AFRO-INDIAN REGIONS. 



241 



23. Hull's coral-island. Sailing thence Eastward, the Vincennes 

 next came in sight of a coral-island, situated in about " S. Lat. 4° 30' 

 and W. Long. 172° 21';" and found to be "four or five miles" in dia- 

 meter, and containing a lagoon. Here, and throughout this range of 

 coral-islands, the strand seemed of unusual whiteness, so as to be even 

 jjainful to the eye. On landing, I observed two large fissures in the 

 coral-shelf, with water flowing outwards ; though not in sufficient 

 quantity to admit a boat entirely through into the lagoon. In other 

 respects, the coral-shelf proved less continuous than usual, being 

 extensively undermined, with its margin in some places jagged, rent 

 or fissured into narrow projecting slips; presenting another illustra- 

 tion of the origin of massive coral-boulders. 



Our party remained on shore for a short time only. We met with 

 no lizards ; and most unexpectedly, the Pandanus was absent ; but 

 large shrubs were frequent, and a few small trees were growing in one 

 distant spot. The Peacock subsequently visiting this coral-island, 

 Mr. Rich was enabled to make a more thorough examination ; and 

 procured here one additional species, as will be perceived by the fol- 

 lowing List : 



Sida ? ; bis (No. 1) Gardner's coral-island. Herbaceous?, two to two and a half feet high. 



Mentioned also in Mr. llich's catalogue.* 

 " Triumfetta." (Compare No. 1 Gardner's coral-island, and Metia to the rocky Samoan 



Group). Observed by Mr. Rich. 

 " Suriana ?" (Compare No. 1 Paumotuan to Bellinghausen coral-islands). Observed by 



Mr. Kich. 



"Peniphis acidula ; eight feet." (Compare No. 1 Paumotuan to Bellinghausen and 



Otafuan coral-islands). Observed by Mr. Rich. 

 Portulaca ; bis (No. 2) Gardner's coral-island. Abundant. Mentioned also in Mr. Rich's 



catalogue. 



" Sesuvium." (Compare No. 1 Gardner's coral-island, Tongatabu, and the rocky Hawaiian 



Group). Observed by Mr. Rich. 

 Guettarda (bis No. 1 Paumotuan to Gardner's coral-island, and the rocky Feejeean Group). 



A single stock met with by myself; but others probably observed by Mr. Rich, as the 



species is recorded in his catalogue. 

 Scaevola ; bis Gardner's coral-island (and No. 1 Paumotuan and the rocky Samoan Group). 



Mentioned also in Mr. Rich's catalogue. 



* Cocos nucifera, (bis Paumotuan coral-islands to the rocky Feejeean Group). The cluster 

 in the distance of a few cocoa-palms was evidently due, (not to recent trading-parties 

 like one then on the island), but to anterior aboriginal visitors. The plant is ujentioncd 

 in Mr. Rich's catalogue. 



61. 



