1888.] HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS ISLAND. 529 



Phaethon phcenicxjrxjs, Gm. 



This species was also seen in white plumage. 



Fregata aguila (L.). 



A specimen of this Frigate-bird was sent home from the ' Flying- 

 Fish ' Expedition. As has been stated, Frigate-birds were very com- 

 mon on the islands. 



SuLA, spp. 



Gannets and Boobies were very abundant along the shore and up 

 among the trees, where their loud harsh notes constantly broke the 

 stillness of the woods, and the air was often tainted by their drop- 

 pings, which whitened the ground and trunks. 



A young Gannet covered with white down was found on the bare 

 stones at the upper part of the beach at Flying-Fish Cove. 



VII, REPTILES. 



Four kinds of Lizards are known to inhabit the island. 



Two of these were very abundant — Lygosoma nativitatis, Blgr., and 

 Ablejjharus egeria, Blgr., both peculiar. 



Gijmnodactylus marmoratus, Kuhl, was found in a semitorpid 

 condition under logs of wood during the day, and one of them with 

 some ants were the only visitors which came to some trees which I 

 had sugared for moths. It is therefore probably nocturnal in its habits, 

 and its large eyes with their vertical slit-like pupils appear to be in 

 keeping with this idea. Whether it had come to feed on the ants 

 or was attracted by the rum and sugar I cannot say. 



It is interesting that the other species, a Gecko peculiar to the 

 island, finds its nearest ally on Murray Island in Torres Straits. 



The ' Iguana' reported to have been seen during the visit of the 

 ' Flying-Fish ' was not observed. 



The only snake {Typhlops exocati, Blgr.) known to exist on the 

 island belongs to the Typhlopidae, small non-venomous burrowing 

 animals. A single specimen was found beneath a log. 



A large smooth-backed Turtle {Chelonia virgata1)via.?> seen making 

 its way down the beach on the last morning of our visit. The men 

 did their best to turn it over, but it succeeded in reaching the sea 

 before they could get hold of it. The footprints led up to a hollow 

 in the shingle, but no eggs were found on digging ; apparently it 

 had been disturbed at the commencement of its operations. 



No Amphibians were met with. 



VIII. CRUSTACEANS. 



The most conspicuous Invertebrate animal is the large land-crab 

 Birgus latro. These crabs are abundant all over the island. As we 

 sat at lunch in the bush, three or four of them would come towards 

 us from different directions with cautious advance, with their long 

 stalked eyes erect and their curiously bent antennae sawing the air. 



