76 USEFUL PLANTS OF GUAM. 



always to bo found germinating on the stretches of sandy beach along 

 the southern portion of the east coast of the island. With Schimper 

 as a guide, and the bench" t of the experiments of Guppy and of Treub. 

 a student on the island of Guam would h'nd abundance of material 

 and a most favorable opportunity for studying the seeds of the drift 

 in the places where they have been deposited by the great trans- 

 Pacific current, and where they could be observed in the process of 

 germinating under absolutely natural conditions. 



ANIMALS OF THE ISLAND. 



MAMMALS. 



BATS. There are no indigenous quadrupeds in Guam. The only 

 mammals in prehistoric times were two species of bats, the large fruit- 

 eating Pteropus keraudreni Q. & G., or "flying fox," called "fanihi" 

 by the natives, and a small insectivorous species, Emlxdlonura semicau- 

 data Peale, called "payesyes." The fanihi flies about in the da} T time, 

 flapping its wings slowly like a crow. It has a disagreeable musky 

 odor, but this leaves it when the skin is removed, and the natives some- 

 times eat it. The flesh is tough, but not unsavory. The principal 

 fruits eaten by it are guavas, fertile breadfruit, the drupes of the 

 fragrant screw pine, called "kaf6," and custard apples (Annona 

 reticidata), which it has undoubtedly helped to spread over the island. 

 This species occurs in Fiji, the Friendlv Islands, New Hebrides, and 

 Pelew Islands. It very closely resembles the flying foxes of Samoa, 

 which the natives of those islands call "pe'a," or "manu-langi" (bird 

 of heaven). Emlcdlonura semicaudata, the insectivorous bat, is noc- 

 turnal in its habits, and flutters about very much like our own common 

 species. It remains in caves during the day and ventures forth at twi- 

 light. It is very similar to, if not identical with, the "apa'au-vai" of 

 the Samoans, and has been collected in Fiji and the New Hebrides. 



RATS AND MICE. The Norway or brown rat (Mus decumanus Pallas), 

 called "chaka" by the natives, was probably introduced into the island 

 through the agency of ships. It is veiy abundant and is a great pest, 

 especially in plantations of maize and cacao. It also destroys young 

 coconuts, ascending the trees and often making its nests there. The 

 common mouse (Mus muscidus L.) has also been introduced. It appar- 

 ently causes little harm. 



DEER. An introduced deer, Cervus mariannus Desm., overruns the 

 island and causes great damage to maize, young coconut palms, and 

 other crops of the natives. It was brought to the island by Don 

 Mariano Tobias, who was governor of the Mariannes from 1771 to 

 1771. Its flesh has a fine venison flavor, and it is a favorite food staple 

 of the natives, who hunt the animal with dogs and guns, often burning 



