92 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. IX, January, 1955 
Persea americana Mill. 
Plumbago auriculata Lam. 
Plumeria acuminata Ait. 
Vanda sp. 
Fosberg (personal communication) reports 
that he found Vernonia cinerea , Brassaia ac- 
tinophylla , and Schinus terebinthifolius in 1949. 
These were not seen at the time the present 
study was made. 
It is not surprising to find such an increase 
in the number of species. Daily plane flights 
to and from other Pacific areas allow for many 
accidental as well as intentional introductions. 
A number of the records are based on but a 
few specimens in what may be considered a 
transient population. 
Records of the United States Weather Bu- 
reau from April, 1952, to February, 1954, in- 
dicate that the annual rainfall on Johnston 
Island is less than 20 inches. It might be of 
value to note in the future the species not 
surviving under such dry conditions. 
REFERENCES 
Christophersen, E. 1931. Vascular plants of 
Johnston and Wake Islands. Bernice P. 
Bishop Mus., Occas. Papers 9(13): 1-20. 
Fosberg, F. R. 1949. Flora of Johnston Is- 
land, Central Pacific. Pacific Sci. 3(4): 338- 
339. 
News Notes 
Vegetation of the Society Islands and Makatea, 
by H. R. Papy. 
Those interested in the geography and na- 
tural history of the islands of the Pacific will 
welcome the appearance of the first part of a 
detailed study of the vegetation of a large part 
of French Oceania by H. Rene Papy, who spent 
several years in an administrative capacity in 
Tahiti. This work, entitled, La vegetation des 
lies de la Societe et de Makatea ( Oceanie fran- 
caise), is published by the Laboratoire Forestier 
de Toulouse, Faculte des Sciences, Universite de 
Toulouse, Alice Saint Michel, Toulouse, France. 
It is in two parts, the first of which is ready for 
distribution. This first part includes detailed 
chapters summarizing all available information 
on the physical geography and geology, clima- 
tology, and soils, as well as a topographic map 
of the islands. It is abundantly illustrated by 
small maps, diagrams, and photographs. In this 
first part, however, there is little on vegetation, 
except for the photographs. The second part, 
in manuscript, is a detailed study of the vege- 
tation, itself. The publication of the latter will 
depend on the proceeds from sales of the first 
part. It is hoped that this will not be long 
delayed. — F. R. F. 
Coe, Wesley R. Bathypelagic Nemerteans of the 
Pacific Ocean. Scripps Institution of Oceano- 
graphy of the University of California, 
Bulletin. Vol. 6, No. 7, pp. 225-286, 2 pis, 
32 figs. University of California Press, 
Berkeley and Los Angeles. $0.75. 
