782 
THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 
in the aid of subsidence as is done by Darwin and Dana, and it is argued further that 
the. form of atoll and barrier reefs generally can be explained on the same principles, 
when taken in conjunction with what is now known of the bathymetrical distribution of 
animals, and the mode of formation of deep-sea deposits. The recent discoveries of 
Dr. Guppy 1 in the upraised coral islands of the Solomon group confirm the view here 
advanced. 
Observations were taken at the lighthouse on Point Venus in order to connect the 
observing stations with those of Captains Cook, Beechey, Fitzroy, &c. 
The following meteorological table shows the climate at Papiete from observations 
made by the French during three years. 
Meteorological Table compiled from observations made at Papiete, in the 
island of Tahiti, during the years 1854, 1855, and 1856. 
Barometer reduced to 32° and sea level. 
MONTH. 
Barometer. 
1 Mean Temp, 
in shade. 
Mean Range 
| of Temp. 
Max. Temp, in 
shade registered. 
Min. Temp, in 
shade registered. 
1 Clouds — 0 to 10 
| Mean Amount. 
Rain. 
WIND. 
No. of days 
Gales. 
& 
Relative Humidity 
Sat. 100. 
Mean 
Height. 
1 Ext. Range j 
To-al 
Fall. 
No. 
of 
Av. Hourly 1 
| velocity. 1 
NO. OP DATS 
FROM 
N. 
N.E. 
E. 
S.E. 
S. 
S.W. 
w. 
N.W. 
C’lm 
in. 
in. 
January, . 
29789 
78°-l 
87° 8 
69°"8 
6-00 
13 
82-5 
February, 
29-840 
77-8 
87-8 
69-8 
4-12 
11 
84-3 
March, 
29-834 
78-0 
88-7 
68-0 
3-71 
12 
81-6 
April, 
29-843 
77-9 
88-9 
67-5 
3-41 
10 
82-2 
May, 
29-864 
76-4 
86-0 
66-2 
4-08 
8 
82-8 
June, 
29-905 
75-1 
84-2 
61-7 
0 90 
7 
79-0 
No information. 
July, 
29-922 
74-4 
84-2 
60-8 
0-65 
5 
79-7 
August, 
29-965 
73-8 
84-2 
60-3 
0-61 
4 
80-0 
September, 
29-968 
73-9 
86-4 
62-6 
3 37 
5 
81-2 
October, 
29-931 
75-3 
86-0 
66-2 
1-68 
5 
82-9 
November, 
29-876 
76-5 
85-3 
66-2 
5-03 
8 
86-7 
December, 
29-858 
76-2 
87-8 
70-0 
4-67 
11 
85-4 
Means ) 
and > 
29-883 
761 
88-9 
60-3 
38-23 
99 
82-4 
Totals, ) 
The beauty of Tahiti as seen from the sea cannot be overrated ; it forms a most striking 
contrast to the barren looking Oahu (see fig. 272). During the stay of the ship an excursion 
to the mountains in search of plants was made by Mr. Moseley, accompanied by Lieutenant 
1 Nature, vol, xxix. pp. 214, 215, 1884. 
