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In form Lisianski resembles a parallelogram a nautical mile long 
by slightly less than a mile wide* A low ridge 40 feet high on the norths 
east marks the highest point ( while the oentral portion of the island 
forms a low basin bounded by a rim that protects it from the ooean. In 
an early stage this basin was in all probability a lagoon like that at 
JLaysan that has been filled until it no longer oontains water* except 
after heavy rains* 
An easy landing was made on a sandy beach that sloped so gently 
that it was necessary to establish camp 175 yards inland to insure safety 
from possible stozm waves. With tents in plaoe and camp arranged for 
work we had opportunity before dark to look about in spite of a drizzling 
rain that began to fall almost before we had perishable articles under 
shelter* 
Never have 1 seen a more utterly desolate spot. Rabbits* brought 
here from laysan by misguided persons who thought to leave a food supply 
for possible castaways from shipwrecks* had completely stripped the island 
of its vegetation and then had died a passive death by starvation* Their 
* • 
bleached and weathered bones lying at intervals where wind had blown them 
free from drifting sands were the only indications of the subtle instruments 
of destruction that had played such havoo with natural conditions on this 
isolated spot* 
A few roots of grass and of pigweed had grown sufficiently deep 
to esoape the incessant search of the starving four-legged pests and with 
the final disappearance of the 
Is had begun a battle against the foroes 
of wind and sand to cover the island. In several years (to Judge by the 
apparent age of the rabbit bones) vegetation had extended scantily ov 
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