CH.Yin.] GEOLOaT OF CEAIG ISLAND. 121 



montanus). On the rocks by the shore were a number 

 of dove-coloured birds with white foreheads, of which, how- 

 ever, I failed to obtain a specimen ; nor could I find their 

 nests and eggs, unless a white egg, Kke that of a pigeon, 

 which I found in a crevice, were one of theirs. 



The whole of Craig Island is a mass of trachytic lava, 

 broken up into smallish rough masses, even to the very 

 summit. These being more or less covered with grass, 

 rendered walking over it very difficult. The blocks upon 

 the sea-shore are very large, and piled up in picturesque con- 

 fusion. On the eastern side is a series of magnificent lofty 

 pianacles, or aiguilles, perforated below, and thus forming 

 beautiful natural arches, which are grand and imposing 

 objects seen from the beach. These pinnacles appear to be 

 portions of a trap-dyke running out into the sea. The 

 surface of the island is somewhat disintegrated, and a poor 

 soil is formed, upon which a large number of herbs are 

 growing ; but there are no shrubs or trees. The herbs con- 

 sist principally of a succulent Saxifrage and a species of sea- 

 cabbage (Brassica), with pink flowers ; but there is no incon- 

 siderable variety of vegetation. 



On a sandy part of the shore, where the tent was pitched, 

 we found a number of large centipedes by scraping up the 

 sand and lifting up the stones ; there were also ants, and a 

 few hemipterous insects, and cockroaches (Blattse). I also 

 found in other parts of the island green beetles (Euchlora), 

 like our rose-beetles. A ramble among the great blocks of 

 trachyte strewing the beach did not jield much, although 

 the rock-pools formed exquisite aquaria, in which were 

 tunicates, sea-anemones bearing a close resemblance to our 

 Actmia bellis, rock-fish, and some sea-weeds which seemed 

 of a brilliant blue while under water, but when taken out lost 



