498 Capt. CarmicHAEL’s Description of 
insects I observed, are three small species of Curculio; four of 
Phalæna ; one of Hippobosca ; two of Musca; one of Tipula; one 
of Spheroma; and one of Oniscus. The latter has multiplied asto- 
nishingly in the soft yegetable soil, and proved a great nuisance 
to us, creeping up the roofs of our tents, and dropping thence 
upon our beds during the night. ‘The common window-fly of the 
Cape was not observed until two months after our arrival; but 
before I left the island it had begun to be troublesome. 
The Flora of Tristan da Cunha is as copious perhaps as the ex- 
tent and situation of the island would warrant us to expect; but 
with the exception of the cryptogamous class of plants, it offers 
nothing that is possessed of any peculiar interest. 
The only plant on the island that approaches to the size of a 
tree is a species of Phylica. This plant occupies not only the 
whole of the plain, but has also spread over the face of the moun- 
tain, wherever its roots could insinuate themselves into the cre- 
vices of therock. In favourable situations it grows to the height of 
twenty feet and upwards, measuring from twelve to eighteen inches 
in diameter. Its trunk is extremely crooked and twisted, but the 
wood. is hard, close-grained, and, according to the report of a 
ship's carpenter, who examined it, would make excellent timbers 
for vessels of sixty ton and under. Its bark possesses a slight de- 
gree of astringency. Owing to the lightness of the soil, and the 
frequency of high winds, these trees rarely stand upright, but 
lean against the ground, and cross each other in such a manner, 
as to make it a business of extreme — to penetrate to any 
distance through the wood.  . 
Besides the Phylica there are only two shrubby plants on the 
island, both of which belong to the genus Empetrum, and may be 
only varieties of one and the same species. They possess no qua- 
lity to recommend them, but that they grow on the most barren 
spots, where no other plant could vegetate. 
Of 
