180 THE GUANO AND OTHER PHOSPHATIC DEPOSITS 
It is evident that the general incrustation on the surface of 
the rocks and on these stones was formed by the direct action of 
the excrement of the birds, the stones a in fact pseudomorphs, 
as there were abundance of similar pieces of coral shingle else- 
where, the only difference in appearance bali i in their colour. 
Discussion. 
Mr. Ressecr asked Mr. Dixon if he t wager! ur inhabitants 
_ had been driven away-by some great drought. d been stated 
with regard to a. coat that ¢ ere as n no rain on ‘the 
island for. re ars, sia e the crew of a vessel were there, 
to crn tter surp it caine on to rain for three montlis, and 
ASSES 
XON * oad that four et before the year 1866 there 
was og aati of rain, and one man said the whole place was 
e a meadow—that was in 1862. Some, however, thought 
that nonsense. In 1863, 1864, 1865, 1866, 1867, and 1868, there 
was no sign of any such thing, but in 1869 there was abundance 
of rain, and the place was like a meadow 
t 
Only one man had seen the previous wet 
Believe ed what was said, that there was sometimes ra 
, built a tank, and it was filled with one night’s rain. oe takin’: 
however, that they have now again got into a rainy season ; 
nD 
It strikes me that as cats and pigs can live on ra island without 
—o perhaps the Kanakas can also. V out some 
and goats, and they wandered _— the island for deer or 
ioive dea Seen lived saber Some of. the cats ran 
wild. The rats got so numerous eat we used ns kill fa 
oe in ia the va we killed some twenty thousand in two 
mon 
A — br if they were to dig down a few inches, could 
— set wa 
= said they never found any fresh water in the 
Kiakes wells. The nearest inhabited island is distant about 
300 miles. 
Mr. Moore said the existence of the species of Plaats described 
indicated long periods of drought, but the existe 
seemed to be extraordin a : it proved that the eed must retain 
their vitality for a long pe: tw was. very singular that’ the 
grasses should spring Bea 80 ri aity and.cover the surface. 
On 
: the others natal there was mever any rain at =a Ser I. 
