1884.] 223 



secluded life. There are now 103 persons on the island, all, with very few 

 exceptions, descendants of the mutineers of the " Bounty : " they live in a neat 

 little village of about twenty houses, with a small church and school-house, very 

 prettily situated on a wooded bluff about 300 feet above the sea. Nearly all 

 tropical, and many European fruits thrive here to perfection, and a good deal of 

 arrowroot and sweet potatoes is grown : the native vegetation is very luxuriant, 

 much resembling, in general character, that of Tahiti. No butterfly is apparently 

 found on the island, and I saw only a few common Tahitian moths : but I found, for 

 the first time, the large yellow-striped green larva of Choerocampa Erotus on the 

 " Nono " plant, and a good many living pupae of Sphinx convolvuli (equal in size 

 to English specimens) were brought to me, having been found in the patches of 

 sweet potatoes, of which a supply was then being dug up for the ship. Four species 

 of Coleoptera (a Tomicus ? two Cossonid weevils, and a Ehizophagoid ?) occurred 

 rarely, and I got a number of a pretty land-shell (Helix spj on the foliage of the 

 screw-pine (PandaniisJ, and DraccBua terminalis. 



We remained off the island under steam until the afternoon of the 2nd, and 

 having supplied the inhabitants with some clotliing materials, soap, &c., and received 

 in return a good quantity of coco-nuts, oranges, and sweet potatoes, with a few 

 goats and pigs, we took our departure for the coast of Chile. On the following 

 day, at noon, we were close to the uninhabited Elizabeth or Henderson Island, 

 round which we steamed, firing guns at intervals to attract the attention of any 

 people unfortunate enough to be shipwrecked thereon, but we met with no response. 

 This island is a most singular formation, being an ancient coral reef upheaved to a 

 height of about 80 feet : the shores in most parts consist of perpendicular or even 

 overhanging cliffs, honeycombed by the surf into innumerable holes and caverns. 

 There are one or two sandy beaches, on which landing appears to be practicable, but 

 no attempt was made to do so : the top of the island is level, and covered with 

 dense low bushes and small trees, among which we could only recognise the 

 Pandanus. 



After leaving Pitca.rn Island, the weather was fine and warm for about a week, 

 after which we encountered such a series of fierce north-easterly gales, alternating 

 with brief intervals of calm weather, with a most uncomfortable amount of swell, 

 that we were all very glad to make the coast of Chile on the morning of June 30th, 

 and to find ourselves safely at anchor in Coquimbo Bay on the same evening. 



The " Kingfisher " remained at Coquimbo, almost without intermission, from 

 June 30th until October 18th. During July and August (winter months) the 

 weather was nearly always duU, cloudy, and hazy, often very cool, and with only an 

 occasional fine day ; and insects were exceedingly scarce. The country was, 

 however, more verdant and attractive in appearance than I had ever seen it before, 

 and wild flowers were exceedingly abundant and beautiful — wide stretches of what 

 at other times of the year are nothing but bare loose sand, being completely 

 carpeted for a few weeks only, with handsome LiliacecB, &c. Almost the only 

 butterfly to be seen was Papilio Archidamas, which was as usual common, and the 

 specimens exceedingly fine and fresh, the dull weather preventing it from flying 

 much. There appears to be a succession of broods of this beautiful insect through- 

 out the year, and larvae, pupae, and images may be found together at almost any 

 time. Stray worn specimens of Pyrameis Carye, Terias chilensis, and Pieris 



