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 furnish e,s 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 Anthribidse. A new genus of Lucanidas 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 
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