Rei'ieu-s—T/ie Atoll of Ftmafuti 221 



A general description of the atoll is given, of its submarine slopes 

 and of its surface features. The latter present six zones from the 

 ocean to the lagoon, namely : (1) the Nullipore Rim ; (2) the reef- 

 flat ; (3) the glacis of coral rock ; (4) the Hurricane Beach ; (5) the 

 central flat of the islet; (6) the lagoon mound. 



The features of the glacis of coral rock, especially its isolated 

 outliers, are discussed, and also the mode of growth and the horizon 

 of Heliopora and Poriles now growing in the lagoon, as bearing on 

 the former condition of the island ; and the conclusion is arrived 

 at that the island has undergone oscillations of level, which may 

 possibly be correlated with a preglacial, glacial, genial, and present- 

 day period in geological time. 



Section ii, by H. C. Russell, C.M.G., F.R.S., gives an account of 

 the meteorological observations made during the stay of Professor 

 Sollas on the island ; and section iii, by Captain E. W. Creak, 

 R.N., F.R.S., is the report on the results of the Magnetic Survey 

 of the atoll made by the officers of H.M.S. '• Penguin," the ship 

 which conveyed the expedition under Professor Sollas to Funafuti. 



Section iv is the narrative, by Professor T. W. Edgeworth David, 

 B.A., F.R.S., of the second and third expeditions made during the 

 years 1897 and 1898. 



After the failure of the expedition in 1896, Professor David, of 

 Sydney, incited those interested in New South Wales to make a further 

 effort to bore Funafuti, with improved boring-plant. By means of 

 generous gifts of £650 from Miss Eadith Walker, of Sj'dney, and 

 £100 from Mr. Ralph Abercromby, together with the loan of a diamond 

 drill from the New South Wales Government, it was possible to send' 

 out a second expedition in 1897. A main bore was started, and, 

 vsrhile this work was proceeding, an attempt was made to bore the 

 floor of the lagoon. This lagoon boring proved a failure, and the 

 raft on which the plant was erected was wrecked during a gale. 

 Meanwhile the main bore proceeded slowly, and when it became 

 necessary to return a depth of 698 feet had been reached. 



In addition to the boring a geological survey was made of the 

 various islets of the atoll, and a collection formed of various 

 organisms living on the seaward slope of the atoll from depths of 

 between 20 and 200 fathoms. 



In the next year, 1898, " it was considered very desirable that 

 an attempt should be made to deejsen the main bore, and accordingly 

 the Government of New South Wales and the Royal Society of 

 London were approached on this subject. They both generously 

 responded," and a third expedition was sent out under the leadership 

 of Mr. A. E, Finckh. The Admiralty detailed H.M.S. " Porpoise," 

 Captain F. C. D. Sturdee, for the work of again attempting a boring 

 through the lagoon floor. This was accomplished successfully by 

 Mr. G. H. Halligan, who sank two bores, one reaching 144 feet and 

 the other 113 feet below the floor of the lagoon. The main bore, 

 started during the previous year, was reopened, and a depth of 

 1,114 feet was attained. In addition to these results, permanent 

 marks were left on the island by Mr. Halligan. 



