Dammerman: Fauna of the Krakataii Islands. 73 



Another Annelid collected on Krakatau is, probably an Enchytraeid. The 

 four remaining species of worms are Nematodes {Plectus, Mono/ichus, 

 Dorylainiiis) and a Rotifer detected by Dr. MENZEL in samples of moss 

 from Krakatau. In the same samples he found also Tardigrades {Macrobiofas) 

 and Protozoa {Rhizopoda and Ciliata). 



IL Is the fauna of Krakatau and Verlaten L still abnormal ? 

 Comparison with the island Sebesy. 



if there were any records of the fauna of Krakatau before the eruption 

 of 1883, then the answer to the question how far the present fauna of this 

 island is to be considered as normal, would be easily given. 



But nothing seems to be known of the animals occurring on the 

 island before 1883. So we had to look to another island for com- 

 parison, an island similarly situated as Krakatau and with about the 

 same area and altitude but the fauna of which could be considered as 

 normal. 



For this reason Sebesy was chosen, an island immediately north of 

 Krakatau and of about the same size and altitude. During the eruption of 1883 

 Sebesy was said to be only partly devastated and at our first visit the island 

 looked indeed rather normal, at least the northern part of it which is the 

 best place to go ashore. According to our presumption, the vegetation 

 here was wholly restored although VERBEEK in his well-known work on 

 Krakatau (1885) gives a coloured drawing of the island from the N. E. side, 

 soon after the eruption, from which it can be seen that the whole island 

 was covered with grey ashes, above which only a few burnt trees arise. 

 But the layer of ashes was far less thick than on Krakatau and certainly 

 less hot. By the enormous flood waves, which succeeded the eruption, 

 everything in the plain of the island was swept away and all the inhabitants, 

 about 2,000 people, were drowned. 



The present flora of Sebesy, however, is quite different from that on 

 Krakatau and seems to be in a far more advanced stage of restoration. 

 Dr. DOCTERS VAN LEEUWEN, who also visited Sebesy, is of opinion that the 

 vegetation of the island was only partly destroyed and was restored soon, 

 only galls having disappeared altogether. So we supposed the fauna also 

 would be far more normal than on Krakatau, but the result of our research 

 proves that the fauna of Sebesy was also destroyed wholly, or nearly so, at 

 the eruption of 1883. 



I visited Sebesy in the following months: — In September 1920, only 

 one day, the 2Qth, was spent on the island for a provisional survey. 

 Next year >■ longer trip was made, from 22 till 25 and from 27 till 

 29 April, Mr. SlEBERS of the Museum accompaning me. 



hi October 1921 I was from 26 till 28 on the island, and my last visit 

 took place on the 25th and 26th January 1922. Altogether I had 13 days in 

 which to collect on Sebesy as against 16 on Krakatau. 



