Darwin's Theory of Coral Beefs. 



181 



forward in the bays by the decreasing streams, no strong cliffs 

 can be cut in the ridge-ends by the relatively quiet lagoon 

 waters. Here are several consequences of the theory of sub- 

 sidence which were entirely unsuspected by its inventor. If 

 they are matched by the facts, the theory from which conse- 

 quences so significant and so specific can be deduced will gain 

 a greatly increased probability of correctness. 



It requires only a brief examination of large-scale charts of 

 the Pacific island-groups to discover that the central islands 

 within barrier reefs are repeatedly characterized by irregularly 



Fig. 1. 



embayed shore lines, that the bays seldom contain extensive 

 deltas, and that the ridge-ends are not strongly cut off in cliffs. 

 Kandavu and Mbengha in the Fiji group (Admiralty chart 167), 

 the western members of the Society group (chart 1060) and 

 especially Bora Bora (chart 1428), Gambier island, a western 

 member of the Paumotu group (chart 1112), and Rossel island 

 (chart 1473) in the Louisiade archipelago of British New 

 Guinea, may be instanced among many others as affording 

 good illustration of at least some of these significant features, 

 particularly of embayed shore lines. Furthermore, various 

 uplifted reefs already mentioned are described as having hori- 

 zontal structure ; and Gardiner even mentions, as above stated, 

 beds of volcanic detritus interbedded with the coralliferous 

 limestones in one of the Fiji elevated reefs. 



