58 TovEY, Notes on Coode Island and its Flora. \^^%^^.^^' 



The appearance of the island since its formation has under- 

 gone a complete change. The tea-tree scrub has disappeared, 

 the swamp has been practically filled up, and the greater part 

 covered by members of the Ficoideae (Mesembryanthemum, &c.), 

 whilst another area is laid down in grass. The island is chiefly 

 used as a quarantine station for stock ; but several buildings 

 have been erected there, which, however, are not very artistic, 

 having been constructed mainly of galvanized iron. These 

 buildings are intended to be used as a sanatorium for bubonic 

 plague patients when necessity arises. This fact might deter 

 members of the Club from paying a visit to the island. Never- 

 theless, a trip to the locality would well repay the trouble 

 taken, not only to the botanist, but also to the entomologist, 

 and probably to the conchologist and geologist as well. 



The numerous salt-marshes are swarming with pond-life, and 

 are worthy of a thorough search by those of our members who 

 are interested in the study of that department of science. Mr, 

 French, jun., informs me that he collected here some specimens 

 of mosquito larvse (millions of which are to be found in these 

 salt-marshes), which he reared, and forwarded to Dr. L. 0. 

 Howard, Chief Entomologist of the United States of America, 

 for naming. These were described as a new species, under the 

 name of Culex Inbecitlosiis, the Salt-marsh Mosquito. 



I am also indebted to Mr. French, jun., for the following 

 entomological notes : — An interesting scale insect was found on 

 the Salicornia, which also proved new to science, and has been 

 named by Mr. E. E. Green, of Ceylon, Pulvinaria salicorncp,, 

 the Salicorria Scale. On the Coast Acacia, Acacia longi- 

 folia, the common black fiat scale, Aspidiotus rossi, is very 

 plentiful, and on the Black Wattle the wattle scales, Prosophora 

 acacice and Lecanium baccatum, are fairly numerous. In and 

 on the dead acacias the following longicorn beetles were 

 found : — Hebecenis marginicollis and H. australis, Adrium 

 artinx, Pempsamacra pygmaa and P. dispersa, Pachydisstts 

 sericeus, and several other small species of longicorns, also the 

 common Wattle Goat Moth, Zeuzera eucalypti. 



In the south-west corner adjoining the canal the land is 

 somewhat higher than the surrounding portion. This is 

 apparently caused by the deposition of ships' ballast, which 

 has evidently been brought from other countries — certainly, 

 to some extent, from South Africa, for many of the exotic 

 plants found on this portion of the island were natives of that 

 part of the world. This gives an idea of the way in which 

 some of our alien plants may have reached our shores. 



The portion of land before mentioned is about 250 or 300 

 yards long and approximately 30 yards broad at its northern 

 end. becoming narrower towards the south. This was covered 



