by barriers of sand, but a few hundred yards in width. Innumerable aquatic birds make of these a favorite resort. Whaling, and other fisheries, form the principal interest of the group at present. The islands were discovered in 1791, by Lieutenant Broughton, who named them after the vessel he commanded.

PONAPE OR ASCENSION ISLAND.

This, the principal of a group of the eastern Carolines (already briefly alluded to), lies within latitude 6 deg. 43 min. north, and longitude 158, and 158 deg. 30 min. east. In addition to its being one of the principal stations of the Congregational Missions in the South Sea, considerable interest has been attached to the island, from the remains of ancient ruins, and other evidences of a former civilization, being found there. Of these, Captain Cheyne says:

Near Metalanien Harbor are some interesting ruins, which are, however, involved in obscurity; the oldest inhabitants being ignorant of their origin, and having no tradition bearing any reference to their history. That a fortified town once stood upon this spot, and not built by savages, cannot be doubted; the style of the ruins giving strong proofs of civilization. Some of the stones measure eight to ten feet in length, are squared on six sides, and have evidently been brought thither from some civilized country, there being no stones on the island, similar to them. Streets are formed in several places, and the whole town appears

It has already been stated, in this work, that the material from which former buildings, fortifications, monuments, statuary, etc., had been constructed here, and at Strong and Easter Islands, was found in quarries in the interior.

to have been a succession of fortified houses. Several artificial caves were also discovered within the fortifications.

This town was, doubtless, at one time, the stronghold of pirates; and, as the natives can give no account of it, it seems possible that it was built by Spanish buccaneers, some two or three centuries ago. The supposition is confirmed by the fact, that, about three or four years ago, a small brass cannon was found on one of the mountains, and taken away by H. M. S. Larne. Several clear places are also to be seen, a little inland, at different parts of the island, some of which are many acres in extent, clear of timber, and perfectly level. Upon one of these plains, called K-pau, near Kiti (Roan Kiddi) Harbor—and which I have frequently visited-is a large mound, about twenty feet wide, eight feet high, and a quarter of a mile in length. This must evidently have been thrown up for defense, or as a burial place for the dead, after some great battle. Similar ruins are to be found at Strong Island, of which the natives can give no account.

STRONG ISLAND.

Kusaie (Ualan) or Strong Island, at the eastern extremity of the Carolines, was discovered and named by Captain Crozer, an American, in 1804. It has been regarded with some interest, of late days, in the hope, that the ruins and monuments found there, might afford an explanation or clue to the origin of the ancient island races. In speaking of Pane Bay, the principal harbor, Captain Hammet describes some remains of stone architecture (also alluded to by D'Urville), which was the subject of much speculation; but Dr. Gullick

ascertained, that they were not ancient, but were built for protection, and in some cases as monuments. ́

OCEAN ISLAND.

Located in 28 deg. 22 min. north latitude, and 178 deg. 27 min. west longitude-with its surroundings of dangerous barrier reefs, and comprised of barren sand dunes, is unimportant, except for the dangers offered to the navigator. It is made historical, as the scene of the wrecks of the Gladstone, the American whale ship Parker, and the Saginaw, of the United States Navy. Another island, about one degree below the line, and south from the Marshall group, known as Ocean Island, with still another of the same name (the northernmost of the Enderby group), should suggest a change of the name of two of the islands, with a like change on maps and charts of the Pacific, to prevent confusion.

THE DEPTHS OF THE OCEAN.

We dive, says Schleiden, into the liquid crystal of the Indian Ocean (a description serving alike for the tropical Atlantic and Pacific), and it opens to us the most wondrous enchantments, reminding us of fairy tales in childhood's dreams. The strangely branching living thickets bear living flowers. Dense masses of Meandrinas and Astræas, with the leafy, cup-shaped expansions of the Explanarias, the variously ramified Madrepores, which are now spread out like fingers, now rise in trunk-like branches, and now display the most elegant array of interlacing branches. The coloring surpasses everything-vivid green alternates with brown or yellow; rich tints of purple, from pale red-brown to the deepest blue; brilliant rosy, yellow

or peach-colored Nullipores overgrow the decaying masses, and are themselves interwoven with the pearl-colored plates of the Reptipores, resembling the most delicate ivory carvings. Close by, wave the yellow and lilac fans, perforated like trellis-work of the Gorgonias. The clear sand of the bottom is covered with the thousand strange forms and tints of the sea-urchins and star-fishes. The leaf-like flustras and escharas adhere like mosses and lichens to the branches of the corals; the yellow, green and purple striped limpets cling like monstrous cochineal insects upon their trunks. Like gigantic cactus-blossoms, sparkling in the most ardent colors, the seaanemones, expand their crowns of tentacles upon the broken rocks, or more modestly embellish the flat bottom, looking like beds of variegated ranunculuses. Around the blossoms of the coral shrubs play the humming-birds of the ocean, little fishes sparkling with red or blue metallic glitter, or gleaming in golden green, or in the brightest silvery luster. Softly, like spirits of the deep, the delicate milk-white or bluish bells of the jelly-fishes float through this charmed world. Here, the gleaming violet and gold-green Isabelle, and the flaming yellow, black and vermillion striped coquette chase their prey; there, the bandfish shoots snake-like through the thicket, like a long silk ribbon, glittering with rosy and azure hues. Then comes the fabulous cuttle-fish, decked in all colors of the rainbow, but marked by no definite outline, appearing and disappearing, intercrossing, joining company and parting again, in most fantastic ways; and all this in the most rapid change, and amid the most wonderful play of light and shade, altered by every breath of wind and every slight curling of

the surface of the ocean. When day declines, and the shades of night lay hold upon the deep, this fantastic garden is lighted up in new splendor. Millions of glowing sparks, little microscopic medusas and crustaceons, dance like glow-worms through the gloom. The sea-feather, which by daylight is vermillion-colored, waves in a greenish, phosphorescent light. Every corner of it is lustrous. Parts which by day were dull and brown, and retreated from sight, amid the universal brilliancy of color, are now radiant in the most wonderful play of green, yellow and red light; and, to complete the wonders of the enchanted night, the silver disc, six feet across, of the moon-fish, moves, slightly luminous, among the cloud of little sparkling stars.

The most luxuriant vegetation of a tropical landscape cannot unfold as great wealth of form, while in the variety and splendor of color it would stand far behind this garden landscape, which is strangely composed exclusively of animals, and not of plants; for, characteristic as the luxuriant development of vegetation of the temperate zones is of the sea-bottom, the fullness and multiplicity of the marine Fauna is just as prominent in the regions of the tropics. Whatever is beautiful, wondrous or uncommon in the great classes of fish and Echinoderms, Jelly-fishes and Polypes, and the Mollusks of all kinds, is crowded into the warm and crystal waters of the tropical ocean, rests in the white sands, clothes the rough cliffs, clings where the room is already occupied, like a parasite, upon the first comers, or swims through the shallows and depths of the elements-while the mass of the vegetation is of a far inferior magnitude. It is peculiar in relation to this that the law valid on land, ac