372 
antarctica, and the Pelorididae insects) are 
very old elements, preserved in a nearly un- 
changed condition for many millions of years. 
It is evident that after the ancient land sank, 
there was no re-elevation of it which deserves 
serious attention (there were only slight oscil- 
lations of ocean). 
9. At the present stage of our knowledge 
of the geology, paleontology, and biology of the 
island, it is impossible to draw any conclusions 
concerning the theory of drifting continents: 
there are no positive and no negative data. 
10. Finding of interesting data can be ex- 
pected after a study of Ball’s Pyramid. This 
colossal rock has never been touched by ex- 
ploration, and no specimens either of plants or 
of animals have been collected there. The pos- 
sibility is not excluded that some forms which 
have been destroyed on the island may have 
survived on this rock. 
11. There are numerous caves on the island, 
some very long, which have not been explored; 
we have reason to think that interesting re- 
mains of recent and past fauna may be pre- 
served there. 
12. The presence of a coral reef gives an 
opportunity to gather additional data about 
oscillations of the sea level, and their magni- 
tude (see Fig. 7). 
13. The preliminary data at our disposal 
give evidence that in the past there existed a 
large land mass, probably southeastward from 
Lord Howe Island, where the flora and fauna 
of the island developed. On the island itself 
we can find only remnants of this life of the 
past. 
14. Lord Howe Island is a particularly in- 
teresting subject for the study of the Pacific 
and surrounding countries. The scientific value 
of the island has been underestimated, almost 
neglected. Only one expedition, organised by the 
Australian Museum in 1887, has worked on 
the island. Since then any study that has been 
done has been private, and by amateurs. 
This article shows that the island deserves 
more serious attention: its interest is not local 
but international. Only longer expeditions of 
geologists and biologists, working together, can 
supply us with the necessary data. 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. XVII, July 1963 
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