The coral reefs of the tropical Pacific. Parts I-IV. [Complete].

Cambridge, MA, Museum of Comparative Zoölogy, 1903. Four parts in four. 4to (29.0 x 20.1 cm). xxxiii, 410 pp.; two folded diagrams, 238 plates and maps (many folded; two in full colour). Original uniform printed wrappers. = This forms the most important part of the huge "Reports on the scientific results of the expedition to the Tropical Pacific, in charge of Alexander Agassiz, by the U. S. Fish Commission Steamer 'Albatross', from August, 1899, to June, 1900, commander Jefferson F. Moser, U. S. N. commanding", edited by Alexander Agassiz. This is the complete Part IV, written by Agassiz. it contains detailed maps of many islands and archipelagos in the Pacific Ocean, and a great number of photographic views of islands and reefs. The last two plates are beautiful chromolithographs of the "ideal coral-reef-island", exemplified by Bora-Bora and Pinaki, and drawn by H. Emerton from sketches by Agassiz and Mayer. Published in the Museum's Memoirs. Next to Charles Darwin, Alexander Agassiz became a great authority on the formation of atolls. However, they differed about the origin and genesis of atolls. Finally, Darwin was proven to be right. Nevertheless, this detailed study helped much in understanding the nature of coral reefs and their distribution. Uncut. Two front wrappers and one rear wrapper lacking (these where made of a rather poor grade of paper), one title page edge repaired, spine covers chipped, otherwise (internally) a very good, clean set. Cat. BM(NH) Suppl. p. 7.