208 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE. 
Brugiera thrives better in the more rocky places and on the small 
islands. In the extreme east of the atoll there is a large forest of 
the pseudo-mangrove Avicennia. The only other fact that need be 
mentioned is that Esprit Island has several plants not found elsewhere, 
or which are common to it and Picard Island alone. 
The fauna also must be left until the collections arrive and have been 
examined. So far as can be seen at present, it appears to be of the 
regular coral-island type, with such additions in the land animals as 
would be natural considering the large amount of land and the larger 
flora. It should, however, be remarked that the mangrove swamps 
were very disappointing in their fauna, a condition very different from 
that described in mangrove swamps in other localities. 
Large numbers of giant land tortoises still exist, but the problem of 
their distribution does not relate to Aldabra alone, as I have found their 
remains on Assumption and Cosmoledo, and they are also known to 
have occurred in nearly all the Seychelles Islands, two of which—Bird 
and Dennis—are coralline in structure. 
In conclusion, I would suggest that the reefs and islands of the 
Aldabra-Farquhar line present a most interesting series representing 
the possible life of an atoll. 
(a) Astove.—Land rim of atoll almost perfect and mostly rocky. 
Only one small pass of recent date. Lagoon exceedingly shallow, but 
getting rapidly deeper. Formation of another pass proceeding. 
(b) Aldabra.—Land rim still very perfect, and mostly rocky. 
Several passes already in existence. Strong evidence of increase of 
lagoon at expense of land. Lagoon deeper, and at least three passes in 
course of formation. 
(c) Cosmoledo.—Land rim broken up into a series of small islands 
only. Most of encircling reef bare, but evidence of a former rock-cap 
in mushroom-shaped rocks and minute islands. A noticeable increase 
of sand on the island, and decrease of rock. Lagoon deeper than that 
of Aldabra, and more open. 
(d) Farquhar.—Judging from Mr. Stanley Gardiner’s description, 
land rim very small. Island nearly all sand, and typical coral rock very 
scarce. Lagoon still more open. 
(e) A final or hypothetical stage may be imagined as an atoll with 
a considerable lagoon, without, perhaps, any land; or, if land is present, 
only as sand cays piled up on the reef. 
The Amount of Gold Coinage in Circulation in the United 
Kingdom.—Interim Report of the Committee, consisting of 
Sir R. H. Inetis PaueraveE (Chairman), Mr. H. STANLEY 
JEvons (Secretary), and Messrs. A. L. Bowxey and D. H. 
MAcGREGOR. 
Ar a meeting of the Committee held in November 1908 the estimate of 
the total gold coinage in circulation obtained from the available data 
was considered, and it was decided thaf the only assignable limits of 
