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SKEATS: CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF LIMESTONES 55 
Collections which have been examined. — The materials for the present 
inquiry have been obtained by taking selected specimens from the col- 
lections of the expeditions about to be described ; the specimens have 
been analyzed chemically with a view to determining to what extent 
dolomitization occurs in upraised coral islands, and many microscopic 
sections have been made to illustrate the structural and mineralogical 
changes which have arisen since the formation of the rocks. 
In 1897-98 an expedition was made by Dr. C. W. Andrews, one of 
the officers of the British Museum (Nat. Hist.) to Christmas Island, in 
the Indian Ocean. The expenses of this expedition were defrayed by 
Sir John Murray, and Dr. Andrews remained on the island for about ten 
months, surveying and making extensive botanical, zodlogical, and geo- 
logical collections. 
On his return to England Dr. Andrews gave a preliminary account 
of his researches before the Royal Geographical Society.’ 
Since then he has prepared a monograph on the island, and this was 
published in 1900 by the Trustees of the British Museum. 
In 1898 ten selected limestones from the island were placed in my 
hands for chemical and mineralogical examination, and a short account 
of the results obtained was incorporated in the published monograph, but 
it was thought advisable to make a much more extensive examination 
of the limestones to render more complete our knowledge of the chemical 
and mineralogical composition of the island. This I have been able to 
do through the kindness of Professor Judd in obtaining the consent of 
the Trustees of the British Museum (Nat. Hist.) ; and I wish here to 
record my thanks to Dr. Andrews for much help in going over the 
collection with me and verifying the exact locality of each specimen. 
Toward the end of 1897 Mr. Alexander Agassiz, who has had so much 
experience among coral reefs, commenced a cruise in the ‘“ Yaralla ” 
among the islands of the Fiji archipelago. The results of his observa- 
tions were published in 1899.? 
At the conclusion of this voyage he organized an expedition to ex- 
amine in more detail certain of the upraised coral islands of the Fijis, 
with special reference to the Eastern or Lau group. This expedition 
was undertaken by Mr. E. C. Andrews, of Sydney University, who made 
a survey of several of the islands, and collected specimens from the cliffs 
and terraces. His results were published in November, 1900.? 
1 Geographical Journal, January, 1899. 
2 Bull. Mus. Comp. Zodl., Vol. XX XIII., 1899. 
3 Bull. Mus. Comp. Zoél., Vol. XXXVIIL, 1900. 
