BRITISH MUSEUM (NATURAL HISTORY). 83 



largely of Panclanus. The denseness of the forest, the 

 presence of the inland cliff and reefs, and the necessity of 

 carrying water everywhere, rendered it difficult to explore 

 the island thoroughly, but, before leaving, the whole of the 

 northern, western, and eastern parts had been examined, 

 and the island had been crossed from north to south in 

 several places, so that it is now fairly well known. 



The fauna, as must be expected in a small oceanic island, 

 is not very rich. 



The Mammals include two species of rats, a shrew, 

 a large fruit-eating bat, and a small insectivorous bat. 

 The rats, unfortunately, are extremely numerous, espe- 

 cially the reddish-brown species, which swarms every- 

 where. This animal is an expert climber, and can run up 

 trees like a squirrel. The other species, which is nearly 

 black, is essentially a burrowing animal and lives in small 

 colonies in the higher ground. The shrew and the insec- 

 tivorous bat are common everywhere. The large fruit bats 

 are a great nuisance in the settlement, devouring what little 

 ripe fruit escapes the rats. Occasionally they may be seen 

 in gi-eat numbers hanging on a dead tree, but they do not 

 keep to the same place many days at a time. 



The total number of mammal skins and skeletons obtained 

 was 58. 



Birds. — There are seven species of land birds peculiar 

 to the island, and also a number of sea birds which 

 remain the whole year. In addition to these there are 

 many birds of passage which only stay a few days and 

 then disappear. Of the land birds the most notable kinds 

 are a large fruit pigeon (Carpophaga), a hawk, and an owl. 

 Of the sea birds the frigate birds and gannets are the most 

 numerous. They nest in the high trees near the coast, and 

 form the chief food supply of the inhabitants. The birds of 

 passage include Whimbrell, Plovers, Sandpipers, Swifts, 

 Wagtails, &c. 166 Bird-skins and a few specimens in spirit 

 wore obtained. 



The Reptiles are few in number. There are four or five 

 species of small lizards and one snake (Typhlops). About 50 

 specimens were collected. 



Insects are rather abundant. Butterflies are not nuinerous ; 

 at least one new species was obtained. There are some fine 

 hawk-moths. Beetles, particularly wood-boring forms, are 

 common. The other groups are fairly represented. Swarms 

 of dragon-flies always appeared after a N. or N.E. wind ; 

 they are probably blown across from Java. 



The collections include : — Hymenoptera, 85 ; Diptera, 232 ; 

 Lepidoptera, 357 ; Neuroptera, 40 ; Orthoptera, 113 ; Coleop- 

 tera, 453 ; Rhynchota, 139. Total, 1,419. 



Many of these will, no doubt, be found to be duplicates 

 \vhen the collection is mounted and Avorked out. 



F 2 



