146 Natural History of Pratas Island. [April, 



weather ; not rising in its highest part more than 25 or 30 feet 

 above the level of the sea, though the hushes which cover some 

 parts give it an additional, elevation of 10 feet or so. 



On Monday morning, April 30th last, Capt. Bullock and I, with 

 Mr. Sutton, chief engineer of the ' Serpent,' visited the island, two 

 hours' pull from the ship, and I spent the whole day in exploring its 

 character and natural history features. It is formed entirely of 

 coarse coral-sand or debris, generally shelving gradually, hut in 

 some parts having a steep bank about 3 feet high. The interior is 

 rough and hilly, from accumulations of similar white sand blown up 

 from the shore, and so overgrown is it with shrubs as to be in some 

 parts almost impenetrable, though the soil might be supposed to be 

 anything but favourable to vegetable growth, nothing but sand 

 being anywhere visible, and that of the coarsest and loosest 

 description. The bushes in some places approach very near the sea, 

 and between them and the water's edge various flowers not unfre- 

 quently peep out from the inhospitable soil, including a potentilla, 

 an anemone, a plant-ago, and some grasses. On the west side of the 

 island is a deep indentation into which the sea enters, forming a 

 shallow lagoon or bay, on the banks of which the vegetation 

 assumes quite a park-like aspect ; bushes, and even small trees, with 

 spreading branches springing forth close to the ground, producing 

 a scene of great luxuriance and some beauty. Amongst the bushes 

 immense orthopterous insects (grasshoppers) flew about, exhibiting 

 a deep-red under wing, "and looking very much like small birds. 

 To the shrubs also were attached numerous geometric webs, which 

 were occupied by a species of spider belonging to the division 

 Acrosoma, having a squarish abdomen, from the upper surface of 

 which projected several spike-like processes. This was the only 

 species of spider which came under my notice; and in its web 

 there appeared to be as often another spider of the same species as 

 any other kind of insect, the paucity of insect life on the island 

 apparently driving them to cannibalism. A moth, whose expanse 

 of wing was about an inch, and having small red and black spots 

 upon the wing, was pretty numerous, and appeared to be the only 

 lepidopterous insect, with the exception of a large clear-winged 

 species, which was captured, but unfortunately escaped again. 

 These, with some ants and a few carrion beetles, constituted the 

 insect fauna, as far as could be determined during our single visit. 



Among the coral -debris upon the beach, were numerous masses 

 of various sizes, consisting of rolled Astrseas, Madrepores, &c. ; and 

 mingled with them were fragments of shells of a great many species 

 of Conus, Cyprsea, Turbo, Pinna, Hippopus, &c; but none of them 

 entire. Innumerable little Hermits (Paguri and Caenobitae) occupied 

 the deserted shells of Naticae and Neritinae, and larger ones those 

 of good-sized Turbines ; but I saw no live shells upon the beach, 



