1836.J ZOOLOGY OF THE ISLANDS. 449 



waters of the surrounding sea, the number of org-anic 

 beings is indeed infinite. Chamisso has described* the 

 natural history of a lagoon-island in the Radack Archi- 

 pelago ; and it is remarkable how closely its inhabitants, 

 in number and kind, resemble those of Keeling Island. 

 There is one lizard and two waders, namely, a snipe and 

 curlew. Of plants there are nineteen species, including a 

 fern ; and some of these are the same with those growing 

 here, though on a spot so immensely remote, and in a 

 different ocean. 



The long strips of land, forming the linear islets, have 

 been raised only to that height to which the surf can throw 

 fragments of coral, and the wind heap up calcareous sand. 

 The solid flat of coral rock on the outside, by its breadth, 

 breaks the first violence of the waves, which otherwise, in 

 a day, would sweep away these islets and all their pro- 

 ductions. The ocean and the land seem here struggling 

 for mastery ; although terra firma has obtained a footing, 

 the denizens of the water think their claim at least equally 

 good. In every part one meets hermit crabs of more than 

 one species, t carrying on their backs the shells which they 

 have stolen from tlie neighbouring beach. Overhead, 

 numerous gannets, frigate-birds, and terns, rest on the 

 trees ; and the wood, from the many nests and from the 

 smell of the atmosphere, might be called a sea-rookery. 

 The gannets, sitting on their rude nests, gaze at one with 

 a stupid yet angry air. The noddies, as their name ex- 

 presses, are silly little creatures. But there is one charming 

 bird : it is a small snow-white tern, which smoothly hovers 

 at the distance of a few feet above one's head, its large 

 black eye scanning, with quiet curiosity, your expression. 

 Little imagination is required to fancy that so light and 

 delicate a body must be tenanted by some wandering fairy 

 spirit. 



Sunday, April ^rd. — After service I accompanied Captain 

 Fitz Roy to the settlement, situated at the distance of some 

 miles, on the point of an islet thickly covered with tall 

 cocoa-nut trees. Captain Ross and Mr. Liesk live in a 

 large barn-like house open at both ends, and lined with 



• " Kotzcbuc'M Firnt Voyaffc," vol. Hi. p. 222. 



t Tho large claws or pinccm of lome of these crabs are most beautifully 

 i|.N'(i, when drawn back, to form an operculum to the shell, nearly as perfect 

 ih« proper one orizinaily belonging to the molluscous animal. I was assured, 

 I as far as my observation went I found it so, that certain species of the 



rmit-crabs ulwayn use certain apecies of shells. 



