\50 AN EXPEDITION TO CHRISTMAS ISLAND. 



than the seabirds which only roost in the higher branches of 

 the big trees and never come low enough for a cat to catch 

 them. Far more dangerous would be the introduction of the 

 civet cats ( Paradoxumis, etc., ) as these animals are arboreal 

 and would cause great havoc with the pigeons which they could 

 easily catch. Malays often carry these animals about as pets 

 and some one might perhaps introduce a pair, which would be 

 very regrettable. 



On October 11th we all returned to the Settlement, On 

 the way I found PiUosporum ttativitatis in flower for the first 

 time. It is a common little tree on Phosphate Hill and parts 

 of the plateau. The fully developed inflorescence is not as 

 compact as it is figured and described in Andrews' book. It is 

 a short but well branched panicle. The butterfly Junonia 

 villida was first seen this day, and thence till we left was com- 

 mon though very active and difficult to catch. 



Next day was occupied in collecting along the Cemetery 

 Road, and at low tide in the afternoon in collecting seaweeds, 

 shells, etc., on the reef in the Cove. The first Hypolimnas 

 misippus was seen this day after which it became very abun- 

 dant, evidently bred in the Island as the specimens were in 

 excellent condition. Two days later a white butterfly Pieris 

 sp. appeared. Specimens were caught later. It was not 

 previously recorded from the Island. The next two days were 

 spent in collecting round Rocky Point, Phosphate Hill and the 

 Cove, and packing live plants to transit to Singapore by the 

 "Islander" which had arrived. The whole of the neighbour- 

 hood was so dry that not only orchids but palms and ferns were 

 sent dry in wooden boxes and arrived safely and in good con- 

 dition. 



On the next two days arrangements were made for an 

 expedition to cross the Island over Murray Hill to the West 

 Coast were at Hugh's Dale it was expected to find water. No 

 one on the Island apparently had ever been to Murray Hill by 

 that route, but there was a track for some way known as the 

 Murray Hill Track, starting from a little beyond Irvine Hall. 

 Accordingly tents and provisions were brought to Irvine Hall, 

 and with a number of Chinese coolies the expedition started 



Jour. Straits Branch 



