the canopy suggesting that a lagoon may have existed at one time. The 
deepest litter and humus layers are found in the central area. Small 
"coconut crabs were found but there was no evidence of Cocos on the island. 
The absence of such species as Leptur ns and Portulaca is remarkable. The 
common bunchgrass is also absent from Birnie Island where there is good 
evidence of frequent shifts in the sandy soil due to high wave action. 
This may explain the absence of Lepturus from these small islands. 
Bryan, E. H., Jr. 19^-2. 
American Polynesia and the Hawaiian Chain. 1-253, Honolulu. 
Fosberg, F. R. 
Bishop Mus. 
1937. 
Spec. Publ. 
