198 Sketch of the Botany, fyc, of Hyeres. 



Although an inhabitant of the north of Europe may find 

 pleasure in admiring the rare shrubs with which the soil is 

 covered, yet far different are the feelings of a native of these 

 countries, if we may be allowed to judge from the following 

 passage in Lauvergne's Treatise on the Botanical Geography 

 of the Port of Toulon-. — "It is impossible to conceive a more 

 monstrous aspect than that which the field of our botanical 

 excursions presents: the traveller accustomed to the luxury of 

 the vegetation of the north, to the gigantic forest trees, and 

 plants luxuriating in the shade and moisture, perceives here 

 only the sombre colour of the olive tree, endeavouring in vain 

 to shadow with its branches the stony arid soil upon which it 

 grows ; thus allowing the scorching rays of the sun to destroy, 

 in a few weeks, the flowering season of plants, which, in the 

 north, endures throughout the entire summer." 



Although botany was the principal object of our pursuit, 

 yet we picked up whatever insects might fall in our way. The 

 pine trees were covered with immense quantities of Cicadae, 

 the united singing, or rather drumming, of which insect inces- 

 santly rung in our ears. For the purpose of feeding, these 

 animals pierce the bark of trees, and instil into the wound an 

 irritating liquor, which causes an accumulated flow of sap to 

 the part, thus producing large excrescences on the branches, 

 varying in size from that of a walnut to 3 in. or 4 in. in diameter. 

 The principal Coleoptera that we met with on the island 

 were, Buprestis mariana, Callidium ferum, Mycterus griseus, 

 Aristus fulvipes, Oryctes Grypus, Thamnophilus carbo- 

 narius, and Clythra 4-punctata. The Nymphalis Jasius 

 was very common ; but its flight was so rapid, that we were 

 unable to capture any specimens. The Lacerta viridis is 

 abundant on the island, and one that we caught measured - 

 nearly 18 in. in length and 6 in. in circumference. Although 

 we found very few insects on the island, we were more fortu- 

 nate in the immediate neighbourhood of Hyeres. We met 

 with Ateuchus semipunctatus in abundance on the sandy sea 

 shore, together with three species of Cicindela; viz. C. circum- 

 data, trisignata, and littoralis, the latter of which occurred in 

 immense profusion. We also found Scarites laevigatas in the 

 same locality. Upon the flowers which adorned the road side 

 we remarked Mylabris melanura and variabilis in amazing 

 quantities: Clythra longipes and Cetonia morio were almost 

 equally common. Amongst the multitude of butterflies that 

 fluttered in the sun's rays, the golden-feathered wings of 

 Gonepteryx Cleopatra, and the velvety black plumage of 

 Satyrus Silene principally attracted our attention. 



I have thus slightly sketched over the most interesting pro- 



