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Show 544 KEELING ISLAND. April, 1836. were numerous, there were thirteen species.* Of these, one only was a beetle. A small species of ant, swarmed by thousands under the loose dry blocks of coral, and was the only true insect which was abundant. Although the productions of the land are thus scanty ; if we look to the waters of the surrounding sea, the number of organic beings is indeed infinite. Chamissot has described the natural history of Romanzoff, a lagoon island in the Radack Archipelago. The number and kind of productions there is very nearly the same with those here. One small lizard was seen: wading birds (Numenius and Scolopax) were numerous, and very tame. Of plants, he states there were nineteen species (including one fern) ; and some of them are the same species with those I collected here, although on an island situated in a different ocean. These strips of land are raised only to that height, to which the surf can throw fragments, and the wind heap up sand. . Their protection is due to the outward and lateral increase of the reef, which thus breaks the sea. The aspect and constitution of these islets at once call up the idea, that the land and the ocean are here struggling for mastery: although terra-firma has obtained a footing, the denizens of the other element think their claim at least equal. In every part one meets hermit-crabs of more than one species,t carrying on their backs the houses they have stolen from the neighbouring beach. Overhead, the trees are occupied by numbers of gannets, frigate-birds, and terns. * The thirteen species belong to the following orders. Coleoptera, a species of minute Elater ; Orthoptera, a Gryllus and Blatta ; Hemiptera, one ; Homoptera, two ; Neuroptera, a Chrysopa ; Hymenoptera, two ants ; Lepidoptera Nocturna, a Dioprea, and a Pterophorus (? ). DitJtera, two. t Kotzebue's First Voyage, vol. iii., p. 222. t The large claws or pincers of some of these crabs, are most beautifully adapted, when drawn back, to form an opeFculum to the shell, which is nearly as perfect as the proper one that belonged to the original molluscous animal. I was assured, and as far as my observation went it was confirmed, that there are certain kinds of these hermits, which always use certain kinds only of old shells. April, 1836. EBBING WELLS. 545 F~om the many nests and smell of the atmosphere, this might be called a sea-rookery. The gannets, sitting on their rude nests? look at ~n intruder with a stupid, yet angry air. The noddies, as their name expresses, are silly little creatures. But there is one charming bird ; it is a small and snow-white tern, which smoothly hovers at the distance of a~ arm'~ lengt~ fr.om your head; its large black eye scanning With. qmet curiOsity your expression. Little imagination is reqmred to fancy, that so light and delicate a body must be tenanted by some wandering fairy spirit. . SuNDAY, APRIL 3n.-Mter service I accompanied Captain FitzRoy to the settlement, situated at the distance of some miles, on a point thickly scattered over with tall cocoa-nut trees. Captain Ross and Mr. Liesk live in a lar<Te barnlike house open at both ends, and lined with mats 0 made of woven bark. The houses of the Malays are arranged along the shore of the lagoon. The whole place had rather a desolate aspect, because there were no gardens to show the· signs ~f care ~nd cultivation. The natives belong to different Islands m the East Indian Archipelago, but all speak the same language : we saw inhabitants of Borneo, Celebes, Java, and Sum~t~a. In the colour of their skin they resemble the Tahitians, nor do they widely differ from them in form of features. Some of the women, however, showed a good deal of the Chinese character. I liked both their general expression and the sound of their voices. Thev appeared poor, and their houses were destitute of furniture.· but it was evident, from the plumpness of the little children: that cocoa-nuts and turtle afford no bad sustenance. 0? this island the wells are situated from which ships obtam water. At first sight it appears not a little remarkable that the fresh water should regularly ebb and flow with the usual tide.* We must believe that the compressed sand * These ebbing and flowing wells are common in parts of the West Indies. The simple fact, that in low islands of small extent, and composed of porous materials, the rain-water can have no tendency to sink lower than the level of the &urrounding:sea, and must therefore accumulate VOL. III. 2 N |