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I 
• fut 
,Ve found only a single speoies of plant, a fleshy-leaved fora 
restricted to a handful of Individuals, though 1 saw a good many heavy 
Bpined seeds of a oreeper ( Trlbulua oestoldos ) that grew ooramonly on 
low sand islands, These were in all probability brought here in the 
feet or plumage of the sea birds that had oome from Laysan or French 
meBt " ■ a,0al * «<* withbut^aoil 
for their growth served to illustrate how such spiny plants are trans¬ 
ported to lonely islands far at sea. Elsewhere, in the West Indies, 
1 have seen lobes of cactus fastened to the feet of boobies in such a 
way that they might be oarried from island to island. 
Spiders, with large earwigs and a few other insects, were fairly 
In Ct« TXk 
common. Limpets and a few other shells clung to the rode. Birds were, 
however, the dominant feature of the life of the island. Terns of five 
species rested on the gentler slopes or the steep ledges indifferently. 
Tropic-birds nested in holes below the sunmit and the whole upper third 
of the Island was given over to the blue-faoed boobies, now on guard over 
their well grown young. These birds were as large as geese and it was 
necessary to drive or push the adults away ahead of us as when we passed 
them quietly they had a way of waddling up behind us and biting savagely 
with their heavy saw-edged bills, an attack that was often disturbing 
when one was picking a precarious path along sane narrow ledge. Our 
way was marked by the raucous squalling of these great snow-white birds 
irate at being pushed aside with our heavy shoes* 
