468 JUAN FERNANDEZ. 



white ilowers, and large patches of a small species of Dock 

 {Rumex) in full flower showed out red amongst the general 

 green, whilst a white-flowered Iris, growing socially, formed 

 well-marked patches of white. A tall Bignoniaceous Shrub, 

 which was very common, was covered with dark blue tubular 

 flowers. 



Hovering over the flowering bushes and trees, were every- 

 where to be seen two species of Humming-Birds ; one of which 

 {Eustephamis fernandensis) is peculiar to the island, whilst the 

 other \E. galeritus) of the same genus occurs also on the main 

 land. A further closely allied but peculiar species occurs in 

 the island named by the Spaniards " Mas-afuera," or, "farther 

 out," because it lies 90 miles to the westward of Juan Fernandez 

 and so much farther from the Chilian coast. 



The Humming-Iiirds were extremely abundant, hovering in 

 every bush. In the species peculiar to the Island of Juan Fer- 

 nandez the male is very different in plumage from the female, 

 being of a chocolate colour, with an iridescent golden-brown 

 patch on the head, whilst the female is green. So different 

 are the two sexes that they were formerly supposed to represent 

 two distinct species, as has happened in the case of so many 

 other birds. This endemic Humming-Bird seemed more 

 abundant than the continental one. Any number of specimens 

 might have been shot. 



in skinning some of the birds which I killed, I noticed that 

 the feathers at the base of the bill and on the front of the head 

 were clogged and coloured yellow with pollen. The birds, no 

 doubt, in common with other species of Humming-Birds, and 

 other flower-frequenting birds, such as the Myzomelidic, are 

 active agents in the fertilization of plants. I noticed, as has 

 been already mentioned, pollen attached in a similar manner 

 to a bird at Cape York.* Mr. Wallace concludes that the 

 presence of these birds, as fertilizers, accounts for the abun- 

 dance of conspicuous flowers in Juan Fernandez. 



There are very few insects in the island, according to the 

 observations of Mr. E. C. Reed, and only one very minute 

 species of Bee. Flies, of which there are 20 species, form the 

 most prominent feature of the entomology of the island.f 

 Some fertilizers, either insects or birds, must act on a very 

 comprehensive and effectual scale all over the island, as follows 

 from the abundance of fruit yielded by various introduced 

 plants. 



Strawberries, Cherries, Peaches, Apples, and Figs bear well ; 

 Strawberries and Peaches at all events very abundantly. The 



* See p. 305. 



t A. R. Wallace, "Tropical Nature," p. 270, 271. 



