202 [September, 



here, all small, but some of them very pretty ; the fine Rhinopalpa 

 was now not rare, though very wary, and often torn and broken, as 

 was also the ease with Papilio Uypsicles. Dnnais (three species), 

 Acrcea Andromache, Messaras, Terias, Belenois, &c , were more or less 

 plentiful, and there were five species of Euploea, two or three in 

 numbers, and one very pretty blue-glossed form new to me, in this 

 productive spot. The beetles included a handsome chestnut-brown 

 Lucanid, the finest insect of the Order I met with in all the islands. 



Proceeding northward to the Banks Group, in character like the 

 New Hebrides on a small scale, but clothed with even finer and more 

 luxuriant forest, we anchored off the southernmost island, Gaua, on 

 the afternoon of September 9th. When I landed with two of my 

 messmates, we were received on the beach by a highly demonstrative 

 but friendly crowd of stalwart dark-brown natives, all more or less 

 clothed, and armed with spears, bows and arrows, the latter evidently 

 poisoned. They were much amused at my proceedings in search of 

 insects, which did not meet with any great success, as it was too late 

 in the day, and the only butterfly observed in any numbers was what 

 is probably a small form of Lnmpidcs bceticus ; the beautiful little 

 Jamides carissima, Butl., found in most of the islands, was also not 

 rare in the dense bush, flashing in and out of the stray gleams of sun- 

 shine like a blue electric spark. On the 11th we were at Vanua 

 Lava, the largest of the Banks Group. 3,200 feet high, and eminently 

 volcanic in character. A great deal of sulphur is sent down to the 

 little port from a " Solfatara " nearly in the centre of the island, by 

 an aerial tramway, and the forest for some distance round has been 

 opened up by good paths. This forest was finer and more varied 

 than any 1 had as yet seen in these parts, and 1 was especially im- 

 pressed by one magnificent tree-fern left standing by the side of the 

 tramway, which was at least 70 feet high, with a trunk much thicker 

 than my body. Jt looked an excellent place for collecting, but un- 

 fortunately the day was wet, and insects in consequence were scarce. 

 One fine Parthenos and a Euplwa, both probably new to me, were 

 caught, and close to the beach 1 saw numbers of a dark bronzy 

 Cicindela settling on the volcanic sand, the colour of which it 

 accurately matched ; but it was so shy and active that I succeeded in 

 catching only one specimen, and this at the expense of my net. 



On the 12th I landed for half-au-hour on Valua Island to look 

 at a native village, and caught a Euploea or two, and the same 

 evening we anchored in Dives Bay, a remarkable deep indentation in 



