EEPORT ON MATERIALS FROM THE BORINGS AT FUNAFUTI ATOLL. 201 



microscopic section. The comllites are in part empty, in part lined l)y radiating acicular crystals. The 

 borings in the coral infilled with fine, hard, granular sediment containing stellates of Lepioclinuni. 



(65). Length 73 millims. An irregular nodular mass of Madrepora couicda, having the intersi^aces, for 

 the most part, solidly infilled. The surface in part pitted, with attached Spirorbis and cheilostomatous 

 polyzoa. 



(66). Length 23 millims. A small compact nodule, probably of Madreporu. 



(67) [621]. Length 40 millims. A nodular mass of Madreporu, the interspaces of the coral nearl}' filled in 

 solid with sclerenchyma. 



Depth from Surface. 60-70 feet ; Distance Bored, 10 feet ; Total Length of Core 

 Obtained, 2 feet 2 inches ; Number's of Cores, 68-84. 



The cores for the most part are nodular masses of whitish -grey, or cream-coloured, 

 dense, hard, coral limestone, either nearly compact or minutely porous. The corals 

 are almost entirely of Madre^pora, with a single piece of Heliopora ccerulea. In some 

 of the coral lumps a portion of the surface is pitted by boring organisms. Some 

 incoherent fragmental materials produced by the action of the drill have been obtained 

 from the depths of 65 and 70 feet from the surface. They consist principally of 

 foraminifera, small angular pieces of broken coral, alcyonarian spicules, echinid spines, 

 polyzoa, Lithothamnion and Halimeda. Of less common occurrence are detached 

 spicules of calcisponges, joints of corallines, entomostraca, small claws of crustaceans, 

 stellates of Leptoclinum, and small gastropods. The detached valves of a brachiopod, 

 Thecidea maxilla, Hedley, also occur. The most common foraminifera are Amphiste- 

 gina Lessonii and Heterostegina depressa ; Mr. Chapman has determined several 

 other forms, a list of which is given below. All the organisms are very fresh looking. 



Details. 



(68) [622, 623]. Length 42 millims. A rounded nodule of Madrepora, the interstices largely infilled with 

 sclerenchyma. The coral is encrusted by delicate layers of Lithothamnion, alternating with layers of Poly- 

 trema 2)lamim. Borings infilled with fine sediment containing stellates of Leptoclinum, P. miniaceum, 

 Carpenteria and Serpula tubes. 



(69). Length 32 millims. A nodular lump of Madrepora conteda, the interior so infilled with solid 

 sclerenchyma as to be scarcely recognisable. In a small cavity, polyzoa, lamellibranch shell and Serpula. 



(70-73). Irregular nodular lumps of hard, cream-tinted rock, partly worn by drill, having a total 

 length of 136 millims. Surfaces pitted in places, with Spirorbia attached. The rock composed of Madrepjora 

 conteda, the coral interspaces filled in solid with sclerenchyma, &c. Some portions extensively bored by 

 Cliona, the tunnelling now filled with fine hardened mud. Polytrema miniaceum, Lithothamnion. 



(74). Length 50 millims. Piece of cylindrical core of hard dense rock ; nearly entirely of Madrepoi-a 

 contecta, in the same condition as the preceding. The upper surface is overgrown by Lithothamnion and on 

 this Pmites is attached. The lower surface is pitted, and a few examples of Spirorbis are growing on it. 



(74). From the same dej^th, 65 feet, as the solid coral and bearing the same number (74), a box of 

 fragmental materials consisting of loose angular particles of the same cream-tinted coral rock as the solid 

 cores. These evidently have been produced by the action of the drill in the process of boring, the coral 

 structure can be recognised in many of the small pieces. Mingled with the coral fragments are other micro- 

 scopic organisms in considerable variety, having a fresh, unworn appearance, many of them are fractured, 

 but they have not been rounded. Mr. F. Chapman gives the following list of the foraminifera : Miliolina 



2 D 



