32 A NATURALIST'S WANDERINGS 



conditions under which they found themselves. The settlers 

 would be rendered supremely happy if such conditions would 

 by any means prove prejudicial to the rats — the sole living 

 creature unwelcome to their island home, — whose fecundity is 

 becoming appalling, for every vessel that calls serves to infuse 

 only fresh blood and vigour into the race. 



Occasionally flying foxes (Pteropus) reach the atoll, but 

 hitherto in too exhausted a state to survive. Once a pair 

 arrived together; but both, unfortunately, soon died. It is 

 not improbable that some day, through the favouraible cir- 

 cumstance of an unusually strong and healthy pair shaping 

 their course Keeling-wards, they may yet survive the arduous 

 journey, and the atoll find them some morning added to its 

 fauna. What has only just failed here, has doubtless suc- 

 ceeded in other oceanic islands, with diiferent volant species. 



Bird life was limited, but very interesting. Graceful 

 Noddies (Anous siolidus) and Gannets {Su!a piscatrix) were 

 in thousands ; and I had the satisfaction of watching what has 

 been over and over described, but was new to me, how their 

 industrious habits are taken advantage of by the swift-winged 

 Frigate-birds. Hiding in the lee of the cocoa-nut trees, the 

 Tachypetes would sally out on the successful fishers returning 

 in the evening, and perpetrate a vigorous assault on them 

 till they disgorged for their behoof at least a share of their 

 supper, which they caught in mid-air as it fell. Such feelings 

 of reprobation as I ought to have felt at their conduct was, I 

 fear, not very deep ; for the swoop after the falling spoil was so 

 elegant an evolution, that, I confess,! always hoped that the poor 

 Noddy would give up as heavy a morsel as possible, in order to 

 necessitate a correspondingly eager dive after it. Refractory 

 Gannets were often seized by the tail by the Frigate-birds, and 

 treated to a shake that rarely failed of successful results. 

 Fierce foes as they were in the air, on terra fir ma they roosted 

 near each other like the best of friends. They breed only on 

 North Keeling, and during that season the bare skin of the 

 throat is of a very rich scarlet colour. They are powerful 

 fliers, and can head against even a gale by taking in a reef in 

 their long wings, so as to expose only the greater quills to its 

 force. 



The Tacliypetes minor used to nest in the bushes of Pemphis 



