92 MEMOIRS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



gems of blue, gold, silver, and green, make a picture never to be forgotten. Many of the fish are 

 timid, and dart quickly away upon the slightest provocation, while others appear indilferent to 

 capture, and may be easily caught with the hand. 



The basins and indentations of the outer reef afford safe retreats for many wonderful forms 

 that live in these warm seas. A view of such a grotto, with its growing coral and brilliant and 

 gaudy fish, fully confirms the praise bestowed by nearly all visitors to these South Sea Islands. 

 Even the shark, eel, gar-fish, and other common forms have their charming gifts, only in less 

 degree than the chaitodou and parrot-fish. 



The coral reef is a field pregnant with life, and offering the most beautiful and curious forms 

 imaginable for observation and study. 



Detached pieces of coral form the hiding places of hosts of small fish, crabs, shrimps, 

 star-fish, mollusks, etc., and myriads of microscopic beings. The following list is only a 

 partial inventory of the different forms observed : 

 EcMnoderms : 



Brittle stars {opMurida;), several varieties. 



r sun star. 

 Star-fish (Asteridw) \ cross fish. 



I knotty cushion star. 

 Sea urchins (echini), six varieties. 

 Sea cucumbers (holothuriw), three varieties. 

 Crustaceans : 

 Ordek: Decapoda: 

 Sea crayfish. 

 Shrimp. 



Racer crab (Ocypoda). 

 Land crab (gecarcinus). 



Hermit crab, three species, which occupied eight varieties of moUusk shells. Their 

 number is enormous. They were found even near the tops of small trees, whither 

 they had gone carrying a shell of several times their own weight. 

 Of the Cephalopods the only one seen belonged to the family of the Octopodidae, the eight- 

 armed cuttle. 



Although the habitat of many varieties of mollusks, we had not the facilities for procuring 

 many of their shells, and some seen could not be identified. The following list, therefore, is not 

 a complete one : 



Sea trumpet (Triton). 

 Frog shell (Eanella). 

 Spindle shell (Fusus). 

 Spotted needle shell (Terebra). 

 Cowrie (Cyprseidae), eight varieties. 

 Common top shell (Trochus). 



Pinna (Pinna). 



Scallop (Pecter), several varieties. 



Cui) and saucer limpet (Calyptnea). 



Clams (Tridacuidto), and others. 



Stromb shells (Strombus), several varieties. 



Whelks, volutes, etc." 



MEMORANDUM OF THE BUTTERB^LIES, ETC., OF CAROLINE ISLAND. 



(Collectiou by Dr. Palisa; iilontifications liy Dr. AuTiiUK BuiXEii auil Mr. Hermann Strecker.) 



Dr. Palisa, of the French expedition, made a complete collection of the lepidoptera of the 

 island, which he has taken to Vienna for identification. At my request, he was kind enough to 

 make as comiilete a collectiou as was possible of duplicates, which were presented to us. This 



