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Show 510 DR. A. GUNTHER ON A ZOOLOGICAL [June 23, Landing was also effected at another small beach in the northern bight near the north-west point; the general features were the same, but there was no anchorage at half a cable from the shore. A few cocks and hens were landed here, but as the crabs immediately began to chase them, I doubt if they will survive and produce. N o large animals were seen nor marks of any. An iguana, said to be four feet in length, was seen in a tree high up, but was not captured. Rat-holes were numerous and one rat was secured, also a large bat; several insects-spiders, flies, beetles and butterflies-were collected; there were sand-flies but no mosquitos. Large crabs were very plentiful, and appeared equally at home running over the sea-cliffs and climbing up the trees; they were very ravenous, pouncing quickly on a dead gannet and devouring other injured crabs, and they must be terrible enemies to the birds generally. Gannet and Frigate-birds frequent the island, and evidently breed there ; but it was not the breeding-season, and very few eggs were found ; the young birds were nearly grown. Besides the sea-birds, there was the large green Torres-Strait Pigeon ; one was shot with three large red berries in its crop ; these pigeons seemed to frequent the higher trees well up the hill; also a Ground-thrush of a sooty-brown colour, just the colour of the fallen leaves, among which it ran nimbly, apparently looking for insects ; and a little Flycatcher of the same sombre colour. As evening advanced, a small Swift appeared, which flew about the jungle on the margin of the beach, fly-catching. None of these three last were secured 1. No bones were found on the beach nor remnants of any animal, not even turtle-remains. The flora appeared to be the same as that of the neighbouring islands, the Moluccas. As before stated, the island is densely wooded, and many of the trees attain great size. Chief amongst them I recognized two iron-wood trees, one with straight stem and round trunk, and the other with strong buttresses from the roots ; both are natives of Celebes. Creepers were as thick as in the Moluccas and covered the top branches of tbe trees. Two palms (one I take to be the sago-palm, growing to a great height) and the pandanus were abundant ; cocoanut-trees were not seen, though husks were found on the beach apparently washed up from elsewhere. At a small beach on the eastern side there appeared to be banana-trees, but they looked withered and there were no signs of fruit. No mangroves were seen. The flora of the coast was generally such as is found on all tropical islands. I regret to say that nearly all the botanical specimens that were collected were destroyed by insufficient drying in the exceedingly damp weather we experienced. (Signed) J. P. M A C L E A R, Captain. P.S.-Since writing the above I have learnt that Captain Grenfell, in the 'Amethyst,' iu 1857 visited the island, and tried to cut a way to the summit. 1 A specimen of the Thrush (see p. 515) was fortunately in the collection.-A. Gr. |