JHhtorij and Physical Features. 3 



Tn 1890 H.M.S. " Redjiole " called at the island for a few hours, 

 and Mr. H. N. Ridley, of the Singapore Botanical Gardens, who was 

 on board, collected a number of plauts not previously recorded, and 

 has written an interesting account of his visit [8]. 



Although Messrs. Lister and Ridley had made valuable collections 

 of the fauna and flora of the island, the shortness of the time at 

 their disposal rendered it impossible for them to penetrate far 

 into the interior, or to make any examination of the geological 

 structure. jN^evertheless, the rock sjjecimens brought back by the 

 "Egeria" showed that the island probably consisted mainly of 

 coral and foraminiferal limestones, resting on a basis of volcanic 

 rocks ; and a very interesting paper, in which the results of tlie 

 expedition were summarized, and the probable structure of the 

 island discussed, was published by Rear-Admiral Sir AY. J. L. 

 Wharton in the proceedings of the Roval Geographical Society 

 for 1888 [7]. 



It seemed desirable, however, that a more complete examination 

 of the island should be undertaken, and, if possible, collections 

 should be made at different seasons of the year, and in 1896 

 Sir John Murray generously offered to pay the expenses of such an 

 expedition. I was fortunate enough to be able to avail myself of 

 this opportunity, and, the Trustees of the British Museum having 

 granted the necessary leave of absence, I left England at the 

 beginning of May, 1897. At that time the only means of access 

 to the island was by the sailing-vessels belonging to Mr. G. Clunies 

 Ross, of the Cocos-Keeling Islands, which are employed in carrying- 

 various supplies from Batavia to those islands, and on their way 

 down usually touch at Christmas Island to land stores for the 

 little colony established in Elying Pish Cove. Unfortunately, 

 one of these vessels had left shortly before I arrived in Java, and 

 I therefore had to wait some weeks before an opportunity of 

 getting to my destination occurred ; but at length, on July 23rd, 

 I sailed from Batavia in the "J. G. Clunies Ross," a yawl of about 

 46 tons burden. After a rough passage of five days we sighted the 

 island from the south-west, having run past it in the night. We 

 arrived off Flying Fish Cove soon after sunset, but did not anchor 

 till the following morning (July 29th). 



Seen from the south-west, the island appears as a long green 

 ridge, nearly level at the top, there being only slight elevations at 

 the north-west and south-east ends. The ridge descends seaward 

 in a succession of terraces, the upper ones bounded by comparatively 

 gentle slopes, the lower by a high and nearly vertical cliff, below 

 which there is a narrow platform sloping gently down to the sea 

 cliff. This is usually about 15 to 30 feet high, and is much undercut 

 by the heavy swell that is continually breaking against its base. 

 On approaching nearer, it can be seen that the whole island is 

 covered by a dense forest, broken only by the grey face of the high 

 inland cliff which runs round the greater part of the island, rising 

 like a wall above the tall trees growing on the shore terrace. 



