34 JUNGLE PEACE 



trip, for we thereby omit the big, cumbersome 

 West Indies. It is a curious fact that any land 

 projecting above the surface of the water is in- 

 teresting and exciting in inverse ratio to its 

 size. The endless New Jersey shore moves one 

 not at all, while the single volcanic cone of 

 Nevis brings thrills and emotions; Cuba is 

 wearisome as one steams slowly past headland 

 after headland, while Sombrero — a veritable 

 oceanic speck of dust — stimulates the imagina- 

 tion to the highest pitch. It seems as if our 

 Ego enlarges as our immediate terrestrial cos- 

 mos diminishes. In studying the birds of the 

 endless jungles of the South American conti- 

 nent my interest never flags, yet it never quite 

 attains the nth power of enthusiasm which ac- 

 companies the thought of the possibility of locat- 

 ing every nest on St. Thomas. This love of 

 small islands must savor of the joy of possible 

 completeness in achievement, plus a king's sen- 

 sations, plus some of those of Adam! 



Any guide book will give the area, popula- 

 tion, amusements, best hotels (or the least ob- 

 jectionable ones), summary of history and the 

 more important exports. But no one has ever 

 attempted to tell of the soul of these islands — 



