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and the sand is calcareous, consisting of shell débris.
On the way to and from E a t Island we had to pass
along the western side of Eooby Island. Tbe wave-
Avorn cliffs showed th a t the island was entirely formed
of the above-mentioned calcareous sandstone ; no
igneous rock Avas visible, and, as the peculiar Avind-
hlown stratification-marks are continued below the
level of the sea, it is probable th a t the land here is
sinking, or at all events has sunk. Platform Island
consists of a mass of perfect basaltic columns rising
ont of the water and supporting a covering of massive
basalt, on Avhich is spread ont the platform of calcareous
rock on Avhich are the ruins of a fort, and
from which the island doubtless takes its name.”
In the pinnace Ave Avent along the northern shore
of the main island, dredging nine times, in Avater
from seven to tAventy fathoms deep. 'We got surprisingly
little, only a foAV crustaceans, one or tAvo
star-fishes, and a pretty little Cidar i s . "We passed
some very beautiful bits of coast-scenery ; a series
of little sandy bays Avith a steep cultivated slope
ahove them, or a dense tangle of trees absolutely
imbedded in one sheet of matted climbers, separated
by bold head-lands of basalt or trap-tuff. There Avas
one particularly beautiful view when Ave opened ‘ Les
Jumeaux,’ and had the peak directly behind them.
Parth er on, the cliffs became even more precipitous,
with nests of sea-hirds on all the ledges ; tropic birds ;
a beautiful little tern, snoAvy Avliite, Avliich usually
flew in pairs a foot or tAvo apart, one following all
tbe motions of the other, like a pair of paper b u tte rflies
obedient to the fan of a Japanese juggler. We
could see these terns flying over the land, and often