the Arcturus and the island a visit within the ten days' space. Three great schools of dolphins churned past, headed northeastward. On three other days a school or sound of small whales

some species of blackfish-passed, going in the same direction. The third lot, twenty-seven in number, appeared in the late afternoon of our last day. They split up temporarily, twelve or fifteen coming close to have a look at this strange, larger whale. They rolled ponderously about, sighed audibly and sprayfully, and steamed steadily after their fellows.

Although my sunken island is sixty miles south of Cocos, yet now and then I find a dead land-insect or some seeds in the surface towing-nets- a tiny cockchafer or June bug, a water-worn hawk-moth, or a flying ant. On May 29, twenty or more dragon-flies appeared suddenly on board and hawked about, catching nothing that I could see, although since the warbler had taken the lonely pair of flies I had seen about a dozen others on board. I caught one of the dragon-flies and found it was a large species peculiar to Cocos, with wings hyaline except for a black spot near the base of the hinder pair. On another day a butterfly flew about the ship for hoursone of the strong-winged, leaf-shaped, orange-and-black brassalids common on the island to the north.

All this radiation of living creatures birds and insects, and, as we shall see, plants and fish-over half a hundred miles from a small island, across, rather than with, the prevailing winds and currents, gave me an entirely new idea as to the effectiveness of oceanic distribution, and one which was rather destructive to former theories I have held. If my island had suddenly appeared above the surface, and if we granted a certain amount of scientific license in the matter of soil

ready to hand, there would have accrued to it a surprising number of living beings, judging by the restricted space-observation from the deck of my vessel and from the brief time-period of ten days.

This point of view is thrilling to me, and some day, when my physical activities become curtailed by age, so that I shall be compelled to shift from tennis to golf, from dancing to contemplation, I shall give up my active exploration and diving and hunting, and settle down upon a barren desert island. If one recently elevated by a submarine earthquake or other terrestrial disturbance is not available, I shall manufacture one for myself out of concrete or coral and sterilized earth off some interesting shore or bank of river, and day by day I shall watch the accidental populating — the simple beginnings of the struggle for existence between seed and seed, animal and animal. Then perhaps I shall see a little more clearly into the meanings of the apparent terrible confusions already in full swing, which in great jungles so cobweb my brain and mind.

When the ten days were past, and I was steaming westward for another look at my new Galapagos volcano, I took stock of what I had captured or seen on the surface of the water, of all the creatures which could populate a suddenly emerged island.

I had picked up two coconuts, both of which were alive and one already sprouted; and besides there were three plants, two growing on a floating log, and some long strands of grass drifting past in the water. I planted these in a little deck-garden which I had prepared, and two of the plants began growing at once. So my insular botany had a very respectable start. All the sea birds such as terns, boobies, shearwaters, and petrels, which I saw in numbers — could have called

the island home as soon as the salt water had drained from its rocks and mud. And the numerous shore-fish and crabs which I collected in and beneath floating logs would also have become immediately wonted to the brand-new shore.

The dead and decaying sea-creatures caught in the interstices of the upheaved land would be both nectar and ambrosia to the few flies on board, and their maggots would establish a sure foundation for future generations of their own and of other organisms. Here began the first interrelations, the need of the flies as food for the dragonflies, and also for the lone little yellow warbler. In the latter respect, the race of flies might bring about important results by keeping the warbler alive until, by another accident, a mate of the opposite sex was blown south from Cocos in time to perpetuate these little birds on Island Seventy-four.

The ant and the hawk-moth proved to be females with well-developed eggs, and if fertilized these were ready to swell the insect life. The possibility is slight of these particular plants being the kind on which the caterpillars of the moth would thrive; yet the thousandand-first chance has many times ensured the life of a whole race. The queen ant would not have a very difficult time in establishing a colony, but the grubs of the June beetle would be lucky indeed if they found sufficient and suitable nourishment in the newly grown roots available in this instance.

The dragon-flies would need some rain pools, of which they could be certain; and out of the score a pair or two might survive and propagate their kind, their food consisting of what flies they could capture, with the possibility at the last of devouring one another. Finally, I have included the butterfly, not because I succeeded in capturing and examining it, but on the chance that, like the moth and ant, it might possibly be a gravid female.

The frigate bird and gull could live on fish and crabs, but would perish unless others of the missing sex happened to arrive in time.

So, even with the scattered and imperfect observations which I was able to make, I could see my island stocked with plants and insects, shore fish, crabs, and sea turtles, together with thirteen species of birds, numbering over four hundred individuals.

The earth is altering with eldritch rapidity before the onrush of increasing numbers and the destructiveness of mankind. The details of early evolution and the clarity of primitive relationships are daily becoming less distinct, more complex. It is a wonderful thought that, in addition to the continued chance of deciphering the primer of palæontology, and the interpretation of the body and mind of the young of all animals, there is the possibility of learning much from close observation of beginnings, such as this stocking of an island- an island, desert in the very deepest meaning of the word.

EVERYONE knew that Mr. Trossett was writing a play. The rumor was discreetly spread among the hostesses whose drawing-rooms Mr. Trossett was pleased to frequent, although for a long time no one asked him about it. His strange way of shutting himself in a tight-lipped silence when pressed for personal revelations was too well known. Not that anybody was afraid of Mr. Trossett: they were all rather afraid of hurting him. And in his talkative moods he was so mordantly clever, so likely to say small, ridiculous, 'devastating' things which could never be forgotten, that no one wanted to risk

driving him into defensive silence. He was like a sensitive plant with nettles. Surrounded by smiles and sympathy, he cast his tiny barbs expertly in all directions and appeared to enjoy giving people mildly scandalous pleasure. But if even the friendliest glance was turned directly on him he shrank and the inquirer felt like a brute who had trod on the trustful tendrils of a flower.

Mrs. Hartsfield, whose tact and courage were extraordinary, finally mentioned it to him. They were alone in her library and tea was steaming homely comfort into the atmosphere