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surface, and, like that of other limestone islands of t geolog 
age, is red, owing to the concentration of the i lement 
of the stone through the leaching of those more - aoldible, This 
limestone plateau is honeycombed by caves and caverns, some 
of them of large dimensions, and contain stalactites and stalag- 
mites; in the caves are found the deposits of phosphate of lime, 
which have been extensively mined at intervals in the past, the 
workings being now idle; these phosphates appear to be the result 
of the leaching of the limestone by water percolating from the 
plateau, which has made the caves and caverns, leaving the 
phosphates as the least soluble constituents of the rock; the 
rainfall of Mona is evidently quite high. This limestone plateau 
is bounded nearly all around by steep escarpments, but may be 
reached at many points on the western and southern sides over 
the talus of large masses of rock which have fallen, although for 
long distances the cliffs are unscaleable; this talus, along th 
southwestern side, provides a home for several kinds of large trees; 
the manchioneel (Hippomane Mancinella) and one of the wild 
figs — igi de are here represented by trees up to at least 
60 igh, and are the largest trees of Mona. The shade 
ena by these trees permits the growth of two species of 
He one of sea pian erat) forming as ie a 
ywhere, the other is a maidenhair 
Ga pees ” Several kinds of mosses and hepatics ee 
found here a suitable home on rocks and trees; several of the 
larger fungi are abundant on os logs. Many kinds of 
lichens grow on rocks and t 
Along the western and pie ees sides of Mona a low 
plain extends for several miles, about half a mile wide at its 
broadest part, underlain by coarse coral-limestone, some of the 
coral masses being several feet across; this is, evidently, at least 
in part, an uplifted coral-reef, averaging, perhaps, 15 feet above 
sea-level, bordered for most of its length by coral-sand beaches, 
which, at Sardifiera, project into a sandy point; there are several 
small playas at other points on the coast. The soil of this low 
plain is much more abundant than that of the plateau and 
provides opportunity for agricultural operations. The present 
