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THE ENTOMOLOGICAL FAUNA OF NAURU ISLAND, 

 OF THE OCEAN ISLAND GROUP. 



By Walter W. Froggatt, F.L.S. 



Nauru is an isolated island almost on the equator, lying about 

 150 miles north-west of Ocean Island. It was known as Pleasant 

 Island before it was included in the group of different islands 

 comprising the German zone, when the name was changed to 

 Nauru; while in some of the charts it is called Nawada Island. 

 It is much larger than Ocean Island, measuring thirteen miles 

 in circumference, but has no great elevation above the sea. It 

 has a small native population, and a fair growth of vegetation, 

 comprising some coconut groves, with mangroves, and pandanus 

 on the water's edge. The vegetation in general is low and 

 scrubby, with scattered " mangoni " trees growing on the better 

 laud; the open country is well grassed. Both Ocean and Nauru 

 Islands contain very rich deposits of phosphates, so that there is 

 a comparatively large population at work upon them at the 

 present time. 



The insects herein noted, were obtained by Mr. F. W. Steel, 

 and are chiefly intrusive, having been introduced with timber 

 and produce, though several are cosmopolitan in their range. 

 Mr. Steel informs me, however, that the material furnished does 

 not represent the whole of the insect-fauna, as there are many 

 dragonflies to be found round a lagoon or lake occupying the 

 centre of the island; and that mosquitoes are very troublesome 

 at times. Butterflies were rare, though he noticed a good many 

 different species of moths. Among the specimens received 

 were three diptera; but these have not yet been identified. 



