26 EAMBLES OF A NATUEALIST. [Oh. II. 



zoa, orbitolites, spirorbis, &c., with which the towing-net 

 from the ship was replenished. Besides the tJlva, I ob- 

 tained several other species of seaweed, washed up on the 

 beach, and conspicuous among them a species of Padina, 

 very abundant everywhere in these seas, and a Sargassum. 



As might be expected on so small an island, quadrupeds 

 are scarce, nor did we observe any, though it is said the 

 universal Rat was seen there when the " Dove " visited the 

 spot, nor did I notice the bones of any quadrupeds which 

 would have indicated their existence there. The skeletons 

 of turtle were met with more than once, but whether they visit 

 the island, or are cast up dead upon the beach, I am unable 

 to say. No other traces of reptiles were observed. 



Pratas Island is occasionally visited by Chinese fishermen, 

 who repair to it in the early part of the year, 'and there is a 

 good junk-anchorage in the north-east comer of the lagoon. 

 We soon came upon traces of such a visit in a clear patch 

 among the scrub, in, the midst of which a well had been sunk, 

 from which brackish water might be . obtained. There were 

 scattered about various implements of pottery, in the shape 

 of water- vessels and teapots, some entire and others more 

 or less broken, and surrounding them were strewed great 

 numbers of shells, of a species of Strombus (S. Luhuanus), 

 the remnants of a past feast, and which remained to form a 

 future kitchen-midden in the sand. At the head of the 

 shallow inlet or lagoon stood a joss-house, or Chinese 

 temple, in a rather dilapidated condition from the effects of 

 wind and weather, the roof nearly torn off, and the plank 

 walls very shaky, so that the rain and weather had left their 

 visible traces also upon the contents and furniture. In this 

 rough building were 30 or 40 josses, or wooden idols, of 

 various sizes, once resplendent in paint and gilding, but 



