was made by Lieutenant E. F. Qualtrough, U.S.N., and natural history 
specimens were collected by Dr. W. S. Dixon, both of the U.S.S. Hart- 
ford. Insects were collected by Dr. Palisa of the French expedition. The 
position of the observation spot was determined to be almost exactly 10 
degrees south and 150 degrees 14 minutes, 24 seconds west. 
The island is now leased to S. R. Maxwell and Company. In 1926 the 
inhabitants numbered 10. In 1936 there were two Tahitians and their 
families living on the island. 
4H 
Starbuck Island 
32 L_ 
Starbuck Island lies 336 nautical miles south of the equator. It is 235 
miles northeast of Tongareva (Penrhyn), 345 miles northwest of Vostok, 
400 miles southeast of Jarvis, 450 miles south-southeast of Christmas, 
and 108 miles south-southwest of Malden. 
It is a low, flat coral island, with a greatest height, along the beach 
crest, of about 15 feet. Within this crest the island is depressed, with 
small salt lagoons near the eastern end. The shape is described as that 
of a shoulder of mutton, with the knuckle at the west end. It is 5 Y% miles 
long, east and west, by 2% miles greatest width, tapering toward both 
ends. The area is given as about one square mile. 
The steep beach is surrounded by a fringing reef, which averages 
about 1,000 yards in width, a little wider at the eastern point. Near the 
west point a break has been blasted in the reef, making possible a rather 
difficult, and at times dangerous, landing. There is no safe anchorage. 
During the guano-digging period vessels tied up to two mooring buoys 
near the landing. 
The appearance of this island is well described by John T. Arundel 
in an address before the Geographical Society of the Pacific, at San Fran¬ 
cisco in March, 1885. 
127 
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