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



and a crayfish. Woodlice were abundant in deca}dng vegetable 

 matter, the largest specimens being obtained from rotting banana 

 stems. 



Myriapoda were common throughout the island. Large centi- 

 pedes live on the corals on the west side of the island, attaining 

 sometimes a length of twelve inches. Hardly a lump of debris can 

 be turned over without disclosing one or more of these creatures. 

 The Transit of Venus Expedition obtained twelve species of 

 Myriapods, of which eleven were new. There is a single species of 

 scorpion, Tityus marmoreus, Koch, and in addition the Transit of 

 Venus Expedition obtained twenty-seven species of Arachnida, 

 eleven being new ; unfortunately Mr Snell could not obtain a supply 

 of alcohol adequate to preserve these. 



In the Insect collections among the Orthoptera, the Forficulidae 

 are represented by eleven specimens, probably Anisolabis varicornis, 

 Smith. Of the Blattidae, Periplaneta americana, Linn, and Leu- 

 cophaea surinamensis, Fab. are among the five species previously 

 recorded, whilst there are two other species in Mr Snell's collection 

 at present undetermined. One species of Mantidae occurs in the 

 island, viz. Polyspilota aeruginosa, Goeze, of wide distribution. Of 

 the Gryllidae there are three species in the present collection: 

 Acheta bimaculata, de Geer, found also in Africa and S. Europe; 

 Curtilla africana, Beauv., found also in Africa, Asia, Australia, and 

 New Zealand (introd.?); and a species of Ornebius near syrticus, 

 Bolivar, but larger and more brightly coloured than the Seychelles 

 specimens of this species. Besides the first of these, the Transit of 

 Venus Expedition obtained three other species. Among the 

 Phasgonuridae we have Conocephaloides differens, Serv. and 

 Anisoptera iris, Serv., both previously recorded by the Transit of 

 Venus Expedition. In addition the present collection contains a 

 specimen of apparently another species of Anisoptera, resembhng 

 A. conocephala, Linn., which occurs in Spain, Africa, and the 

 Seychelles. There are two species of Locustidae: Locusta danica, 

 Linn., a cosmopolitan species, and Chortoicetes rodericensis, Butl., 

 described from Rodrigues, and not found elsewhere. 



The Neuroptera comprise a few specimens of a Termite, and 

 specimens of one species of Hemerobiidae and of one species of 

 Chrysopidae. It may here be mentioned that Dr H. Scott found a 

 species of Termite working in the wood at the bottom of a fighter 

 in Victoria harbour, Mahe, Seychelles. This indicates a possible 

 explanation of the existence of Termites in such a locafity as 

 Rodrigues, where any indigenous Termites would probably be 

 exterminated by the fires which have repeatedly devastated the 

 island. Until the Termites in Mr Snell's collection have been 

 identified, no statement of course can be ventured regarding the 

 distribution of this species. Mr Gulfiver, on the Transit of Venus 



