OF THE MALDIVB ISLANDS. 
47 
It thus became possibie at last to construct a fairly complete 
flora of the islands. Since this expedition the islands have 
been visited by Mr. J. J. Thorburn in August, 1901. He 
very kindly collected information about a few of the still 
doubtful economic plants. Captain Simons of H.M.S. 
Pomone, who visited Malé at the same time, collected a few 
new species there. Finally, Mr. F. Lewis of the Forest 
Department visited Malé in October, 1901, and made a large 
collection there and on two neighbouring islands, from which 
five further species, including the Baobab, have been added 
to the list. It is improbable that a further survey of the 
islands would add many more species. We are much 
indebted to the gentlemen mentioned for kindly undertaking 
these collections. 
The preliminary naming of the plants was done by W. de 
Alwis, Mudaliyar, Draughtsman at Peradeniya, to whom 
we are much indebted ; his very complete knowledge of 
Ceylon plants enabled him to recognize many species which 
were represented by the merest fragments. The ultimate 
determination was made by one of us (J.C. W.), and for 
naming a few difficult forms not suitably represented in the 
Peradeniya herbarium we have to thank Dr. D. Prain, Prof. 
C. Mez, and Mr. C. B. Clarke. The specimens are preserved 
at Peradeniya, and a few duplicates have been distributed 
to Kew, Calcutta, &c. 
General Description of the Archipelago, 
The Maldives or Maidive Islands are a large archipelago of 
coral islands lying between 7*6° N. and 0*42° S. lat., and 
between 72*33° and 73*44° E. long. The northernmost atoll 
is about 300 miles south-west of Cape Comorin in India, 
and the nearest point to Ceylon is distant about 400 miles. 
There are a large number of banks, some atolls with more 
or less perfect encircling reefs, but others made up of a vast 
number of small ring-shaped reefs (faro), which dot the 
whole, but may at the circumference tend to form a rim. 
North of, and separated by a wide stretch of sea from, the 
