354 G. E. J^errin — Fauna of the Island of Domhiina. 



Notes on the Insects. 



The collection of insects has not yet been worked up and so no 

 list of the species can be given. 



We found the Coleoptera and Lepidoptera quite abundant, the 

 other orders much less so. 



Our collection contains about twenty species of beetles, some of 

 which are very interesting, to an ordinary observer at least, on 

 account of their difference from New England forms. 



Probably the most sti-iking is the Hercules Beetle. These enor- 

 mous beetles are quite rare and found mainly among the mountains. 

 According to the inhabitants there are several species, but we pro- 

 cured but one, dark brown with greenish grey wing coverts, spotted 

 with black. According to my brother, they feed on the locust and 

 cocobolo trees, and he also says that on the windward side of the 

 island this species is replaced by another that is still larger and 

 entirely brown. 



Another large brown " horn-bug " has a big white larva, called in 

 Patois "(rru Gru Worm" which lives in the buds of the palm 

 trees, and which is roasted and eaten by the natives. 



The "lire-beetles" of this island are of several species, very num- 

 erous, and exceedingly brilliant, the light being constant and com- 

 ing from the body under the wing coverts and from two round spots 

 on the side of the thorax. They are a kind of snapping-beetle, dark 

 brown, and about an inch long. A few of them flying about a room 

 make enough light to distinguish large objects, and two or three in 

 a small bottle give light enough, when held near the page, to read 

 ordinary print. They are found mainly in the interior. At Bass- 

 en -ville they were very abundant. 



We also took a number of large yellow and black Aveevils which 

 were found on the plantain and banana plants. 



The name " La Belle " is applied by the natives to all beetles. 



Several large green katydids, called by the inhabitants " Crak 

 Crak," were also taken, and enormous cockroaches, or " Drummers," 

 were very abundant, especially in the houses. 



We also found a few raole-crickets and a walking-stick but they 

 were both rare. 



No true scorpions were seen but a large whip-scorpion was ob- 

 tained and also several large rayriapods or centipedes. 



The collection of Land Mollusca, consisting of about twenty 

 species, several of them probably new, is now in the hands of Mr. 

 H. A. Pilsbry of Philadelphia, for working up. As soon as this is 

 done a list will be published. 



