GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 305 



Rapa, have coral reefs fringing the shores. There is no evi- 

 dence of recent volcanic action among them. Some of them 

 are elevated coral islands, as Mitiaro, Atiu, Mangaia and 

 Mauki, and also, according to Stutchbury, Rurutu. Oka- 

 tutaia is a low coral island but six or seven feet out of 

 water. 



Between the Paumotus and the longitude of Samoa 1 are 

 numerous small islands, all of coral origin. 



The Samoan or Navigator Islands have extensive reefs. 

 About Tutuila, owing to its abrupt shores, they are somewhat 

 less extensive than around Upolu, and about Savaii they are 

 still smaller, as already explained. The influence of abrupt 

 shores may also be seen in some parts of Upolu; for example, 

 to the west of the harbor of Falifa, where, for several miles, 

 there is no reef, except in some indentations of the coast. 

 Manua is described as having only shore reefs. 



The Tonga Islands, south of Samoa, for the most part 

 abound in coral reefs, and Tongatabu and the Hapai Group 

 are solely of coral. Eoa is a moderately high island, with a 

 narrow reef. Tafoa an active volcano, and Kao, an extinct 

 cone, are without reefs. Vavau, according to Williams {Miss. 

 Enterprises, p. 427, Amer. ed.), is an elevated coral island. 

 Pylstaarts, near Eoa, is a naked rockj with abrupt shores, and 

 little or no coral. Sunday Island, farther south (29° 12' S.), 

 is beyond the coral-reef limits. 



North of Samoa are several scattered islands of small size, 

 all of coral. 



The Feejee Group, already sufficiently described, abounds 

 in reefs of great extent. There are no active volcanoes, 

 and, where examined, no evidence of very recent volcanic 

 action. The many islands afford a peculiarly favorable re- 

 gion for the growth of zoophytes, and the displays of reefs 



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