SOLAR ECLIPSE, MAY C, 1883. 91 



Oeder : fotipalmes : 

 Gaunet. 

 Booby. 

 Frigate bird. 

 There were great numbers of the frigate bird on several of the islets ; and there appeared 

 to be two distinct varieties, one with a large red ponch, the throat being white. The pouch could 

 be wrinkled to a very small size. One, with pouch, was seen to swoop down from a high tree, in 

 which were numerous nests, to the lagoon, make three distinct scoops in water and then return 

 homewards with pouch enlarged. Professor Holden reports hearing the notes of a singing bird, 

 but he did not see the bird. 



The insects are numerous, but cover a limited range. 

 Order : Coleoptera : 

 Beetle. 

 Weevil. 

 Order: Orthoptera: 

 Cockroach. 



Croton bug. The Eclipse Expedition is probably responsible for adding at least one 

 member to the insect family, for many croton bugs appeared when stores and 

 instruments were impacked. 

 House cricket. 

 Grasshopper. 

 Order : Hymenoptera : 



Ants, two varieties, and very numerous. 

 Order : Lcpidoptera : 



Butterfly, a dozen or more varieties. A collection of the butterflies was made by M. 



Palisa and presented to Professor Holden.* 

 Moth, several species and very numerous. 

 Order : Homoptera : 



Plant lice. 

 Order : Biptera : 

 Gnat. 



Flesh fly. Domestic fly. Very numerous; a small fly; yellowish; very quick in its 

 movements and generally found in the presence of decaying animal matter. 

 The Saurian reptiles have but one representative, the lizard, of which there are three species. 

 The Chelonian reptiles are represented by one family of sea-tortoise or turtle, which, however, is 

 not very numerous. 



The Arachnidans make also but a single exhibit in the spider, of which there are two species. 

 Contrary to expectations, only one centipede was seen, the giant representative. The brown rat 

 has a foot-hold, but is not numerous. Their nests were made in the cocoa-nut trees, just at the 

 base of the fronds. 



There must be some connection between color and tropical heat, because even the most 

 contemptible things possess chromatic gifts that make them attractive. Fish are given the most 

 marvellous embellishment, the variety of color combinations being infinite. Not a tint is out of 

 pla<;e, nothing is harsh or strained, and the quiet pools within the outer reef, occupied by living 



* A memorandum on the butterflies follows this section. — E. S. H. 



