CONTENTS. XV 



walls round the shores of some lagoons — The ring-formed reefs of 

 the Maldiva atolls — The submerged condition of parts or of the whole 

 of some annular reefs — The disseverment of large atolls — The union 

 of atolls by linear reefs — The Great Chagos Bank — Objections, from 

 the area and amount of subsidence required by the theory, consi- 

 dered — The probable composition of the lower parts of atolls 



■page 117 to 155 



CHAPTER VI. 



ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF CORAL-REEFS WITH REFERENCE TO 

 THE THEORY OF THEIR FORMATION. 



Description of the coloured map — Proximity of atolls and barrier- 

 reefs — Relation in form and position of atolls with ordinary islands 

 — Direct evidence of subsidence difficult to be detected — Proofs of 

 recent elevation where fringing-reefs occur — Oscillations of level — 

 Absence of active volcanos in the areas of subsidence — -Immensity of 

 the areas which have been elevated and have subsided — Their relation 

 to the present distribution of the land — Areas of subsidence elongated, 

 their intersection and alternation with those of elevation — Amount, 

 and slow rate of subsidence — Recapitulation . . 156 to 193 



APPENDIX. 



Containing a detailed Description of the Reefs and Islands in the 

 coloured Map, Plate III 197 to 263 



General Index ......... 269 



