248 



[chap. x\tt. 



enjoyed myself very much amon^^ tlic^ae fine oiountaina 

 and foTCsts, I w!is soiiiewbut di sap pom led as to my collec- 

 tions. There was hardly any perceptible difference between 

 the auiinal life in tliis temperate region and in the torrid 

 plains below, and what dillerence did exist was in most 

 respects disadvantagettus ti> me. Tliere seemed to be 

 nothing absolutely peculiar to this elevation. Birds and 

 quadrupeds were less plentiful, but of the same species. 

 In insects there seemed to be more difference. Tlie 

 curious beetles of the family Cleridcie, whieii are found 

 chiefly on b«rk and rotten W()od, were liner than I have 

 seen them elsewhere. The beautiful Lougicorns were scarcer 

 than usual, and the few butterflies were all of tropical 

 species. One of these, Papilio blumei, of which 1 obtained 

 a few specimens only, is among the most magnificent I 

 have ever seen. It is a green and gold swallow-tail, 

 witli azure-blue spoon-shaped tails, and was often seen 

 tlying about the village when the sun shone, but in a very 

 shattered condition. The gi'oat amount of wet and cloudy 

 weather, was a great drawback all the time I was at 

 Uurukau. 



Even in the vegetation tliere is very little to indicate 

 ek'vation. The trees are more covered with liciiens and 

 mosses, and the ferns and tree-ferns are finer anel more 

 luxuriant than I had been accustomed to s(u^ ihcm on the 

 low grounds, both probably attributable to the almost 

 ]iBrpetual moisture that here prevails. Aliundance of a 

 tasteless raspbeny, with blue and yellow LVmipositse, have 

 somewhat of a temperate aspect ; and minute ferns and 

 Orcbideii?, with dwarf Begonias on the rocks, make sonm 

 approach to a sub-alpine vegetation. The forest however 

 is most luxuriant, is'oble palms, Pandani, and tree-ferns 

 iin> aimndant in it, wliile t!je forest trees ai-e completely 

 festooned with Orchi(lea\ Bromelije, Aracea;, Lycopodiums, 

 and mosses. Tlie ordinary stemless ferns abound ; sonn^ 

 with gij^^antic fronds ten or twelve feet long, othei-s barely 

 an inch high ; some with entire and massive leaves, 

 others elegantly waving their finely-cut foliage, and adding 

 endless variety and interest to the forest paths. The 

 eocoa-tmt palm still produces fruit abundantly, but is 

 said to be deficient in oil. Oranges thrive better than 



