AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 



The present volume contains an account of the collections 

 and observations made by me during a stay of about ten 

 months in Christmas Island. 



This period included all the seasonal changes, and it is 

 hoped that the collections of plants and insects are fairly 

 complete. 



In a few instances specimens obtained by previous 

 collectors are described. 



The collections of marine animals are discussed elsewhere. 



I wish especially to express my sincere thanks to the 

 Trustees of the British Museum, who granted me the 

 necessary leave of absence, which, owing to the diflSculty of 

 reaching the island and the still greater difficulty of getting 

 away, was prolonged considerably beyond the time that 

 was at first thought necessary ; to Sir John Murray, whose 

 generosity in defraying the necessary expenses rendered 

 the expedition possible ; to Mr. George Clunies Ross, of 

 Cocos-Keeling Islands, and his brother, Mr. Andrew Ross, 

 for their hospitality, and assistance in numberless ways 

 during my stay ; to their nephew, Mr. H. Ross, a resident 

 for some years on the island, whose knowledge of bush- 

 life in general was of the greatest assistance to me ; 



