82 Extracts from Diary in Japan. 



sphingidse, particularly the clear wings or sesia, which are 

 magnificent ; and the species of catocala are lovely beyond 

 description. 



The humble bees are numerous ; several species identical 

 with those of England. Also the hornet, which is abundant ; 

 of this there are two or three species, one identical. The 

 wasps differ ; all have their nests on trees or some other 

 dry place, the ground being too wet. It is curious to see the 

 nests in rose bushes, &c., slung from a bough ; and although 

 they are very numerous in species and in quantity they are not 

 troublesome. The coleoptera are very fine, with many new 

 species. 



In referring particularly to the very many species identical 

 with those of England it is remarkable, because Japan con- 

 sists of a series of islands so very distant and isolated from 

 England, and goes far to disprove Darwin's theory that the 

 farther species are from species — that is, the more they are 

 diffused by distance — the more they must differ, having to 

 struggle for existence over so great a space. 



This paper must be received as a series of notes, not as a 

 carefully written paper, as it has been written hurriedly ; 

 but it is hoped that there will be some matter which may 

 prove interesting, as the whole may be relied upon as facts 

 gathered by actual observation, although even then slight 

 errors creep in. 



F. C. CHRISTY. 



5th September, 1877. 



Eaethquakes obseeved between the 1st January and 

 17th October, 1876. 



January 20th, 8.40 p.m. — Very severe vertical shocks; 

 threw the wine out of champagne glasses, which were only 

 half full ; commenced by slight shock, immediately followed 

 by severe shock, which lasted about three seconds, unaccom- 

 panied by noise ; fine calm night, rained next day. 



January 29th, 4 a.m. — Severe oscillating shocks ; snowing 

 all day, 15 inches deep on ground. 



January 11th, 5.40 p.m. — Two very severe shocks, one 

 immediately after the other. Whilst walking on the grass 

 plot in front of dwelling the earth undulated from 1 to 3 

 inches ; the trees rose and rocked as the wave rolled along ; 

 the wave appeared to travel from west to east. Second 

 ishock very severe, oscillating and trembling motion, causing 



