340 THE CORAL LANDS OF THE PACIFIC. 



bears on the Coriphttus kuhli here referred to : ' Amongst the 

 birds was one species about the size of our robin, with a breast 

 of scarlet-coloured feathers, the under portion of the body being 

 finished off with bright red, the neck of a golden colour, back 

 of a lively green, with a yellow beak, except the very points, 

 which were of a bright dun colour, the wings and tail being 

 both of a jet black, and the last tipped off with white ; it was 

 a most beautiful and lovely bird, with its brilliant and richly 

 variegated plumage.' 



These birds are still to be had on Washington Island, but, 

 though easily caught by the intervention of a tame bird and an 

 active islander, they cannot bear confinement, and soon die. 



Dr. Streets says : ' When caged aboard the ship they ex- 

 hibited as pretty a picture of love as one can imagine, well 

 meriting their name of love-birds. They sat billing and 

 smoothing each other's feathers for hours, and, as night came 

 on, two would get together and sleep with their heads turned 

 towards each other.' 



The gigantic land-crab is an inhabitant of the Tanning's 

 Group. He lives in burrows underground, and feeds on the 

 cocoa-nuts as they fall from the trees. He first tears off the 

 husk, and then, with his strong pincers, breaks through the 

 shell at the extremity that holds the eyes. The strength of 

 his claws is sufficient to crush a lath in two, and he can suspend 

 himself on the branch of a tree for an hour or more. It may 

 be useful to know that if, when intruding on their privac} r , a 

 human hand is grasped by them in a manner more engaging 

 than desirable, a gentle titillation of the soft under parts with 

 any light material will directly cause the crab to loose his 

 hold. 



The population of Tanning's Island is estimated at 150 

 people, who inhabit an area of about 8 miles wide, with a 



