No. 2.— The Chemical Composition of Limestones from Upraised 
Coral Islands, with Notes on their Microscopical Structures)! 
By Ernest W. SKEATs. 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
PAGE PAGE 
Ra tateoductory to. e188 C. The TongaGroup . 8&8 
Historical Introduction. . 56 D. The Paumotus Group 85 
Chemical Methods ... 61 E. The Ladrones. . . 86 
Microscopical Methods. . 65 2. Indian Ocean — 
If. Chemical and Microscopical Christmaselslandesge-y noe 
Results— ~ III. Chemical Summary .. . 101 
1. Pacific Ocean — IV. Summary of Structural and 
A. The FijiGroup .. 69 Mineralogical Changes . 105 
ERNIE lave citi! Se toe | SOI ee CORCLUBION 4 \o a. st y.c, Cae an GES 
I. Introductory. 
Since Darwin’s historic voyage in the “ Beagle” nearly seventy years 
ago, and Prof. J. D. Dana’s work in connection with the United 
States Exploring Expedition (Wilkes) of 1838-42, perhaps no two 
subjects of geological interest have excited more attention and aroused 
more discussion than the question as to the origin of coral reefs and the 
problem of the formation of dolomite. 
The work of subsequent investigators, especially that of Sir John 
Murray, in connection with the Challenger Expedition, has considerably 
increased our knowledge of the conditions under which coral reefs may 
be formed. 
Within the last five years interest in this subject has been still further 
stimulated by several expeditions to localities in the Pacific and Indian 
oceans, which have been made with the object of extending our informa- 
tion as to the structure and origin of coral islands and to throw light on 
other problems related to this important question. 
The expeditions to the Funafuti Atoll (1897-99) under Professor 
Sollas, and later under Prof. Edgeworth David, were organized by 
1 Reprinted with additions from the copy privately issued in 1902. 
VOL. XLII. — NO. 2 1 
