INSECTA. 
131 
given up to it half tlie trees of the place had it only spared our 
Peaches, which we valued so much.’ But this inexorable little foe 
will listen to no such composition ; and, having hitherto resisted 
every offensive means employed against it, is likely to continue its 
progress till it has completely deprived the inhabitants of this 
wholesome and delicious fruit.”* 
As the inhabitants at the present time enjoy perfect immunity 
from any insect of this kind, and rejoice in their peaches as fully as 
ever their ancestors did, they have every reason to take courage and 
look for the realization of their devout hope that the Termites or 
White Ants, which have destroyed their homes and property in 
Jamestown, may before very long be exterminated. 
It is not difficult to account for the presence of imported insects. 
The Island having shared for about three centuries and a half 
in Europe’s traffic and commerce with the Eastern World, 
they would he conveyed thither in ships, in bales of merchandize, 
and even in timber, just as the White Ant was taken all the way from 
South America to Africa and thence to St. Helena. 
There is another mode of conveyance, which will doubtless 
account for the presence of those European and garden insects which 
are common, and that is the Wardian cases filled with earth and 
living plants, which have been so largely introduced through many 
years into the Island. 
Order Coleoptera. 
Eleven years ago, a few species of Beetles which Mr. Bewicke 
collected at St. Helena were investigated by Mr. T. Vernon Wollaston, 
W.A., P.L.S., who published an account, with figures of some of 
them, in the Journal of Entomology for December, 1861, and it is 
from the same eminent naturalist and high authority that science 
lias received a careful examination and report of 65 species,! nearly 
all of which, mainly owing to his encouragement, I collected at the 
Island during my residence there. Mr. Wollaston’s most valuable 
* A Description of tbe Island of St. Helena, published by B. Phillips, 6, Bridge Street, 
K'ackfriars. 1805. 
t Since writing this account, Mr. Wollaston has increased the total number of species to 96, 
V the addition of Cydonia vicina, Muls., which Mr. G. It. Crotch informs him lie possesses 
from St Helena, and which Mr. Wollaston records in the Annals of Natural History for 
February, 1872, together with a diagnosis of Microxylohvus westwoodii, which he had lately 
had an opportunity of examining and recording as a distinct species from M. vestitus. 
K 2 
