| A few years later, climbing plants were already | | | | could reckon with nothing save the goal of victory. |
| choking the trees to death and transforming the new | | | | Such activity could not be reconciled with the normal |
| forest into a tropical jungle complete with orchids, | | | | routine of great colonies of birds carrying on their life |
| butterflies, snakes, and numberless birds and bats, and | | | | cycles in vast isolation. Into this peaceful avian picture |
| with a small lake. Krakatoa became a naturalist's | | | | came man and his machines.. Then, one day, the |
| paradise; the Dutch made it a Nature reserve and | | | | scientists discovered that still another sort of life was |
| allowed no one but accredited scientists to set foot on | | | | stirring on Krakatoa-life in the earth itself. The old |
| the island. The naturalists worked out a complete | | | | volcano was not dead. |
| inventory of life on Krakatoa. They counted the | | | | Deep down under its rocky foundations a pocket of |
| steadily growing number of new arrivals and observed | | | | lava were seeking an outlet for its energies. The |
| how they lived with each other and fought each other. | | | | bottom of the inland sea was heaving and buckling |
| Then, one day, the scientists discovered that still | | | | again. A submarine cone was building up; on January |
| another sort of life was stirring on Krakatoa-life in the | | | | 26, 1928, it broke the surface and showed its top, a |
| earth itself. The old volcano was not dead. | | | | flat, ugly island a few hundred feet across, which the |
| Deep down under its rocky foundations a pocket of | | | | waves washed away a few days later. A year |
| lava were seeking an outlet for its energies. The | | | | passed. Then, suddenly, not far from the place where |
| bottom of the inland sea was heaving and buckling | | | | Danan and Perboewatan had first appeared, a geyser |
| again. A submarine cone was building up; on January | | | | began to spout steam and ashes. Sulphurous fumes |
| 26, 1928, it broke the surface and showed its top, a | | | | were drifting over the ocean. Again the sea was |
| flat, ugly island a few hundred feet across, which the | | | | covered with dead fish floating belly-up. The scientists |
| waves washed away a few days later. A year | | | | measured the temperature of the water a hundred |
| passed. Then, suddenly, not far from the place where | | | | yards from the geyser. It was 30° F. warmer than |
| Danan and Perboewatan had first appeared, a geyser | | | | the surrounding sea. The new geyser is still there. Its |
| began to spout steam and ashes. Sulphurous fumes | | | | identity has been established; it is a portion of the |
| were drifting over the ocean. Again the sea was | | | | ancient crater rim with mud deposited on its top and |
| covered with dead fish floating belly-up. The scientists | | | | flanks and a flue in its center-a safety valve for the |
| measured the temperature of the water a hundred | | | | stupendous pressure generated by the lava pocket |
| yards from the geyser. It was 30° F. warmer than | | | | underneath. The natives call the new volcano "Anak |
| the surrounding sea. The new geyser is still there. Its | | | | Krakatoa," the "Child of Krakatoa." No name could be |
| identity has been established; it is a portion of the | | | | more ominous. |
| ancient crater rim with mud deposited on its top and | | | | Now that the guns are stilled and men fly on missions |
| flanks and a flue in its center-a safety valve for the | | | | of peace, the question arises as to what war did to |
| stupendous pressure generated by the lava pocket | | | | the birds of sea, land and air in the Pacific. Much of the |
| underneath. The natives call the new volcano "Anak | | | | havoc of war is indirect, and only a careful study can |
| Krakatoa," the "Child of Krakatoa." No name could be | | | | measure its total effect. However, on the basis of |
| more ominous. | | | | certain facts, plus experience and conjecture, we can |
| Now that the guns are stilled and men fly on missions | | | | arrive at some conclusions. These are both interesting |
| of peace, the question arises as to what war did to | | | | and important. From time immemorial most of the |
| the birds of sea, land and air in the Pacific. Much of the | | | | central Pacific islands have been nesting places for |
| havoc of war is indirect, and only a careful study can | | | | myriad sea birds. Guided by hereditary impulses, these |
| measure its total effect. However, on the basis of | | | | birds returned, year after year, to the island of their |
| certain facts, plus experience and conjecture, we can | | | | original nest. There was virtually no month in the year in |
| arrive at some conclusions. These are both interesting | | | | which birds of some species were not on these |
| and important. From time immemorial most of the | | | | islands. These birds were threatened, in 1939, when |
| central Pacific islands have been nesting places for | | | | naval bases were established on a number of |
| myriad sea birds. Guided by hereditary impulses, these | | | | low-lying coral islands. Then came war itself, with the |
| birds returned, year after year, to the island of their | | | | necessity for speed and extensive development that |
| original nest. There was virtually no month in the year in | | | | could reckon with nothing save the goal of victory. |
| which birds of some species were not on these | | | | Such activity could not be reconciled with the normal |
| islands. These birds were threatened, in 1939, when | | | | routine of great colonies of birds carrying on their life |
| naval bases were established on a number of | | | | cycles in vast isolation. Into this peaceful avian picture |
| low-lying coral islands. Then came war itself, with the | | | | came man and his machines. |
| necessity for speed and extensive development that | | | | |