132 RAMBLES OF A NATUEALIST. [Oh. IX. 



Acrosoma, two or three species of Microlepidoptera, some 

 two-winged flies, ladybirds (red with black spots), a little 

 hemipterous insect, and a small beetle (Opatrum), whose 

 habitat was on the sandy beach. There were also some 

 terns flying about the island. 



The Flora consisted of 32 plants, viz. three Cryptogams 

 (a fern, and two lichens), and 29 Phanerogamous plants, of 

 which 16 were in flower, and belonged to the following 

 genera : — Rumex, Oxalis, Eubus, Statice, Aster, Atriplex, 

 Saxifraga, Sonchus, Silene, Arenaria, Vicia, Lathyrus, 

 Allium, and Mesembryanthemum. Besides these, there 

 was a thistle (Cnicus), a dwarf acacia, a Juncus, a grass 

 (Poa), a Soldanella, a crucifer with long pod, and a small 

 suflruticose Jimiper. 



All the islands in Haitan Straits are of volcanic struc- 

 ture, and present several picturesque points — as the Pillar 

 Rock, a lofty rectangular mass of stone of imposing ap- 

 pearance, and Junk- Sail Island, which at a distance well 

 bears out its name. 



We were detained in these Straits for about a week by 

 bad weather, which amounted to a typhoon outside. During 

 this period numerous junks sailed through, some of them 

 having a very suspicious appearance, and such as a be- 

 calmed merchantman would hardly like to meet ; for not- 

 withstanding the active services of our gunboats in the 

 suppression of piracy, " pylong pidgin" flourishes when 

 occasion offers. So recently as May, 1865, the " Formby" 

 British ship, becalmed off Cape Padaran, was surroimded 

 by 15 piratical junks, which suddenly hoisting a red flag, 

 made an attack which would probably have proved success- 

 ful, had not a fortunate breeze sprung up, which enabled 

 the " Formby," after defending itself for some time, to get 



