Moreover, In
Sea-Shells, It Is Known That The Parts Habitually Covered And
Shaded By The Mantle Of The Animal, Are Of A Paler Colour
Than Those Fully Exposed To The Light, Just As Is The Case With
This Incrustation.
When we remember that lime, either as a
phosphate or carbonate, enters into the composition of the
hard parts,
Such as bones and shells, of all living animals, it
is an interesting physiological fact [6] to find substances
harder than the enamel of teeth, and coloured surfaces as well
polished as those of a fresh shell, reformed through inorganic
means from dead organic matter - mocking, also, in
shape, some of the lower vegetable productions.
We found on St. Paul's only two kinds of birds - the
booby and the noddy. The former is a species of gannet,
and the latter a tern. Both are of a tame and stupid
disposition, and are so unaccustomed to visitors, that I could
have killed any number of them with my geological hammer.
The booby lays her eggs on the bare rock; but the tern makes
a very simple nest with sea-weed. By the side of many of
these nests a small flying-fish was placed; which I suppose,
had been brought by the male bird for its partner. It was
amusing to watch how quickly a large and active crab
(Graspus), which inhabits the crevices of the rock, stole the
fish from the side of the nest, as soon as we had disturbed
the parent birds.
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