Mr Snell, The Natural History of the Island of Rodrigues 287 



birds in his "List of the Birds of the Mascarene Islands" {Trans. 

 Norfolk and Nonvich Naturalists' Society, vol. iv, President's 

 Address). 



The Fresh Water Fishes, as far as known, belong to species 

 which inhabit the fresh waters of the Mascarene Islands generally, 

 with the exception of two Grey Mullets, which were collected by 

 the Transit of Venus Expedition, and were described as new. 



Further collections in certain groups have recently been made 

 by Mr H. P. Thomasset and Mr H. J. Snell, who visited the island 

 during the period August to November, 1918, with a view to im- 

 proving our knowledge of the insect fauna. 



Mr Snell visited practically every part of the island, with the 

 exception of the valley of St Francois, and a small district round 

 the Riviere Coco. The best collecting ground he found to be un- 

 doubtedly the Grande Riviere Valley, which he worked right up to 

 Mount Limon. The islands on the reef were also visited, but con- 

 tained very little of interest, as they have been burnt over in recent 

 years, and are now covered with rough coarse grass and short 

 scrub {Tournefortia, Pemphis, etc.). These islands, particularly 

 Gombranil and Flat, were formerly nesting places for sea-birds, 

 which seem to have disappeared, only a few white terns and 

 boobies being found on Sandy and Coco Islands, which were some 

 years ago planted with firs. 



In the deepest ravines were commonly seen the fruit-bats or 

 flying-foxes, feeding on the flower of a kind of aloe, of which they 

 seem very fond, and also on wild figs, mangoes, etc. Geckos were 

 abundant in warm and sheltered spots, particularly in all habita- 

 tions. Their eggs were frequently found in nests (usually composed 

 of dry Sow-thistle bloom) under rocks and in crevices. Two species 

 only have been recorded: Gehyra mutilata, Gray, and Phelsuma 

 cepedianum, Gray; the latter is common in Madagascar, Mauritius 

 and Reunion, but is rare in Rodrigues. Freshwater fishes were 

 found in many of the streams, in which also eels were quite 

 common. 



There are in the island a Land Planarian, Geojplana whartoni, 

 Gull., and a Land Nemertean, Tetrastemma rodericanum, Gull. 

 Both are peculiar to Rodrigues, but the former has not been ade- 

 quately described. (Mr Thomasset subsequently obtained a Land 

 Planarian from Mauritius, a new locality for these.) They were 

 found under decaying logs, sometimes on the bark, under the 

 bark, or in the wood; the Nemertean appeared to exist in far 

 greater quantities than the Land Planarians, but they often live 

 together in the same situation. Earthworms were not abundant. 

 Amongst the Crustacea collected, large numbers of an Amphipod 

 were found under stones, dead leaves, etc., wherever the ground 

 was moist. In all the streams were to be found freshwater shrimps 



VOL. XIX. PART VI. 20 



