VIII 
the bark, and afterwards covered by successive layers. It 
was a fragment found in the forest of Seychelles, a great 
many years ago, and presented to the Museum by the 
late Mr. Hodoul, an old inhabitant of these islands. 
Col. Pike, at once, suggested that at some peri' d prior 
to the discovery of the Seychelles, an arrow shot by 
one of those Arab huntsmen, must have been broken 
at the trunk or on a branch of a tree of soft texture, and 
remained fixed there. It is difficult, indeed, to make any 
other supposition. The piece of wood belongs to the 
tree known as the Hernandia ovigera, or Bois Blanc 
which was very common formerly and rather scarce now. 
While, on the subject of Seychelles, we may be al- 
lowed to say a few words, with reference to some obser- 
vations made by your Secretary on the peculiar and ex- 
ceptional character of the productions and compositions 
of these islands compared, with the Mascarenhas. 
They are, as we know, of primitive origin, that is, the 
formation is of granite and quartz, whereas here, it is of 
basalt, scoria and every thing which characterizes a volca- 
nic creation. 
The vertebrate animals existing in Seychelles, besides 
the birds and fishes, arc for the greater part represented 
by Chelonians, Ophidians and Saurians. Snakes are 
only found here on Round Island, and the Chamcelon is 
peculiar to these islands and is not met in Mauritius. 
Among the insects, the Leaf Fly is also peculiar to 
Seychelles. 
y 
The Myriapods are common to both Islands, such as 
the Julus and Scolopeadra and also the Scorpion. But we 
would say, of gigantic size, compared with the same ani- 
mals existing here. Col. Pike says he has seen a Phasma 
about 5 inches long and of a bright red colour. It is not 
the case with our Phasmus in Mauritius — which are far 
from being so long, and have a grey colour. 
In the Vegetable Kingdom, Col. Pike has seen a 
