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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 





DIGGING AND SACKING RECENT GUANO 



The tropical sun bakes the guano into a hard, dry crust, and the fresh, dry breezes seldom 

 carry a trace of odor. Where the material is comparatively recent, the only implements 

 required are picks, shovels, a screen, and a supply of sacks. 



ditions generally unfavorable for vegeta- 

 tion. 



Naturally the only native land-dwell- 

 ing inhabitants of such islands, besides 

 the birds and sea lions, are parasitic in- 

 sects and their enemies — the spiders, 

 scorpions, lizards, and bats — except that 

 on the green-capped peaks colonies of 

 land snails have been introduced, perhaps 

 by the condors, which visit back and 

 forth from mainland to island. 



Escaped cats live freely on at least ons 

 of the islands, sustaining themselves, no 

 doubt, upon the birds and the shellfish 

 that are easily found upon the exposed 

 rocks between tides. Evidently fresh 

 water is not essential for feline health 

 and prosperity. 



There is a distinct difference in the 

 atmospheric conditions of the islands of 

 the north and the south. Nearer the 

 Equator the sea breeze becomes some- 

 what warmer, and probably in exceptional 

 years the course of the Peruvian Cur- 

 rent swings westward a little sooner, 

 permitting the warm equatorial waters to 

 flow southward to the Lobos Islands. 



Light rains are not unknown on Lobos 

 de Tierra, and this undoubtedly accounts 

 for the presence of small patches of vege- 

 tation and the inferior quality of the 

 mineral guano. The typical conditions 

 of the coast apply fully in the Chincha 

 region, and it is doubtful if a shower has 

 ever fallen upon these islands. 



MANY ISLANDS DIFFICULT OF ASCENT 



Contrary to expectation, life upon 

 these arid islands has few unpleasant 

 features and a wealth of compensatory 

 interests. Some of the shores are bold 

 and difficult of access, but everywhere 

 that work has been pursued some practi- 

 cable method of access has been devised. 



One may have to make the landing 

 from a small boat, skillfully handled in 

 a plunging surf, by an opportune leap to 

 a bare foothold on the ragged shore rocks. 

 At another island one must take the 

 chance to grasp the lower end of a rope 

 ladder which dangles from an improvised 

 pier hanging out from the side of the 

 island. In other places a smooth cove 

 and an easy beach are at hand. 



