+ 
26 
Early account 3 of Lay 3 an Island and photographs taken twenty years 
ago depioted it as a pleasant spot that though without trees except for 
two or three paloas was covered with green vegetation* There were extensive 
tracts of rank bunch grass, thick leaved shrubs made low thickets on the 
poveredjwith 
higher levelsomewhat saline flats near the lagoon 
Sense mats of succulent stemmed herbs}and in season flowering plants and 

vines lent a touch of color to the inner basin. Small birds sang or 
searched for insect food in the abundant vegetation and flightless rails 
in form like little chickens scuttled about with clacking calls at the 
borders of little openings. 
Reports of damage ,-ef shrubbery had led us to expect some Changes 
but had not prepared our minds for the utter desolation that greeted 
Conwandor King and 1, as we landed in the little harbor on Laysan early in 
April, 1923, and walked slowly up the sandy slopes to a point near the 
tumbledown buildings remaining from the guano workings. On every hand 
extended a barren waste of sand. Two ooconut palms, a stunted hau tree 
and an ironwood or two planted by former inhabitants were the only bit 3 
of green that greeted the eye. Other vegetation seemed to have vanished* 
leaving not a trace of its former presenoe. The desolateness of the soene 
was such that we talked in undertones depressed in spirits by the utter 
change that had been accomplished. From all appearances^the X 3 iand might 
have been a section of some sandy desert with the gloaming lake below merely 
a deception of mirage. Without the restraining influence of active enemies 
rabbits had multiplied until they had absolutely stripped the island and 
then had slowly died away, starving in utter misery until of their vast 
army a few hundreds\only.^remained. Careful inspection in remote corners 
*lr- ' 
