sent out to solve. 
Their matured judgment, after examining the whole 
core, could not but have been of great value. It is 
quite clear, however, that they consider the whole core, 
running through nearly 200 fathoms, to consist of the 
same materials and to have been formed in the same 
way. Lithothamnion, Polytrema, and certain Foram- 
inifera extend through the whole of it, but also live 
down to 200 fathoms. Unfortunately our knowledge 
| of the bathymetrical limits of corals is less certain, 
but, so far as it at present goes, they cannot have 
than 50 fathoms. The 
are stated to be absent from the core, and, if this be 
the case, it seems almost certain that Funafuti in its 
upper 200 fathoms owes its formation to some change 
| or changes of level in the sea floor. 
Had there been such a subsidence practically all 
Rotts >| 
by Dr. Hinde. 
expedition was similarly treated, as was also that from 
the lagoon boring, though the latter was largely frag- 
The core from the borings of the first 
mentary in its nature. It was situated about one and 
a half miles from the middle of the eastern rim of the 
lagoon, and commenced at a depth of 101 feet. Two 
borings were made, the deeper reaching a depth of 
144 feet below the floor of the lagoon. To a depth of 
70 feet an uncemented material was obtained consist- 
ing mainly of Halimeda ids and a few Foramini- 
fera. Below, this was gradually replaced by a porous, 
rubbly limestone formed of the 
as now live in the lagoon, together with Foraminifera, 
the whole cemented by calcite into a hard rock. 
In our opinion it is unfortunate that Prof. Judd and | 
Dr. Hinde have not clearly expressed their opinions 
on the formation of the atoll, really the sole question | 
NO. 1799, VOL. 69] 
ame genera of corals | 
| of a heap of dead corals. 
the corals of the core should be in their positions of 
growth. Corals are frequently stated in the report to 
be so, but the question as to whether they are or are 
not is such an important one that the full evidence 
should have been given. Coral colonies differ largely 
in different parts of their surfaces, but that any con- 
clusions could be drawn from casts as to their positions 
of growth seems doubtful. Again, the relatively small 
size of the corals found in the core—five or six or 
more corals per foot—does not agree with the usual 
descriptions that have been given of coral growth 
in situ, and seems better explained by the consolidation 
If the rock were formed by 
a growing reef in shallow water it should be observed 
that no reef similar in its constitution was found by 
Mr. Finckh. However, the authors evidently consider 
that they have proved a vertical thickness of nearly 
