498 Capt. Carmichael's Description of 



insects I observed are three small species of Curculio ; four of 

 Phalcena ; one of Hippobosca ; two of Musca ; one of Tipula ; one 

 of SpJuEfoma ; and one of Oiiiscus. The latter has multiplied asto- 

 nishingly in the soft vegetable soil, and proved a great nuisance 

 to us, creeping up the roofs of our tents, and dropping thence 

 upon our beds during the night, 'l^he common window-fly of the 

 Cape was not observed until two months after our arrival ; but 

 before I left the island it had begun to be troublesome. 



The Flora of Tristan da Cunha is as copious perhaps as the ex- 

 tent and situation of the island would warrant us to expect; but 

 ■with the exception of the cryptogamous class of plants, it offers 

 nothing that is possessed of any peculiar interest. 



The only plant on the island that approaches to the size of a 

 tree is a species of Fhylica. This plant occupies not only the 

 whole of the plain, but has also spread over the face of the moun- 

 tain, wherever its roots could insinuate themselves into the cre- 

 vices of the rock. In favourable situations it grows to the height of 

 twenty feet and upwards, measuring from twelve to eighteen inches 

 in diameter. Its trunk is extremely crooked and twisted, but the 

 wood is hard, close-grained, and, according to the report of a 

 ship's carpenter, who examined it, would make excellent timbers 

 for vessels of sixty ton and under. Its bark possesses a slight de- 

 gree of astringency. Owing to the lightness of the soil, and the 

 frequency of high winds, these trees rarely stand upright, but 

 lean against the ground, and cross each other in such a manner, 

 as to make it a business of extreme difficulty to penetrate to any 

 distance through the wood. 



Besides the Phylica there are only two shrubby plants on the 

 island, both of which belong to the genus Empetrum, and may be 

 only varieties of one and the same species. They possess no qua- 

 lity to recommend them, but that they grow on the most barren 

 spots, where no other plant could vegetate. 



Of 



