and thus it would be exposed to the attacks of ants for a longer 

 period. Ants are abundant and in wet fields make their nests be- 

 tween the leaf and the stem of the cane. It is interesting to note 

 that with the reintroduction of soft varieties of cane the borer is 

 apparently on the increase, or at least its attacks are more severe. 



I examined the Pandanus palms, cocoanut palms and other na- 

 tive trees, in which this beetle lives, but was unsuccessful in my 

 search for parasites. 



Aleyrodes bergii was very abundant in some fields, a fungus 

 being the chief agent in its destruction. Fungi I found to be one 

 of the chief factors in destroying many noxious insects, especially 

 scale. 



Such time as I could spare from breeding and shipping insects, 

 I devoted to a general collection, especially of economic insects, 

 which I trust will be of interest when worked out. 



A species of slug, a Vaginiila, very similar to the one found 

 in the Hawaiian Islands, has been a garden pest for several 

 years in Fiji, but, until this year, it was never known to attack 

 sugar-cane. This year it attacked some fields of voung seed cane, 

 eating the leaves and destroying the eyes and a great deal of re- 

 planting had to be done in these fields in consequence. 



The increase of these slugs in sugar cane fields I attribute 

 to the use of "Mauritius bean" as a green manure. These slugs 

 are very fond of this plant for food, and the shade of its leaves 

 makes an attractive breeding ground. When the plant is ploughed 

 in, only a few of the slugs are killed and hundreds of eggs are 

 left to hatch out. The young slugs, finding no other food but 

 sugar cane, attack the young shoots and eyes. 



Should "Mauritius bean" be used in the wet districts of the Ha- 

 waiian Islands as a green manure, watch should be kept upon the 

 local species of Vaginnla to see if it increases in the cane fields. 

 Leaving a row of Mauritius beans every two chains or so, until 

 such time as the young cane is beyond attack, might be beneficial. 



Lantana is very abundant around Suva, but it does not appear 

 to grow so luxuriantly as in the Hawaiian Islands, though another 

 plant, locally known as "Koester's curse" (Clidemia hirta) is 

 very bad in the Rewa district, overrunning all grazing lands. 



As an illustration of the manner in which insects can be im- 

 ported into a country, in spite of every precaution taken by in- 

 spectors and custom authorities, I may mention a case that came 

 under my observation on board R. M. S. "Maheno" on my return 

 passage. A passenger bought two or three stalks of cane in 

 Suva and stored them in the alley-way on board. Two days after 

 leaving Suva I took three adult Fijian cane leaf hoppers 

 (P. vitiensis) ofif them, two females and one male ; during the 



