276 



,,already discussed the point that, wind and weather permitting, 

 ,,the distance from Java and Sumatra to these islands may be 

 ,,traversed within a few days by things carried by a current in 

 ,,the sea. As to the distribution of other kinds of gall-creatures 

 ,,we are still in many respects in the dark". 



Ernst does not say that transport from the surrounding 

 islands to Krakatao is possible within a few days, but within 

 /ess than a single day 1 ). 1 too think it quite possible that some 

 ,,gall-creatures" may have been carried to Krakatao by sea- 

 currents. 



In this paper 10 galls new for Krakatao are described, found 

 on 9 different plants. Like in the former paper not any attention 

 is paid to the gall-wasps occurring in the figs of the many 

 species of Ficus occurring on Krakatao. Yet these wasps are 

 perhaps the only gall-insects of some importance for the reve- 

 getation of the island. 



C. Dr. K. W. Da in in e rin a n, I lie Fauna of Krakatau, Verlaten Elland and Sebesy, 

 in Treubia II! (1923), p. 61 seq. 



In this paper Mr. Dammerman asserts that Krakatao was in 

 1883 ,,overshed" by hot ashes forming a layer of 30 60 m. thick- 

 ness and that the bottom layer of the ashes remained hot for 

 days. Apparently he has not read the classical work of Verbeek 

 (see p. 20) who expressly states that near the top of the cone 

 the layer of eruptive products was very thin and who two 

 months after the eruption found the original soil lying bare in 

 the eroded ravines. I have already argued that the layer of ashes 

 in the upper half of the mountain need not have been very hot. 

 Hence it is by no means improbable that a number of small 

 animals (earth-worms and ants f.i.) either living in the soil or 

 taking a refuge there, has survived the eruption. 



But very little is said by Mr. Dammerman on the vege- 

 tation. During his visit on October 24th 1921 all the specimens 

 of Carica papaya L. ,,on the northern part of Verlaten Eiland 

 ,,had been destroyed by a root disease. Not a single tree was 

 ,,left erect, all had fallen down, bent just at the foot which was 

 ,,wholly rotten". I mention this statement because it is possible 

 that some time or other the same disease may befall and destroy 

 this species on Krakatao. 



Ernst, Neue Flora Vulkaninsel Krakatau (1907), p. 56. 



