478 Scientific Intelligence. 



S. F. Emmons, C. W. Hayes, Geologists in charge. 527 pp. This 

 report contains a series of fifty-one contributions from thirty- 

 seven members of the Survey who have been engaged chiefly in 

 economic work during the year. Brief introductory statements 

 are also given on the investigation of metalliferous ores by S. F. 

 Emmons and of non-metalliferous economic minerals by C. W. 

 Hayes. 



2. The Atoll of Funafuti. Borings into a Coral Reef and 

 the Results, xiv + 428 pp., 6 pis., 69 figs, with 21 charts and geo- 

 logical maps. Published by the Royal Society. — Darwin believed 

 that the history and origin of coral reefs must remain uncertain 

 until a drill core could be obtained for a depth of at least 600 

 feet. Under the lead of Professor Sollas the Royal Society 

 undertook to carry out this suggestion, and a committee, with 

 Professor T. G. Bonney as chairman, was appointed to have gen- 

 eral supervision of the project. Few scientific expeditions can 

 match the Funafuti undertaking in determination and thorough- 

 ness. In 1896 Professor Sollas failed to attain a greater depth 

 than 105 feet. The expedition of that year resulted, however, 

 in valuable collections and in the construction of the most accu- 

 rate and detailed chart yet made of an atoll. A study of the 

 surface features and of the changes in elevation was made but 

 few conclusions of general application were reached. Meteoro- 

 logical observations and magnetic surveys were also made. The 

 expedition of 1897 resulted in a drill hole 698 feet deep, but was 

 unsatisfactory owing to the small amount of solid core obtained. 

 A detailed geological survey was, however, made of the atoll 

 by Professor David and Mr. Sweet. The third expedition, in 

 1898, succeeded in driving the boring down to 111 4^ feet and 

 obtaining about 384 feet of solid core. A hole was also bored 

 into the lagoon to a depth of 245 feet. Slices for microscopic 

 examination were taken longitudinally from the middle of each 

 piece of rock. The core proved that the atoll was formed from 

 the surface to the bottom of the bore of calcareous rock, chiefly 

 composed of Lithothamnion and Halimeda as well as of reel- 

 building corals. The lower part of the core seemed like a con- 

 solidated chalky ooze but was determined to be coral material 

 converted into dolomite. A collection of living organisms on 

 the seaward slope of the lagoon down to 200 fathoms was made 

 for comparison with the dead organisms of the core rock. Pro- 

 fessor David finds that the original foundation of the atoll is 

 probably volcanic, that its shape has been modified by organic 

 growth, winds and currents, that it is slowly enlarging its 

 periphery, and that several oscillatory vertical movements of the 

 shore have taken place in the immediate past. The Biology of 

 the Reef-forming Organisms is discussed by A. E. Finckh (pp. 

 125-150). Arranged in order of importance, Mr. Finckh describes 

 the distribution, mode of occurrence, etc., of Lithothamnion, Hali- 

 meda, Foraminifera, Corals. Observations on the growth of 

 reef-building organisms showed interesting results. For instance, 



