224 A NATUBALIST IN CELEBES ch. ix 



lake, 2,000 feet above the level of the sea, with few com- 

 petitors in the struggle for existence and plenty of food, 

 has retained the primitive condition of its fore-limbs, 

 whilst the others, situated in places where the struggle 

 is more keen, have undergone certain modifications of 

 structure to fit them better for their environment. 



In other words it is quite possible that the Atya Wyckii 

 more closely resembles in structure the original ancestral 

 type of the genus than any of the other species, all of which 

 have, within comparatively speaking recent generations, 

 become considerably modified. 



As an article of food these small prawns are much 

 prized by the natives, and the Dutchman is very glad to 

 add the kleine garnalen to his list of comestibles at the 

 rijsttafel. 



As our boat approached the wooden pier at Kakas many 

 interesting and beautiful sights were to be seen in the shallow 

 weedy waters at this end of the lake. Besides the httle 

 prawns above mentioned there were countless numbers 

 of small creatures skimming through the waters. In 

 some places the water was quite black with mosquito and 

 gnat larvffi, and in others hundreds of swift dragon-fly 

 larvffi could be seen darting amongst the water reeds and 

 weeds. 



What an immense field for research there is in this lake ! 

 I dare say that the life-history of not a single one of these 

 numerous larvae has yet been worked out, and there must 

 be thousands of minute forms of animal and vegetable life 

 that if brought to light would be of immense interest and 

 importance. It was my hope and desire at the time to 

 return again to Lake Tondano to investigate the fauna of 

 its shallow waters, but, for reasons it is unnecessary to 

 enter into here, I was never able to do so. 



To continue the narrative of my journey. Arrived at 



