The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-11-19
RED RATS AND BLUE CRABS.
Some of the curiosities of Christmas
Island.

Mr.. G. W. Andrews of the Department
of Geology in the British Museum, has
just returned from scientific mission to
Christmas Island, says the London Daily
Mail.
He was sent by the British Museum, to
examine the flora and fauna of the island,
and to work out it's geological structure.
Being specially interested in the forma'
ton of coral islands, Sir John Murray,
who was geologist to the Cha ilenger ex-
petition, paid the ex penses of the mis-
sion.
Saving the Polar regions, Christmas Is
land is one of the few remaining spots on
earth which have escaped the influence OF
man. Man takes with him strange ami
mails and strange plants. The animals
breed and tho plants spread, and after a
while it is impossible to separate the ma
tive from the imported varieties.
So far as is known, Christmas Island
was uninhabited until fifteen years ago,
when Dutch ship was wrecked of the
coast. and five sailors landed. They were
on the island for six months. and never
went more than hundrd yards from the
coast, for fear of the wild beasts which do
not exist there.
The island is now being developed by
syndicate for the sake OF the phosphates
which are found on the hilltops. in almost
pure condition. As development will
confuse the characteristics of the Island,
which are typioally oceanic, MIR. Andrews
was sent 60 make his observations before
the phosphate workers land with their an
imals and seeds.
He has acquired some valuable inform.
alton, and cargo of red rats, and crabs,
tropical birds plants, and strata is fol.
lowing in his wake.
Christmas Island is 200 miles south Of
the Java coast, and is about half the
size of the Isle of Wight. 1t is a high
coral island, covered with thick forests.
On the south side there are always big
seas, and the cliffs are cut into narrow
fingers, and perforated with blow-holes
through which the spray flies up among
the trees to the accompaniment of weire
noises of the sea.
The chief inhabitant of the island i:
the rad rat His coat is a brown-red, sucf
as no other rat can boast. He is about
twenty inches long. and he swarms every
where. He is an expert tree-cIimber, and
when there is nothing better to he hae
he lives on fruit. He prefers boots.
The island is heaven for terriers. Fol
the first few days of his stay the indus
trious terrier has not even time to bark
But luxuries pail, and by the time thu
terrier gets into his third thousand ht
declines to work during prohibited hours.
and insists on his eight hours for sleeI
and an hour and q half for meals. Hs
Stays red rats. still, but only as a duty.
The first delight has gone, and red rats
excite him no more.
Next in Importance comes the colony
of land crabs. These are very brilliant
personages They wear notified coats OF
yellow and red, with an occasional dab
of blue, ana arriet in all her glory was
n ever arrayed like one of these. They
are harmless, inquisitive, and very good
to eat. Like the rats, they climb trees,
and eat the fruit. But their chief delica-
cy is dead rats. They might. with perse-
veranoe, rid the island OF all the rats.
only unfortunately, they require some
body else to do the killing.