234 



DISTRIBUTION OF PI, ANTS. 



After visiting the Taheitian Group, the Vincennes sailed Westward ; 

 and arrived in sigh.t of the lone and widely-insulated Bellinghausen 

 coral-island. 



13. Bellinghausen coral-island. It proved to be only "three or 

 or four miles" in diameter, and of the usual annular shape; the lagoon 

 devoid of a proper outlet, though where we landed was an overflowed 

 space, sufficient apparently for an empty boat to be conducted across. 



There were no signs of even the visits of natives : sea-birds were 

 breeding unmolested ; the tide-pools contained fishes of large size, 

 including a powerful Muroena ; the sharks in the lagoon, and a large 

 species of Caranx were fearless ; while, on the other hand, the rat, 

 house-fly, and even lizards were all absent. Under these circum- 

 stances, the absence of the cocoa-palm, Morinda, and Procris? became 

 significant. And almost equally significant, was the presence of the 

 Pan d anus. 



The vegetable growth consisted of the set of plants we found growing 

 on the Paumotu coral-islands ; most of the species being absent from 

 the interposed rocky Taheitian Group, as Avill be perceived by the 

 following List : which moreover does not include a single additional 

 species : 



Lepidium; bis (No. 1 Clermont-Tonnerre to the high coral-island of Metia), but not met 

 with on Taheiti. 



Suriana; bis (No. 1 Clermont-Tonnerre to Taheiti, where it was growing on an outlying 

 coral-reef). 



Portulaca; compare Meridiana? lutea, and also a true Portulaca to be mentioned presently- 



Not met with on Taheiti. 

 Pemphis acidula ; bis (No. 1 Taiara to the high coral-island of Metia), but not met with 



on Taheiti. 



Erithalis polygama; bis (No. 1 Taiara to the high coral-island of Metia), but not seen on 

 Taheiti. 



Guettarda speciosa ; bis (No. 1 Taiara to the high coral-island of Metia) ; a single tree 



seen on Taheiti, and this had evidently been planted. 

 Scaevola ; bis (No. 1 Clermont-Tonnerre to Taiara coral-island), but not seen on Taheiti. 

 Tournefortia ; bis (No. 1 Clermont-Tonnerre coral-island to Taheiti). 

 (Pentacarya anomala), Heliotropoid ; bis (No. 1 Clermont-Tonnerre to Metia), but not 



seen on Taheiti. 



(Calpidia ovatifolia ? ; compare No. 1 Henuaki to Aratika coral-island, but not met with 

 on Metia, nor on Taheiti). A tree with bare branches seen in the distance. 



Boerhaavia ; bis (No. 1 Clermont-Tonnerre to Taiara coral-island, but not seen on Metia, 

 nor on Taheiti). 



Achyranthes ; bis, (compare No. 1 Clermont Tonnerre to Ahii coral-island). 

 Cassyta ; bis (No. 1 Clermont Tonnerre coral-island to Taheiti). 



