ELLICE'S AND KINGS MILL GROUP. 



79 



Two or three of the officers landed for a short time, but saw nothing 

 except a few fishing huts. Under the eaves of the huts, large shells 

 of the Tridachna gigas were placed to catch water. The entrance 

 into the lagoon has four and a half fathoms water, and is about one- 

 third of a mile in width. 



Mr. Peale found no quadrupeds except rats, which were in great 

 plenty, and running in all directions ; of birds there were but few ; 

 white terns and noddies were seen in the groves, and a few moths 

 were caught. 



Mr. Rich found some tall Pisonias, Tournefortias, two species of 

 Urtica?, a Boerhaavia, and some cocoa-nuts. On the larger island 

 they seem to have a much greater variety of trees, but it was not 

 visited. They have bread-fruit, taro, and yams of two kinds, which 

 are cultivated in the manner already described. 



ARMS, ARMOUR, ETC., OF THE KI.NGSMILL GROUT. 



