PITCAIRN'S ISLAND. 95 
59 in winter to 87 in summer. The 
average is 65 in winter, and 82 in sum- 
mer. The vegetation sometimes suffers from 
swarms of insects. To remedy this evil, 
there having been on the island only one 
species of land bird, a small fly-catcher, it 
was thought desirable to convey some birds to 
the spot. Her Majesty's Ship, Virago, Com- 
mander Prevost, left Callao for Pitcairn, in 
January 1853, having on board singing- 
birds, rose-trees, myrtles, &c. for the islanders. 
There are lizards, but no venomous reptiles 
on the island. The people are annoyed by 
rats; which do much damage to the sugar- 
canes. Hence the strictness of the law for 
the preservation of cats.* 
About half the island, consisting of six 
hundred acres, is cultivated. The rest is 
considered too rocky for cultivation. There 
being but little beach, the quantity of sea- 
weed washed up is small ; such as there is, 
however, is employed for the use of the 
ground. 
Though the climate cannot be called un- 
healthy, the people are not generally long- 
See page 245. 
