242 /. D. Hague on the Guano Islands of the Pacific Ocean. 



The following named islands, in particular, have been sup- 

 ,eously, as regards some of them^ to have guano 





Of the above those of the Phoenix group are probablv 

 most important. McKean's Island has been occupied since 1- 

 and several cargoes of guano of good quality have been broi - 

 from it to this country. It is a low island, circular in form, 

 exceeding three-fourths of a mile in diameter. Like Jarv - 

 once contained a lagoon though not elevated so high '"^bove 

 sea. Its surface is consequently depressed, and is so much Jowt'i 

 than the beach that at high tides the guano deposit is sometime^ 

 covered by two feet of water. As at Jarvis, a deposit of sujpriate 

 of lime has resulted from the evaporation of sea water in the ba- 

 sin, forming the foundation on which the guano rests; and ow- 

 ing, probably, to frequent inundations, the two have become so 

 intimately mixed that the quality of much of the guano '^^^^^' 

 siderably impaired. The better specimens contain about nnj 

 per cent phosphate of lime mixed with much sulphate of liif'j' 

 Much of the deposit is covered by a foot of coral mua, ^v.iic 

 has been spread out over the part adjacent to the beach. 



Phoenix's Island is likewise very small, nearly circular, : 

 less than a half mile in diameter. The centre is consider. 

 lower than the beach, which is about eight or ten feet high, •, 

 it is often flooded at high tides. I was unable to land on tm^ 

 island, and my opportunities for observation were confined 

 shipboard. The guano deposit cannot be very extensive tboUo 

 said to be of good quality. , j, 



Enderbury's Island is described as an elevated lagoon, ^do 

 eighteen feet high, three miles long by two and a ^^^^ ^^^^;^ 

 It is said to contain deposits of guano, as is also its neig ' 

 Birnie's Island, of which I am unable to give any positive 

 formation, having never visited either. , , ^,,t 



Maiden's is a large island, ten miles long, and said to be abou 

 forty feet high. I believe it is an elevated lagoon, but mucn ^ 

 the guano deposit lies on the elevated ridge. Specimens wn 

 1 have examined, though free from sulphate, were much ad«i 

 ated by coral sand. Excepting McKean's, no cargoes have ^^ 

 brought from these islands just alluded to. From Johnswi 

 Islands one or two cargoes have been brought to this couni ^ 

 the greater part of which proved, I believe, to be sand. ^^"^ 



