24 EAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. [Ch. II. 



and so overgrown is it with slirubs as to be in some parts 

 almost impenetrable, thougli the soil might be supposed to 

 be anything Ijut favourable to vegetable growth, nothing but 

 sand being anywhere visible, and that of the coarsest and 

 loosest description. The bushes in some places approach 

 very near the sea, and between them and the water's edge 

 various flowers not unfrequently peep out from the inhos- 

 pitahle soil, including a potentilla, an anemone, a plantago, 

 and some grasses. On the west side of the island is a deep 

 indentation into which the sea enters, forming a shallow 

 lagoon or bay, on the bants of which the vegetation assumes 

 quite a park-like aspect ; bushes, and even small trees, with 

 spreading branches springing forth close to the ground, pro- 

 ducing a scene of great luxuriance and some beauty. Amongst 

 the bushes immense orthopterous insects (GryUi) flew about, 

 exhibiting a deep-red underwing, and looking very much Kke 

 small birds. To the shrubs also were attached numerous 

 geometric webs, which were occupied by a species of spider 

 belonging to the genus Acrosoma, having a squarish abdomen, 

 from the upper surface of which projected several spike-Hke 

 processes. This was the only species of spider which came 

 under my notice ; and entangled in its web there appeared 

 to be as often a spider of the same species as any other kind 

 of insect, the paucity of insect life on the island apparently 

 driving them to cannibalism. A moth, whose expanse of 

 wing was about an inch, and having smaU red and black 

 spots upon it, was pretty numerous, and appeared to be 

 the only lepidopterous insect, with the exception of a large 

 clear-winged species, which was captured, but unfortu- 

 nately escaped again. These, with some ants and a few 

 beetles, constituted the insect fauna, as far as could be de- 

 termined during our single visit. The beetles were a species 



