112 VOYAGES OF A NATURALIST 



we came upon a flock of some twenty goats. 

 They were of many colours — black, white, grey, and 

 piebald — and some of the males were remarkably 

 fine animals. They were excessively wild, and 

 would not allow us to approach to within any 

 reasonable distance of them. They were originally 

 turned out to provide food for any shipwrecked 

 crew, and, as it so happened, we ourselves were all 

 but shipwrecked in the neighbourhood of this 

 island a few days later. 



The sea round Assumption swarmed with fish, 

 and turtles were also very plentiful. At the time 

 of our visit the latter were in great numbers close 

 to the shore, where several were " turned." A 

 number of " nests " was found by following the 

 turtle tracks in the sand. Some contained fresh 

 eggs, others were on the point of hatching, and 

 several newly-hatched young were found. 



Robber-crabs were also numerous, and appeared 

 to be more diurnal in habits than they were on 

 Glorioso. Many were seen crawling about under 

 the bushes which fringe the shore. There were 

 but three cocoanut trees, and they appeared to 

 to have little if any fruit ; neither was there 

 any maize, so I imagine the crabs feed on the 

 young sea-birds. Indeed, they appeared to be 

 omnivorous, and greedily devoured a rat which I 

 threw to them. 



We landed on Assumption twice, getting ashore 

 about eleven o'clock on the first day, and spending 



