564 
THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 
were growing gelatinous masses formed by lowly organized Algae closely similar in appear- 
ance to those found growing around the mouths of hot springs in the Azores. Here, 
however, there was no water issuing, the only moisture being supplied by the condensa- 
tion of the steam. There was no accumulation of water, but drops of moisture hung on 
the sides of the fissures. In some places the gelatinous algae, and a white mineral incrus- 
tation, formed alternate layers coating the mouths of the fissures. The steam on issuing 
within the fissure had a temperature of 250° F.; and where the crust of algae was flourishing 
the thermometer showed 140° F. The steam had a strongly acid and sulphurous smell. 
On the summit of the mountain, where the ground is cool, grow a Fern, a Sedge, 
and a Melastomaceous plant. Besides these was found another flowering plant, growing 
in a crack in the midst of a strongly sulphurous smoke which issued constantly from it. 
The thermometer when laid on the surface of the ground where this plant was growing 
showed a temperature of 100° F.; and at a depth of one and a half feet below it the 
soil about the fissure had a temperature of 220° F. 
At the summit of the mountain were numerous flying insects of various kinds, 
although there was nothing for them to feed upon, and large numbers of them lay dead 
in the cracks, killed by the poisonous volcanic vapours. So numerous were they that the 
swallows had come up to the top of the mountain to feed on them. 
Similarly,- large numbers of insects were noticed at the summit of the volcano of 
Ternate, at an altitude of more than 5000 feet. Insects are commonly to be seen being- 
carried along before the wind in successive efiorts of flight, and no doubt they are blown 
up to the tops of these mountains, there being no vegetation towards the summits for them 
to hold on to. The winds pressing against the mountains form currents up their slopes, 
and in the case of volcanoes, which are heated at the summits, there is no doubt a constant 
upward draught towards their tops, caused by the ascending column of hot air. The 
accumulation of insects at the tops of these mountains is interesting, because when blown 
off" into the free air from these great elevations by heavy winds, as no doubt they often 
are, the insects are likely to fly and drift before the wind to very long distances, and 
thus become the means of colonizing far-off islands. 
The skull of a Woolly Phalanger ( Cuscus maculcitus) was found on the mountain; 
the animal is common in the Banda group, and occurs also in the Moluccas and elsewhere. 
Its occurrence on the Banda Islands seems most easily accounted for on the supposition 
that it escaped from confinement, having been brought there at some time by Malay 
voyagers. Malays seem fond of keeping wild animals in confinement, or taming them ; 
there were several such pets about the houses at I) obi jo at the time of the visit. 
At the base of the Banda volcano, on the shores of the island, a belt of living corals 
composed of a considerable variety of species is easily accessible at low tide. Of these 
corals the most numerous are massive Astrseids, of which about ten different forms 
were collected ; a massive Forties is also very abundant. One species of “ Brain Coral,” 
