130 NOTES OF A NATURALIST. 



strange exception that on the rocks nearest the houses 

 there were several small birds, which appeared to be 

 rather shy, and which I was not able to approach. I 

 was afterwards told that these birds live on the grain 

 which they are able to steal or to pick out from the 

 manure in the stables, where a few horses and mules 

 are kept for the needs of the place. Assuming this to 

 be correct, the arrival of the birds at such a place 

 remains a mystery. 



A passenger who had spent some time at this 

 singular place further told me that the horses, con- 

 stantly fed on dry grain, and receiving but a scanty 

 ration of distilled sea-water, usually become blind, 

 but do not otherwise suffer in health. He added a 

 story to the effect that some palings which had been 

 painted green were found a few days after covered 

 with marks of teeth, and with the paint almost com- 

 pletely removed. The mules, attracted by the colour, 

 had sought the refreshment of green food, and had 

 vainly gnawed away the painted surface. 



However singular the aspect of nature in this place 

 might be, it could not long detain a naturalist. A 

 world without life is soon found to be monotonous ; 

 and after clambering about for some time, and satisfy- 

 ing myself that there was nothing to be found, I 

 turned to the shore, where broken shells and other 

 remains of marine animals presented at least some 

 variety. Seaweeds appeared to be scarce, but some 

 were to be seen in the little pools left among the 

 rocks by the retreating tide. 



Just as I was about to collect some objects which 

 might have been of interest, the steam-whistle of the 



