CHAP. XV.] THE SANDWICH ISLANDS. 305 



found in the less explored islands. Mr. Gulick tells us that 

 the forest region that covers one of the mountain ranges of 

 Oahu is about forty miles in length, and five or six miles in 

 width, yet this small territory furnishes about 175 species of 

 Achatinellidse, represented by 700 or 800 varieties. The most 

 important peculiar genus, not belonging to the Achitinella group, 

 is Carelia, with six species and several named varieties, all 

 peculiar to Kaui, the most westerly of the large islands. 

 This would seem to show that the small islets stretching 

 westward, and situated on an extensive bank with less than a 

 thousand fathoms of water over it, may indicate the position 

 of a large submerged island whence some portion of the 

 Sandwich Island fauna was derived. 



Insects. — Unfortunately we have as yet no such knowledge of 

 the insects of these islands as we possess in the case of the 

 Azores and St. Helena, but some considerable collections have 

 been sent over by Mr. T. Blackburn, now resident there, and we 

 may therefore soon possess fuller and more accurate information. 

 Although insects are said to be very scarce, yet all the chief tribes 

 of Coleoptera appear to be represented, though as yet by very 

 few species. These appear to be for the most part peculiar, but 

 to have widespread affinities. The majority, as might be ex- 

 pected, are allied to Polynesian, Australian, or Malayan forms ; 

 some few are South American (perhaps introduced), while others 

 show north temperate affinities. There are several new genera, 

 and one peculiar group of six species is said to form a new family 

 allied to the Anthribidge. A new genus of Lucanidc© is said to 

 be allied to a Chilian genus. If we consider the greater facilities 

 of insects for dispersal when compared with birds or land-shells, 

 the characteristics of the insect fauna, so far as yet known, are 

 sufficiently in harmony with the amount of speciality and 

 isolation presented by the latter groups. 



Vegetation of the Sandwich Islands. — The flora of these islands 

 is in many respects so peculiar and remarkable, and so well sup- 

 plements the information derived from its interesting but scanty 

 fauna, that a brief account of its more striking features will not 

 be out of place ; and we fortunately have a pretty full know- 

 ledge of it, owing to the researches of the American botanist 



X 



