THE WEB OF ISLAND LIFE 197 



Literally millions of powder-fine sperm-molecules went to 

 waste that a few would chance on a receptive flower and com- 

 plete their function. I struck a match and examined a blossom. 

 It was very small and its stigmas were much enlarged and 

 branched, almost plume-like, a thoughtful provision providing 

 greater sticking surface for the drifting grains. 



I settled back in the sand at the base of the bush. Seemingly 

 I had reached the end of the trail. I had followed the strand 

 of the web and it had led me nowhere. Instead I was faced 

 with a mystery. Why, if this plant depended on the wind for 

 its fertilization, did it exhale such a strong perfume? Certainly 

 not to attract insects. Unlike the flowers of the prickly pear and 

 the cactus it had no use for insects. Why then? I had to con- 

 fess I did not know, and seeing nothing further I turned and 

 started back to camp. 



I had not taken three steps before a voice at my elbow said 

 very softly— WHY? And I jumped and turned in the direction 

 of the sound, and again it said— WHY?— or maybe it was just 

 OH!— and then again and very softly— oh! 



Perched on the ground beneath the bush I had just left was 

 a small dark shadow. It was bobbing up and down rapidly as 

 though immensely excited, and in a second began chattering 

 in a low voice. Once again I struck a match, shielded it until 

 it caught, and reached the flame out at arm's length. It flickered 

 faintly and then revealed the rounded form of a small Speotyto 

 burrowing owl. Just beneath its body was the dark shadow of 

 its underground home carved out of the soft soil beneath the 

 roots of the tree. I caught a brief glimpse of a pair of gleaming 

 eyes staring fixedly at me before the match spluttered out. 

 Dropping to the ground and crawHng closer I lit another. The 

 owl backed up a foot or so but did not flee. It was quite the 

 smallest owl I had ever seen and in the yellow light it was 

 mottled and barred with a pale earthy brown fading to cream 



