130 EAMBLES OF A NATUKALIST. [Oh. IX. 



This island, as well as the adjacent coast, presented a most 

 barren and desolate aspect, and consisted of perfectly bare 

 rocks, apparently of whinstone, descending smoothly to the 

 water's edge, interspersed here and there with sandy 

 patches and conical hills of sand. A few houses were visi- 

 ble, and attempts at terraced cultivation, but no trees or 

 shrubs were anywhere to be seen. The coast of China is 

 for the most part no less uninviting than that here de- 

 scribed, being usually wild, rugged, and barren. 



Entering the Straits at the south end we passed through 

 a maze of smaU islets, between Haitan Island and the 

 mainland, which all partook more or less of the same 

 character. 



Two of these small islands, which I had an opportunity 

 of exploring, were types of the rest. The first of them, 

 called Middle Island, was formed of rugged granite rocks 

 promiscuously heaped together, the upper part being much 

 disintegrated and formed into a barren soil. A pair of 

 oyster- catchers (Hsematopus) inhabited the island, and were 

 very tame. Two species of Coccinella and EjDilachnia 

 (ladybirds), one of them identical with our common seven- 

 spotted ladybird, and some small Hemiptera were all the 

 insects which rewarded my search, and a broken Helix of 

 small size alone represented the land-sheUs. The rocks, 

 even above high-water mark, were tliickly covered with a 

 small and very prickly oyster (Ostrsea spinosa), and in the 

 clefts grew the large barnacle, PoUicipes mitella. A few 

 Purpurae seemed the only living mollusks ; and in a sandy 

 bay a number of small and exceedingly swift-running crabs 

 (Ocypoda) scudded along, and eluded pursuit in the most 

 provoking manner, suddenly changing their course and run- 

 ning the opposite way, without turning, and then darting 



