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<^'/ 


A   MONOGRAPH 


OF 


CHRISTMAS  ISLAND. 


A    MONOGRAPH 


OF 


CHRISTMAS    ISLAND 

(INDIAN     OCEAN)  : 


PHYSICAL    FEATURES 

AND 

/  GEOLOGY 

BY 

CHARLES    W.   ANDREWS,  B.A.,  B.Sc,  F.G.8. 


WITH   DESCRIPTIONS    OP 

THE   FAUNA  A^B  FLORA 

BY 
NUMEROUS     CONTRIBUTORS. 


ILLUSTRATED     BY    TWENTY-TWO     PLATES,     A     MAP,     AND     NUMEROUS 
ILLUSTRATIONS     IN     THE     TEXT. 


^  LONDON: 

PRINTED    BY    ORDER    OF    THE    TRUSTEES. 

SOLD  BY 
LONGMANS  AND   CO.,    39,    PATERNOSTER   ROW. 
.      i.    QUARITCH,    15,   PICCADILLY.      DULAU    AND    CO.,    37,    SOHO    SQUARE,    W. 
)      ^  KEGAN   PAUL   AND   CO.,    CHARING   CROSS   ROAD,   W.C. 

AND    AT   THE 
BRITISH   MUSEUM   (NATURAL   HISTORY),    CROMWELL   ROAD,   S.W. 


(All  rights  reserved.) 
1900. 


HERTFORD 

PRINTED   BV  STEPHEN   AUSTIN   AND   SONS. 


PREFACE, 


The  Trustees  having  been  pleased  to  authorize  the 
preparation  of  a  monograph  embracing  the  scientific 
results  of  the  exploration  of  Christmas  Island  by 
Mr,  C.  W.  Andrews  during  a  visit  extending  over  ten 
months  in  1897-98,  I  was  requested  bj''  the  Director  to 
make  the  necessary  arrangements,  and  obtain  the  assistance 
of  the  several  members  of  the  staff  of  the  Natural  History 
Departments  in  the  British  Museum  and  other  gentlemen 
(whose  names  will  be  found  in  this  work),  without  whose 
kind  co-operation  Mr.  Andrews'  task  would  have  been  an 
impossible  one. 

The  valuable  help  of  various  special  artists  had  also  to 
be  secured  to  illustrate  the  work,  and  within  rather  over 
a  year  from  the  time  of  inception  the  volume  has  been 
completed. 

By  Professor  Lankester's  desire,  this  monograph  has 
been  restricted  to  a  description  of  the  Physical  Features 
and  the  Geology,  together  with  the  Land  Fauna  and  Flora 
of  the  island. 


VI  PREFACE. 

It  is  hoped  that  the  satisfactory  manner  in  which  this 
work  has  been  accomplished  may  result  in  the  issue  of  other 
equally  valuable  monographs  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Trustees,  by  the  staff  of  the  Museum,  dealing  with  similar 
geographical  units  hitherto  neglected. 

HENRY  WOODWARD. 

Geological  Department, 

British  Museum  (Natural  History), 
February,  1900. 


AUTHOR'S  PREFACE. 


The  present  volume  contains  an  account  of  the  collections 
and  observations  made  by  me  during  a  stay  of  about  ten 
months  in  Christmas  Island. 

This  period  included  all  the  seasonal  changes,  and  it  is 
hoped  that  the  collections  of  plants  and  insects  are  fairly 
complete. 

In  a  few  instances  specimens  obtained  by  previous 
collectors  are  described. 

The  collections  of  marine  animals  are  discussed  elsewhere. 

I  wish  especially  to  express  my  sincere  thanks  to  the 
Trustees  of  the  British  Museum,  who  granted  me  the 
necessary  leave  of  absence,  which,  owing  to  the  difficulty  of 
reaching  the  island  and  the  still  greater  difficulty  of  getting 
away,  was  prolonged  considerably  beyond  the  time  that 
was  at  first  thought  necessary  ;  to  Sir  John  Murray,  whose 
generosity  in  defraying  the  necessary  expenses  rendered 
the  expedition  possible ;  to  Mr.  George  Clunies  Ross,  of 
Cocos-Keeling  Islands,  and  his  brother,  Mr.  Andrew  Ross, 
for  their  hospitality,  and  assistance  in  numberless  ways 
during  my  stay  ;  to  their  nephew,  Mr.  H.  Ross,  a  resident 
for  some  years  on  the  island,  whose  knowledge  of  bush- 
life    in    general    was    of    the    greatest    assistance    to    me  ; 


VIU  AUTHORS    PREFACE. 

and  lastly,  to  Mr.  W.  A.  Wilkinson,  the  Engineer  to  the 
Christmas  Island  Phosphate  Company. 

I  am  also  greatly  indebted  to  the  contributors  of  the 
yarious  sections  of  this  book  for  the  trouble  and  care  they 
have  taken  in  working  out  the  collections  I  was  able  to 
send  home. 

CHAS.  W.  ANDREWS. 

Geological  Department, 

British  Museum  (Natural  History). 
Fehniari/,  1900. 


INTEODTJCTORY    NOTE. 


Christmas  Island,  in  the  Indian  Ocean,  appears  to  have  been  known 
to  navigators  from  about  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century. 
Dampier  and  other  voyagers  sent  boats  ashore,  but,  until  the  year 
1887,  no  person  appears  to  have  been  able  to  penetrate  beyond 
a  few  hundred  yards  from  the  landing-places,  because  of  the 
steep  and  rugged  cliffs,  covered  with  dense  tropical  vegetation, 
by  which  the  island  is  everywhere  surrounded. 

In  1887  Captain  (now  Rear-Admiral)  Pelham  Aldrich,  E.N., 
visited  the  island  in  H.M.S.  "  Egeria,"  and  with  the  assistance 
of  a  party  of  blue-jackets  cut  a  way  up  the  cliifs,  encamped  on 
the  highest  point  of  the  island,  and  made  some  explorations  towards 
the  interior.  In  consequence  of  Captain  Aldrich's  discoveries  during 
this  expedition,  the  island  was  formally  annexed  to  the  British 
Crown  in  the  following  year.  In  the  year  1897  a  Company 
acquired  the  lease  of  the  island,  and  arrangements  were  immediately 
made  for  its  thorough  exploitation ; — an  agricultural  rent  is  paid 
to  the  Government,  in  addition  to  royalties  on  all  minerals  and 
timber  that  may  be  exported. 

The  total  area  of  the  island  is  about  43  square  miles,  and  in 
some  parts  it  rises  to  over  1,000  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea. 
Besides  being  the  home  of  numerous  endemic  and  other  species 
of  animals,  it  is  completely  covered  by  a  luxuriant  tropical 
vegetation.  Down  to  a  few  years  ago  it  was  probably  the  only 
existing  tropical  island  of  any  large  extent  that  had  never  been 
inhabited  by  man,  savage  or  civilized.  Its  interest,  from  a  scientific 
point  of  view,  is  further  increased  by  the  fact  that  it  is  at  least 
190  miles  distant  from  any  other  land,  and  is  surrounded  by 
an  ocean  in  which  the  depths  exceed  three  English  miles. 


X  INTEOBUCTOEY   KOIE. 

It  seemed  highly  desirable  that  this  interesting  island — which 
was  evidently  an  upraised  coral  atoll — should  be  carefully  examined 
and  described  by  a  competent  naturalist  and  geologist,  before  being 
opened  up  by  Europeans  for  agricultural  and  commercial  purposes. 
Accordingly  it  was  arranged  with  the  Trustees  of  the  British 
Museum  that  Mr.  C.  W.  Andrews,  B.Sc,  F.G.S.,  of  the  Geological 
Department,  should  be  granted  leave  to  carry  out  this  exploration. 
I  undertook  to  pay  all  the  expenses,  and  to  present  a  complete 
set  of  all  specimens  procured  to  the  IS'ational  Collection. 

During  the  years  1897  and  1898  Mr.  Andrews  carried  out  the 
exploration  with  great  success,  notwithstanding  many  disappoint- 
ments, drawbacks,  and  hardships.  He  has  enriched  the  British 
Museum  with  unique  and  extensive  collections,  and  it  will,  I  think, 
be  admitted  that  in  the  present  elaborate  report  we  have  the  best 
account  of  a  true  oceanic  island  that  has  ever  been  published. 

It  has  not  hitherto  been  possible  to  watch  carefully  the 
immediate  effects  produced  by  the  immigration  of  civilized  man 
— and  the  animals  and  plants  which  follow  in  his  wake— upon 
the  physical  conditions  and  upon  the  indigenous  fauna  and  flora 
of  an  isolated  oceanic  island.  I  hope  to  arrange  that  this  shall 
be  done  in  the  case  of  Christmas  Island,  at  the  same  time  that 
further  explorations  are  undertaken,  for  Mr.  Andrews'  detailed 
report  will  enable  this  to  be  carried  out  with  every  prospect  of 
success,  and  in  a  scientific  manner. 

Mr.  Andrews,  and  the  other  officials  of  the  British  Museum  who 
have  assisted  him  in  his  investigations,  are  to  be  congratulated  on 
the  production  of  this  excellent  monograph  of  an  oceanic  island, 
which  forms  a  most  valuable  addition  to  natural  knowledge. 

JOHN  MURRAY. 

Challenger  Lodge,  "VVakdie, 

Edinbuegh. 

Felruary  15,  1900. 


TABLE  OF  CO]^TENTS. 


FAGS 
V 

vii 
ix 
xi 

XV 


Preface,  by  Dr.  H,  Woodward,  F.E.8.,  F.G.S.       . 

Author's  Preface  ....... 

Introductory  jS'ote  by  Sir  John  Murray,  K.C.B.,  F.Pv.S. 

Contents      ......... 

List  of  Figures  in  the  text  ..... 

History  and  Physical  Features,  by  C.  W.  Andrews,  B.Sc, 

F.G.S 1 


ZOOLOGY. 

Mammalia,  by  C.  W.  Andrews,  B.Sc,  F.G.S.  ...  22 
Notes  on  the  Osteology  of  Mtis  mtivitatis  and  Mtts  macleari, 

by  Dr.  C.  I.  Forsyth  Major,  F.Z.S 34 

Aves,  by  R.  Bowdler  Sharpe,  LL.D.,  F.L.S.          ...  37 

Reptilia,  by  G.  A.  Boulcnger,  F.E.8 51 

MoUusca,  by  E.  A.  Smith,  F.Z.S 54 

Lepidoptcra  Rhopalocera,  by  A.  G.  Butler,  Ph.D.,  F.L.S. ,  etc.  60 

Lepidoptera  Phalsenae,  by  Sir  George  F.  Hampson,  Bart.  .  63 
Micro -Lepidoptera,  by  the  Rt.  Hon.  Lord  Walsingham,  M.A., 

LL.D.,  F.R.S.,  etc 75 

Hymenoptera,  by  W.  F.  Kirby,  F.L.S.,  F.E.S.       ...  81 

Diptera 88 

Coleoptera,  by  C.  0.  Waterhouse,  F.E.S.,  C.  J.  Gahan,  M.A., 

F.E.S.,  and  G.  J.  Arrow,  F.E.S 89 


xu 


CONTENTS. 


Hemiptera,  by  W.  P.  Kirby,  F.L.S.,  F.E.S. 
Homoptera,  by  W.  F.  Kirby,  F.L.S.,  F.E.S. 
MaUophaga,  by  W.  F.  Kirby,  F.L.S.,  F.E.S. 
Neuroptera,  by  W.  F.  Kirby,  F.L.S.,  F.E.S. 
Oi-tboptera,  by  W.  F.  Kirby,  F.L.S.,  F.E.S. 
CMlopoda,  Diplopoda,  and  Aracbnida,  by  R.  I.  Pocock 
Land  Crustacea,  by  C.  "W.  Andrews 
Vermes  (Earth-worms),  by  Daniel  Rosa,  D.Sc. 


PAGE 

127 
130 
138 
139 
141 
153 
163 
16& 


BOTANY. 

Dicotyledons : 

Polypctalffi,  by  E.  G.  Baker,  F.L.S. 

Gamopetalse,  by  E.  G.  Baker,  F.L.S. 

Apetalas,  by  A.  B.  Rendle,  M.A.,  D.Sc. 
Monocotyledons,  by  A.  B.  Rendle,  M.A.,  D.Sc. 
Gymnosperms,  by  A.  B.  Rendle,  M.A.,  D.Sc. 
Ferns,  by  A.  Gepp,  M.A.,  F.L.S. 
Mosses,  by  A.  Gepp,  M.A.,  F.L.S. 
Lichens,  by  V.  H.  Blackman,  M.A.,  F.L.S. 
Fungi,  by  V.  H.  Blackman,  M.A.,  F.L.S.     . 
Mycetozoa,  by  A.  Lister,  F.R.S.   . 


171 

179 
185 
190 
193 
194 
19(> 
197 
198 
200 


PALAEONTOLOGY   AND   GEOLOGY. 

Fossil  Mollusca  from  the  Reef  Limestones  of  Christmas  Island, 

by  R.  B.  Newton,  F.G.S 201 

Fossil  Corals  of  Christmas  Island,  by  J.  W.  Gregory,  D.Sc, 

F.G.S 206 

On  the  Foraminifera  of  the  Orbitoidal  Limestones  and  Reef 
Rocks  of  Christmas  Island,  by  Prof.  T.  Rupert  Jones, 
F.R.S.,  etc.,  and  Frederick  Chapman,  A.L.S.,  F.R.M.S., 
etc 226 


CONTENTS.  Xlll 


PAGE 

Note  on  the  Composition  of  some  Dolomitic  and  other  Lime- 
stones from  Christmas  Island,  by  E.  W.  Skeats,  B.Sc, 
F.G.S 


Geology,  by  C.  W.  Andi-ews,  B.Sc.,  F.G.S. 

Note  on  the  Geographical  Relations  of  the  Fauna  and  Flora 

of  Christmas  Island,  by  C,  W.  Andrews 
List  of  Species  recorded  from  Christmas  Island 

List  of  the  Principal  Papers  relating  to  Christmas  Island 
Appendix  ........ 

Index  .         . 

Plates  I-XXI,  with  explanations  and  Map,  at  the  end  of  the 

volume. 
Explanation  of  Plates. 


265 
269 

299 
305 

318 
319 
321 


EERATA. 

p.  61,  line  6,  for  P.  sepulchralis  read  V.  sepulchraUs. 

p.  88,  line  5  from  bottom,  for  Syrpindce  read  Syrphidcs. 

p.  142,  third  genus  under  'Blattid^,'  for  Periplanata  read 
Feriplaneta. 


LIST    OF    FIGURES    IN    THE    TEXT. 


PAGE 

Outlines  of  Chiistmas  Island  as  seen  from  the  sea     ....  4 

Keef-eclge  at  low- water,  south  side  of  Flying  Fish  Cove     .     .  7 

^N'orth  coast,  looking  towards  Smith  Point 7 

Sections  across  the  edge  of  the  central  plateau 12 

jS'orth-West  Point  from  the  north 15 

Steep  Point  from  the  north 15 

Skull  and  mandible  of  Pteropiis  natalis,   showing  dentition. 

Natural  size 23 

Antebrachium  and  cai-pus  of  Mus  macleari  and  Mus  nativitatis.  34 

Pontodrilus  ephippiger  \  prostate  and  sperm-sac 166 

Perichmta  hrevis  ]  sperm-sac  and  spermatheca 168 

Leptoria  phrygia;  part  of  transverse  section,  X  5  .  .  .  .  211 
Orhicella  herklotsi  ,,  ,,  X7....215 
Orbicella  quadrangular  is,  var.  columnata ;   part  of  transverse 

section,  x  IJ 217 

Prmiastrcea  magnijica ;  part  of  transverse  section,  x  2      .     .  219 

Porites,  aff.  lutea                    ,,                 „                 X  9      .     .  222 

Porites  belli                            „                 ,,                 X  9      .     .  223 

Porites  belli;  part  of  transverse  section  bored  by  an  alga,  x  9  223 

Montipora  dance  ;  part  of  transverse  section,  x  12  .     .     .     .  224 

Forest  on  central  plateau 270 

Sections  showing  the  structure  of   the  cliff  at  Flying  Fish 

Cove 272 

Bed  of  basalt  resting  on  older  Tertiaiy  limestone,  south  side 

of  Flying  Fish  Cove 274 

Mass  of  Porites  in  sea  cliff,  south  of  Flying  Fish  Cove       .     .  274 

Sections  of  cliff  in  Flying  Fish  Cove 276 

Geological  map  of  the  neighbourhood  of  Flying  Fish  Cove      .  280 

Mouth  of  Sidney's  Dale,  west  coast        284 

Dyke  of  basalt,  floor  of  Sidney's  Dale,  west  coast     ....  286 

Sea-worn  basalt  in  AVaterfall  (Panchoran)  Bay,  east  coast      .  286 


CHRISTMAS  ISLAND  (INDIAN  OCEAN). 


HISTORY  AND   PHYSICAL  FEATURES. 
By  C.  W.  Andrews,  B.Sc,  F.G.S. 

Christmas  Island,  the  subject  of  the  present  monograph,  lies  in 
the  eastern  part  of  the  Indian  Ocean,  in  S.  hit.  10°  25',  E.  long. 
105°  42'.  Java,  the  nearest  land,  is  about  190  miles  to  the  north, 
while  some  900  miles  to  the  south-east  is  the  coast  of  North- West 
Australia.  A  little  to  the  south  of  west,  at  a  distance  of  550 
miles,  ai'e  the  two  atolls  of  Cocos  and  North  Keeling,  and 
to  the  north  of  these  Glendinning  Shoal.  The  submarine  slopes 
of  the  island  are  very  steep,  and  soundings  of  upwards  of  1,000 
fathoms  occur  within  two  or  three  miles  of  the  coast :  at  this 
depth  the  bottom  was  found  to  consist  of  globigerina  ooze.  To  the 
north  is  Maclear  Deep,  in  which  3,200  fathoms  were  found,  and  to 
the  south  and  south-west  is  the  more  extensive  Wharton  Deep, 
with  upwards  of  3,000  fathoms.  The  island,  in  fact,  forms  the 
summit  of  a  submarine  peak,  the  base  of  which  rises  from  the  low 
saddle  which  separates  these  two  abysses,  and  on  the  western  end 
of  which  the  Cocos-Keeling  Islands  are  situated. 

The  first  mention  of  Christmas  Island  occurs  in  a  map  by  Pieter 
Goos,  published  in  Holland  in  1666,  in  which  it  is  called  Moni. 
In  subsequent  maps  this  name  and  that  of  Christmas  Island  are 
applied  to  it  indilferently,  but  it  is  not  known  by  whom  the  island 
was  discovered  and  named.  The  earliest  approach  to  a  descriptive 
account  is  found  in  Dampier's  "  Voyages  "  [1],^  in  the  following 
passage : — 

"  After  leaving  New  Holland,  the  ship  tried  to  make  Cocos, 
but  was  driven  to  a  more  easterly  course,  and  met  nothing 
of  remark  till  the  twenty-eighth  day.  Then  we  fell  in  with  a 
small  woody  island  in  lat.  10°  20'  S.  It  was  deep  -  water  about 
the  island,  and  there  was  no  anchoring ;  but  we  sent  two  canoes 
ashore,  one  of  them  with  the  carpenters  to  cut  a  tree  to  make 
another  pump ;  the  other  canoe  went  to  search  for  fresh  water, 
and  found  a  small  brook  near  the  south-west  point  of  the  island, 
but  there  the  sea  fell  on  the  shore  so  high  that  they  could  not 
get  it  off.     At  noon  both  the  canoes  returned  on  board,  and  the 

'  The  niimhers  in  square  brackets  refer  to  the  list  of  papers,  etc.,  relating  to 
Christmas  Island  given  at  the  end  of  the  volume. 

B 


2  Christmas  Island. 

carpenters  brought  on  board  a  good  tree ;  the  other  canoe  brought 
aboard  as  many  boobies  and  man-of-war  birds  as  suificed  all  the 
ship's  company  when  they  were  boiled. 

"They  also  got  a  sort  of  land  animal,  somewhat  resembling  a 
large  crawfish  without  its  great  claws.  The  island  is  a  good  height, 
with  steep  cliffs  against  the  south  and  south-west,  and  a  sandy  bay 
on  the  north  side,  but  with  very  deep  water  steep  to  the  shore." 

The  date  of  Dampier's  visit  was  March,  1688.  The  next 
account  of  the  island  is  given  by  Captain  Daniel  Beekman,  in 
1718  [2].  He  remarks  that  "the  island  looks  exceeding  pleasant, 
being  covered  with  lofty  trees,  and  may  be  known  by  the  following 
directions: — (>oming  from  the  north-westward,  it  appears  pretty 
high,  with  a  saddle  in  the  middle ;  the  westernmost  land  is  the 
highest,  trenching  away  to  the  northward  to  a  low,  flat  point; 
the  easternmost  point  is  low,  but  bluff.  I  sounded  within  eight 
miles  of  the  low  point,  but  had  no  bottom  with  the  lOU-fathom 
line  out.     The  island  is  about  seven  leagues  from  east  to  west." 

This  writer  gives  a  remarkable  sketch,  in  which  the  heights  are 
ridiculously  exaggerated,  the  hill  over  the  north-western  point 
being  made  to  look  like  a  mountain  with  three  peaks ;  his  estimate 
of  the  length  of  the  island  also  is  much  in  excess  of  the  truth.  In 
1771  the  "  Pigot,"  East  Jndiaman,  attempted  to  find  an  anchorage, 
but  failed.  The  crews  of  this  and  other  passing  vessels  reported 
the  occurrence  of  wild  pigs,  coconut-palms,  and  lime-trees,  none 
of  which  really  existed.  The  first  attempt  at  an  exploration  of  the 
island  was  made  by  the  frigate  "Amethyst"  in  1857,  from  which 
a  boat's  crew  was  landed  with  the  object  of  attempting  to  reach 
the  summit,  but  the  inland  cliffs  proved  an  insuperable  obstacle, 
and  the  ascent  was  abandoned. 

In  1886  the  surveying  vessel,  "Flying  Fish"  (Captain  Maclear) 
was  ordered  to  make  an  examination  of  the  island.  The  coast  was 
found  to  consist  of  limestone  cliffs,  and  it  was  only  after  sailing 
nearly  all  round  the  island  that  an  anchorage  was  found  in  a  bay 
with  a  wliite  shingle  beach  on  the  north  coast.  To  this  the  name 
Flying  Fish  Cove  was  given,  and  it  is  now  the  site  of  a  small 
settlement.  Another  white  beach  was  seen  towards  the  north- 
west point,  but  no  anchorage  was  found  near  it.  A  number  of 
men  were  landed,  and  collections  of  the  plants  and  animals  were 
obtained,  but,  since  the  island  seemed  of  little  value,  no  serious 
attempt  at  exploration  was  made  |  3]. 

In  the  following  year  H.M.8.  "Egeria"  (Captain  Pelham  Aldrich) 
called  at  the  island,  and  remained  about  ten  days.  Captain  Aldrich 
and  his  men  cut  a  way  to  the  top  of  the  island,  and  sent  home  a 
number  of  rock  specimens  obtained  on  the  way,  and  Mr.  J.  J.  Lister, 
who  accompanied  the  expedition  as  naturalist,  made  extensive  col- 
lections both  of  the  fauna  and  flora,  but  had  not  time  to  penetrate 
to  the  middle  of  the  island  [4-6]. 

The  island  was  formally  annexed  by  H.M.S.  "  Imperieuse  "  in 
June,  1888,  and  placed  under  the  Straits  Settlements  Government. 


Hidonj  and  Phyakal  Features.  3 

Tn  1890  K.M.S.  "  Redpole  "  called  at  the  island  for  a  few  hours, 
and  Mr.  H.  JNi.  Ridley,  of  the  Singapore  Botanical  Gardens,  who  was 
on  board,  collected  a  number  of  plants  not  previously  recorded,  and 
has  written  an  interesting  account  of  his  visit  [8]. 

Although  Messrs.  Lister  and  Jlidley  had  made  valuable  collections 
of  the  -fauna  and  flora  of  the  island,  the  shortness  of  the  time  at 
their  disposal  rendered  it  impossible  for  them  to  penetrate  far 
into  the  interior,  or  to  make  any  examination  of  the  geological 
structure.  jSTevertheless,  the  rock  specimens  brought  back  by  the 
"Egeria"  showed  that  the  island  probably  consisted  mainly  of 
coral  and  foraminiferal  limestones,  resting  on  a  basis  of  volcanic 
rocks ;  and  a  very  interesting  paper,  in  which  the  results  of  the 
expedition  were  summarized,  and  the  probable  structure  of  the 
island  discussed,  was  published  by  Rear-Admiral  Sir  W.  J.  L. 
Wharton  in  the  proceedings  of  the  Royal  Geographical  Society 
for  1888  [7J. 

It  seemed  desirable,  however,  that  a  more  complete  examination 
of  the  island  should  be  undertaken,  and,  if  possible,  collections 
should  be  made  at  different  seasons  of  the  year,  and  in  1896 
Sir  John  Murray  generously  oifered  to  pay  the  expenses  of  such  an 
expedition.  I  was  fortunate  enough  to  be  able  to  avail  myself  of 
this  opportunity,  and,  the  Trustees  of  the  British  Museum  having 
granted  the  necessary  leave  of  absence,  I  left  England  at  the 
beginning  of  May,  1897.  At  that  time  the  only  means  of  access 
to  the  island  was  by  the  sailing-vessels  belonging  to  Mr.  G.  Clunies 
Ross,  of  the  Cocos-Keeling  Islands,  which  are  employed  in  carrying 
various  supplies  from  Batavia  to  those  islands,  and  on  their  way 
down  usually  touch  at  Christmas  Island  to  land  stores  for  the 
little  colony  established  in  Flying  T'ish  Cove.  Unfortunately, 
one  of  these  vessels  had  left  shortly  before  I  arrived  in  Java,  and 
I  therefore  had  to  wait  some  weeks  before  an  opportunity  of 
getting  to  my  destination  occurred  ;  but  at  length,  on  July  23rd, 
I  sailed  from  Batavia  in  the  "J.  G.  Clunies  Ross,"  a  yawl  of  about 
46  tons  burden.  After  a  rough  passage  of  five  days  we  sighted  the 
island  from  the  south-west,  having  run  past  it  in  the  night.  We 
arrived  off  Flying  Fish  Cove  soon  after  sunset,  but  did  not  anchor 
till  the  following  morning  (July  29th). 

Seen  from  the  south-west,  the  island  appears  as  a  long  green 
ridge,  nearly  level  at  the  top,  there  being  only  slight  elevations  at 
the  north-west  and  south-east  ends.  The  ridge  descends  seaward 
in  a  succession  of  terraces,  the  upper  ones  bounded  by  comparatively 
gentle  slopes,  the  lower  by  a  high  and  nearly  vertical  cliff,  below 
which  there  is  a  narrow  platform  sloping  gently  down  to  the  sea 
cliff.  This  is  usually  about  15  to  30  feet  high,  and  is  much  undercut 
by  the  heavy  swell  that  is  continually  breaking  against  its  base. 
On  approaching  nearer,  it  can  be  seen  that  the  whole  island  is 
covered  by  a  dense  forest,  broken  only  by  the  grey  face  of  the  high 
inland  cliff  which  runs  round  the  greater  part  of  the  island,  rising 
like  a  wall  above  the  tall  trees  growing  on  the  shore  terrace. 


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Christmas  Island — Physical  Features.  5 

The  outlines  of  the  land,  as  seen  from  the  south-west,  east, 
and  north,  and  sections  across  it  at  various  points,  are  shown  in 
Pigure  1  and  in  the  map. 

From  these  it  can  be  gathered  that  the  island  consists  of  a 
central  plateau,  highest  towards  the  north  and  east,  and  descending 
to  the  sea  on  all  sides  by  a  succession  of  terraces,  separated  by 
slopes  or  cliffs.  In  most  places  the  arrangement  of  these,  from  the 
edge  of  the  plateau  downwards,  is — (1)  a  steep  slope  strewn  with 
blocks  ;  (2)  a  broad  terrace,  followed  by  a  similar  slope  (this 
seems  to  be  wanting  on  the  south) ;  (3)  a  second  terrace, 
terminating  in  a  cliff  200  or  300  feet  high;  (4)  the  shore  terrace, 
sloping  gently  down  to  the  sea  cliff;  (5)  the  present  fringing  reef. 
There  are,  however,  many  local  differences,  the  more  important  of 
which  will  be  noticed  below. 

The  greatest  length  of  the  island  is  from  ^N'orth-East  Point  to 
Egerici  Point,  a  distance  of  about  1 2  miles.  The  greatest  width  is 
from  North-East  Point  to  South  Point  (see  Map),  about  nine 
miles ;  the  least  on  a  line  drawn  north  and  south  through  Murray 
Hill,  about  three  and  a  half  miles.  The  total  area  of  the  island 
may  be  roughly  stated  as  43  square  miles. 

In  giving  a  general  account  of  the  physical  features  of  the  island, 
it  will  be  convenient  to  begin  with  the  fringing  reef,  and  then  deal 
successively  with  the  higher  terraces,  concluding  with  the  plateau. 
There  are,  besides,  one  or  two  localities  which  will  need  a  somc- 
Avhat  more  detailed  description. 

The  Fringing  Reef.     (Fig.  2.) 

If  the  coast  be  examined  in  a  boat,  or  from  the  edge  of  the  sea 
cliff,  it  is  found  that  round  the  greater  part  of  the  island  there  is 
a  submarine  terrace  or  shelf,  which  varies  greatly  in  width  and  in 
its  depth  beneath  the  surface.  At  Flying  Fish  Cove  this  terrace 
consists  of  two  portions — an  inner,  which  is  partly  dry  at  low- 
water,  and  outside  this  and  about  two  fathoms  below  it,  a  second, 
which  slopes  away  seaward  to  about  20-30  fathoms,  beyond  which 
the  water  deepens  suddenly.  The  upper  reef  is  best  developed  at 
the  northern  and  southern  ends  of  the  cove,  and  is  almost  absent  in 
the  middle.  It  exactly  resembles  the  reef  flat  of  an  atoll.  At 
low-water  it  can  be  seen  to  be  composed  of  blocks  of  coral  cemented 
together  and  forming  a  smooth,  hard  surface,  like  concrete,  bored 
in  all  directions  by  marine  worms.  Some  of  the  individual  coral 
masses  are  of  considerable  size,  and  the  section  of  one  spherical 
mass  was  about  four  feet  in  diameter.  On  the  surface  of  the  reef 
are  numerous  loose  blocks  and  large  plate-like  masses  of  coral,  and 
towards  the  beach  are  a  number  of  enormous  masses  of  white 
foraminiferal  limestone  which  have  fallen  from  the  high  cliff  above; 
some  of  these  are  20  feet  high  and  30  or  more  long,  and  several 
have  trees  growing  on  tliem.  In  one  case  a  block  has  rolled  a  dis- 
tance of  50  or  60  yards  out  on  to  the  reef  flat.     At  the  lowest  tides 


6  Christmas  Island — The  Sea  Cliff. 

the  greater  part  of  the  surface  of  the  reef  is  covered  with  water 
less  than  a  foot  deep,  though  there  are  a  few  holes  of  greater 
depth.  In  some  places  there  are  clumps  of  a  small  branching 
madrepore  of  considerable  extent,  the  tops  of  which  are  exposed 
for  nearly  a  foot  for  some  time  at  low-water.  Except  for  these 
there  are  only  a  few  small  corals  in  the  deeper  pools,  and  the  chief 
inhabitants  of  this  part  of  the  reef  are  holothuria  and  small 
echinoids,  which  live  in  holes  in  the  rock.  The  outer  rim  is  raised 
from  a  foot  to  eighteen  inches  above  the  surface  of  the  water  of  the 
lagoon.  It  consists  mainly  of  fiat  blocks  of  coral  overgrown  and 
cemented  together  by  a  thick  coating  of  bright  red  nullipores,  and 
is  cleft  by  numerous  deep  fissures  and  channels,  through  which  the 
water  thrown  over  it  escapes ;  it  is  on  the  sides  of  these  fissures 
that  the  corals  seem  to  flourish  best.  The  reef  flat  at  the  northern 
end  of  the  cove  is  of  much  the  same  character. 

Standing  on  the  nullipore-covered  edge  of  this  upper  reef,  the 
outer  lower  reef  can  be  seen  through  the  one  or  two  fathoms  of 
clear  water  that  cover  it.  Its  surface  is  studded  with  masses 
of  various  species  of  corals,  separated  by  areas  of  coral  sand.  As 
above  mentioned,  this  reef  slopes  away  gently  to  about  20  fathoms, 
beyond  which  the  water  deepens  suddenly.  At  the  southern  end 
of  the  bay  it  is  interrupted,  and  at  Smith  Point  no  bottom  was 
found  with  30  fathoms  close  to  the  clifi's. 

A  little  south  of  the  middle  of  the  cove  the  reefs  are  interrupted 
by  a  boat-channel  forty  to  fifty  yards  wide,  which  runs  up  to  the 
beach.  Its  bottom  slopes  gently  down  to  four  or  five  fathoms,  and 
is  composed  of  coral  shingle ;  beyond  this  patches  of  coral  appear, 
and  it  passes  into  the  general  surface  of  the  lower  reef. 

Except  at  West  White  Beach  and  a  few  small  bays  with  beaches 
on  the  east  coast,  Flying  Fish  Cove  is  the  only  place  where  any 
part  of  the  fringing  reef  is  dry  at  low-water.  Round  the  greatei' 
2)art  of  the  island  the  foot  of  the  cliff  is  washed  by  the  sea  at  all 
times  of  the  tide,  and  the  fringing  reef,  if  present  at  all,  is  from 
a  yard  to  three  or  four  fathoms  below  tlie  suiface,  even  at  ebb-tide. 
Here  it  seems  to  consist,  on  its  landward  side,  of  a  platform  formed 
by  the  cutting  back  of  the  cliff  by  the  sea,  while  on  the  seaward 
portion  coral  is  luxuriant,  and  is,  no  doubt,  growing  outward  on 
the  talus  resulting  from  the  denudation  of  the  coast. 

The  Sea  Cliff  and  Beaches.     (Fig.  3.) 

Nearly  the  whole  of  the  coastline  is  formed  by  limestone  cliffs, 
varying  in  height  from  about  15  to  150  feet  or  more.  The  latter 
height  only  occurs  at  Steep  Point,  in  consequence  of  certain 
movements  which  will  be  described  elsewliere  ;  in  other  places  thn 
height  seldom  exceeds  50  feet.  The  cliffs  are  nearly  everywhere 
much  undercut,  and  sometimes  overhang  to  the  extent  of  30  feet 
or  more.  There  are  numerous  caves,  and  occasionally  these  have 
openings   on   the    shore   terrace    at   some   distance   fi'om   the  sea. 


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FIG.   2. 
REEF-EDGE    AT    LOW-WATER,    SOUTH     SnE     OF    FLYING      FISH     COVE. 


FIG.    3. -NORTH     COAST     LOOKING    TOWARDS    SMITH     POINT. 


8  Christmas  Island. 

When  a  heavy  sea  strikes  the  cliffs,  the  air  is  driven  through  these 
passages  with  great  violence,  and  sometimes  accompanied  by  a 
column  of  spray  60  or  70  feet  high.  These  blowholes  are  most 
numerous  on  the  south  coast,  where  the  cliffs  are  exposed  to  the 
heavy  ocean  swell  caused  by  the  south-east  trade- wind,  which 
prevails  during  the  greater  part  of  the  year.  Along  this  coast  the 
cliffs  are  cut  up  into  narrow,  finger-like  masses,  and  their  summit 
for  some  distance  inland  is  bare  of  vegetation,  being  continually 
swept  by  the  spray.  Rock-pools  containing  small  living  fish  some- 
times occur  on  the  cliff  top.  On  the  north  coast,  which  is  more  rarely 
exposed  to  a  heavy  sea,  the  cliffs  often  form  a  continuous  wall  for 
long  distances.  The  structure  of  the  sea  cliff  will  be  described  in 
more  detail  in  the  geological  part  of  this  memoir.  Here  it  may 
be  mentioned  that  by  far  the  greater  part  of  it  is  a  section  of  a 
recently  raised  fringing  reef;  but  in  some  places — e  g.,  on  the  east 
coast — the  sea  has  cut  back  to  the  older  and  moie  central  parts  of 
the  island,  and  in  such  places  the  cliff'  may  consist  largely  of  vol- 
canic, mostly  basaltic,  rocks ;  even  when  this  is  the  case,  however, 
the  upper  portion  is  usually  formed  of  recent  coral  limestone. 

In  one  or  two  places  the  sea  cliff  is  interrupted  by  beaches  of 
coral  shingle.  The  most  important  of  these  is  at  Flying  Fish  Cove, 
where  it  forms  a  crescent  some  500  yards  long.  Towards  the 
southern  end  it  is  composed  of  sand,  but  to  the  northward  it 
becomes  coarser  and  coarser,  till  about  the  middle  it  consists  of 
rolled  blocks  of  coral,  and  on  the  foreshore  masses  of  yellowish 
limestone,  apparently  part  of  the  talus  derived  from  the  cliff 
behind.  At  the  northern  end  it  becomes  finer  again.  In  places 
the  shingle  has  been  cemented  into  hard,  compact  rock,  in  sheets 
several  inches  thick.  The  top  of  the  beach  is  about  15  feet 
above  low-tide  level,  and  its  slope  varies  much,  being  very  steep 
after  a  northerly  or  north-easterly  gale,  and  gentler  during  the 
prevalence  of  the  trade-wind,  when  the  sea  in  the  cove  is  quiet. 

Behind  the  beach  there  is  a  broad,  nearly  level  platform,  com- 
posed mainly  of  fragments  and  blocks  of  coral,  but  to  some  extent 
also  of  volcanic  and  other  rock  derived  from  the  cliff  above. 
Formerly  the  whole  of  this  platform  was  forest  -  clad,  and  even 
now  much  of  the  beach  down  to  high-water  mark  is  fringed  with 
a  belt  of  Ironwoods  ( Cordia),  "Waroo  (Jlibineus),  and  Touniefortia ; 
but  within  this  much  of  the  forest  has  been  cleared,  fruit-trees 
(custard  apples,  limes,  etc.)  and  coconut-palms  planted,  and  a 
number  of  substantial  houses  built.  At  its  northern  end  this 
platform  is  shut  in  by  an  inland  continuation  of  the  sea  cliff 
(10-20  feet),  which  still  shows  traces  of  wave  action;  and  at  the 
back  there  rises  in  a  semicircle  a  cliff  covered  almost  entirely  with 
forest,  and  towards  the  middle  of  the  cove  towering  nearly  500  feet 
above  the  platform. 

West  White  Beach  is  in  some  respects  similar  to  Flying  Fish 
Cove,  but  here  the  platform  is  much  narrower,  and  the  sea  cliff  is 
continued  behind  it ;  above  this  cliff  there  is  a  wide  terrace,  as  on 


The  Shore  Terrace.  9 

other  parts  of  the  coast.  In  many  places  the  beach  is  covered  with 
slahs  of  shore  cement,  but  on  the  whole  it  consists  of  finer  material 
than  that  at  the  cove.  Between  it  and  Smith  Point  there  are 
three  other  small  beaches,  but  these  are  shut  in  by  cliffs  and  covered 
at  high-water.  On  the  east  coast  there  are  several  similar  beaches 
of  various  sizes.  At  one  of  these  a  bed  of  basalt  comes  out  on 
the  shore,  and  over  it  gushes  a  small  stream  of  excellent  fresh 
water,  the  volume  of  which  seems  to  remain  constant  at  all  times 
of  the  year;  this  waterfall  is  called  by  the  Malays  "  Panchoran," 
and  the  bay  in  which  it  occurs  may  be  named  Panchoran  Bay.  On 
the  west  coast,  towards  North-AVest  Point,  1  saw  a  series  of  small 
white  beaches,  which  are  probably  covered  at  high-tide. 

TJie  Shore  Terrace. 

By  this  is  meant  the  terrace  extending  from  the  top  o£  the  sea 

cliff  to  the  foot  of  the  first  inland  cliff.     It  is  the  most  persistent 

and  best  defined  of  the  terraces,  being  interrupted,  so  far  as  I  am 

aware,   at  Flying  Fish  Cove  and    Steep   Point  only.     Its  width 

varies   from   nearly  half   a   mile  to   less   than   a   hundred   yards. 

As  a  rule,  it  slopes  gently  upwards  to  the  foot  of  the  first  inland 

cliff,  but   probably  its  greatest  elevation  is  less  than  a  hundred 

feet,   and  its  average  height  is  not    more  than   about   fifty.     At 

the  outer  border  there  is  usually  a  belt  of  low,  jagged  pinnacles, 

often  separated  by  channels  running  seaward,  precisely  like  those 

seen  in  the   present  fringing  reef ;    within  this   is  a   level   area 

thickly   covered   with  rich   soil,    and   then,   towards  the   foot   of 

the  inland  cliff,   another  belt  covered  with  pinnacles  and  blocks 

fallen  from  the  heights  above.       Sometimes,  however,  the  whole 

width  is  a  chaos  of   jagged  pinnacles   and   masses   of   limestone, 

which,  when  covered  with  jungle,  is  quite  impassable.     As  already 

mentioned,  along  the  sheltered  part  of  the  north  coast  the  forest 

extends  to  the  very  edge  of  the  cliff.    Elsewhere  there  is  usually  an 

outer  band,  where  only  coarse  grass  and  a  few  straggling  bushes  of 

JPemphis  and  Sccevola  will  grow.     Within  this  is  a  zone  composed 

mainly  of  Pandanus,    Cordia,    Calophjllum,  Hibiscus,  Pisonia,  and 

other   sea-loving  plants ;     these  form    a  protection  to  the  forest, 

covering  the  inner  part  of  the  platform.     The  trees  found  here  are 

mostly  large  forest  trees,  such  as  occur  in  the  higher  parts  of  the 

island.     The  commonest  forms  are  Gyrocarptut,  Berria,  Enjthrina, 

Ochrosia,  Kleinhovia,    Celtis,    Terminalia,   and  Arenga,   but   there 

are  many  others.     The   Gyrocarpus^  which  is  completely  bare  of 

leaves  during  the  last  six  months  of  the  year,  gives  a  very  peculiar 

appearance   to   the   forest    during    that    time.       Occasionally   the 

fairly  open  forest  is  replaced  by  dense  jungle   of  pandanus  and 

thorny  creepers. 

In  several  places  on  the  east  coast  the  shore  terrace  is  composed 
largely  of  volcanic  rocks,  and  since  these  hold  up  the  water  which 
elsewhere   sinks  through  the  porous  limestone,  there  are   several 


10  C/in'sfmas  Inland. 

small  brooks.  These  are  never  more  than  two  or  three  hundred 
yards  long,  and  rise  from  springs,  ■n'elling  out  at  or  near  the  base 
of  the  inland  cliff.  Their  banks  are  veiy  muddy,  and  are  burrowed 
in  all  directions  by  a  peculiar  grey  crab  ( Cardiosoma),  which  is 
provided  with  a  sort  of  brush  on  each  side  of  the  mouth,  apparently 
for  filtering  the  water  which  enters  the  gill  chamber. 

TJie  First  Inland  Cliff  and  Terrace.     (Fig.  5.) 

The  fi.rst  inland  cliff  is  the  most  conspicuous  feature  in  the 
scenery,  and  in  one  form  or  another  it  extends  round  nearly  the 
Avhole  island.  In  one  place  it  forms  a  cliff  with  a  nearly  vertical  face 
bare  of  vegetation  ;  in  another  it  is  reduced  to  a  talus  slope  of  blocks 
of  limestone  piled  up  in  wild  confusion  and  covered  with  trailing 
plants  and  bushes  ;  and  in  others,  again,  it  is  replaced  by  a  succession 
of  smaller  cliffs  and  terraces  of  varying  height  and  breadth,  rising 
step-like  one  behind  the  other.  Whatever  form  it  may  take,  its 
summit  is  between  250  and  300  feet  above  the  sea-level.  On  the 
east  coast,  about  half  a  mile  south  of  North-East  Point,  this  cliff  is 
ab>-ent  for  a  short  distance,  and  on  the  western  coast  it  is  much  less 
distinctly  developed  than  elsewhere.  In  many  places  where  the 
cliff  face  is  vertical,  or  nearly  vertical,  it  shows  distinct  traces  of 
wave  action  at  two  or  three  levels,  the  chief  evidence  of  this  being 
lines  of  small  caves,  and  in  places  near  the  foot  a  very  distinct 
and  clearly  comparatively  recent  undercutting  of  the  face.  For 
instance,  on  the  north  coast,  at  about  20  feet  above  the  shore  plat- 
form, the  cliff  is  cut  back  into  a  shelf,  above  which  it  overhangs 
considerably,  and  from  150  to  200  feet  higher  up  there  are  less 
distinct  traces  of  a  similar  striicture,  the  line  of  wave  action  being 
there  marked  by  small  caves.  AVhere  the  single  cliff  face  is  replaced 
by  a  number  of  secondary  cliffs  and  terraces,  these  also  indicate 
that  the  surface  of  the  sea  has  stood  at  successively  lower  levels 
with  regard  to  the  land,  each  cliff  and  terrace  apparently  marking 
such  a  change  of  level  In  places  these  smaller  cliffs  and  terraces 
are  interrupted  by  gentler  slopes,  and  one  or  more  may  disappear. 
Although  tlie  terraces  may  be  continuous  for  considerable  dis- 
tances, it  is  difficult  to  correlate  those  occurring  in  different  parts 
of  the  island.  Both  the  mode  of  origin  and  the  composition  of 
the  first  inland  cliff  seem  to  diff'er  considerably  in  different  places, 
but  these  points  will  be  more  fully  considered  in  the  geological 
section. 

The  terrace  on  the  top  of  the  first  inland  cliff  varies  much  in 
width  and  general  structure.  It  is  widest  opposite  the  i)rincipal 
headlands,  where  it  is  between  a  quarter  and  half  a  mile  wide  ; 
(Iscwhere  it  may  be  any  width  from  less  than  100  to  400  or  500 
vards.  It  usually  slopes  gently  seawards,  sometimes  becoming 
steeper  towards  the  cliff'  edge,  which  is  nearly  everywhere  boi'dereil 
with  a  belt  of  pinnacles  of  coral  limestone,  separated  by  clefts  and 
channels  often  parallel  to  the  cliff  edge.     In  one  or   two   places. 


Inland  Cliffs  and  Terraces.  11 

notably  near  the  middle  of  the  north  coast,  the  structure  is  more 
complex.  Here,  on  descending  the  slope  of  the  terrace  towards 
the  clitf  edge,  we  come  first  to  a  narrow  belt  of  pinnacles,  beyond 
which  is  a  sudden  drojj  of  about  50  feet ;  at  the  foot  of  the  low  cliff 
thus  formed  is  a  perfectly  level,  soil-clad  terrace,  some  50  yards 
broad,  which  is  bounded  on  the  outer  side  by  lines  of  pinnacles 
20-30  feet  high,  separated  by  winding  channels  with  level  floors  ; 
beyond  these  is  a  slope  covered  with  piles  of  limestone  blocks 
extending  to  the  cKff  edge.  The  channel  included  between  the 
low  clitf  and  the  outer  belt  of  pinnacles  extends  for  half  a  mile  or 
more  roughly  parallel  to  the  coast,  and  may  be  either  the  result 
of  a  slip  downward  of  the  outer  part  of  the  cliff,  or  possibly 
a  channel  in  a  reef  formed  round  the  island  when  the  sea  was  at 
that  level.  Whatever  its  structure,  this  terrace  is  always  thickly 
covered  with  forest. 

The   Upper   Cliffs  and  Terraces. 

Above  the  first  inland  terrace,  which,  as  just  mentioned,  varies 
greatly  in  width,  we  meet  with  a  second  inland  cliff,  or  rather 
steep  rock- covered  slope,  for  an  actual  cliff  is  only  found  iu  a  few 
places,  as,  for  instance,  west  of  the  southern  end  of  Flying  Fish 
Cove.  Usually  the  limestones  composing  this  cliff  show  many 
traces  of  coral  structure.  At  the  summit  there  is  a  second  terrace 
sloping  gently  upwards  towards  the  foot  of  the  third  inland  cliff, 
which  forms  its  inland  boundary.  The  width  of  this  terrace,  like 
that  of  the  one  below,  varies  very  much,  and  is  greatest  opposite 
the  headlands.  It  is  occasionally  pai'tly  covered  with  pinnacles 
and  blocks  of  limestone,  but  usually  is  clothed  with  soil,  which 
supports  a  luxuriant  forest  of  great  trees  150-200  feet  high;  in 
some  places  there  is  thick  undergrowth  of  Pandanus,  Randia,  ferns, 
etc.,  but  as  a  rule  the  forest  is  fairly  open.  The  upper  cliff,  like 
that  last  described,  is  usually  a  steep  talus-covered  slope,  with  cliff' 
faces  showing  in  a  few  places  only.  Along  the  east  coast,  how- 
ever, the  upper  40  or  50  feet  may  be  neaiiy  vertical  for  long 
distances,  forming  a  true  cliff'  along  the  upper  rim  of  the  island. 
For  the  most  part  the  rocks  composing  it  show  few  traces  of  coral, 
and  have  been  to  a  great  extent  dolomitized,  as  will  be  described  in 
the  geological  section. 

On  the  south  coast  one  or  other  of  the  upper  inland  cliffs  is 
wanting,  or  rather  the  two  form  a  single  declivity. 

The   Central  Plateau  and  Hills. 

Speaking  generally,  the  whole  of  the  upper  part  of  the  island 
consists  of  a  plain,  sloping  goitly  to  the  south  and  west,  and 
possessing  a  surface  varied  with  shallow  valleys,  rounded  flat- 
topped  hills,  and  low  ridges  and  reefs  of  coral  limestone.  On  the 
northern  and  eastern  sides  the  edge  fonns,  in  most  places,  a  raised 
rim,   bounded  externally  by  a  low  cliff,  below  which  comes  the 


12 


Chrintmas  Inland. 


uppermost  of  the  inland  cliffs  above  described.  In  other  places 
it  passes  into  the  inland  cliif  by  a  more  gentle  slope.  The  actual 
iiiargin  is  usually  marked  by  a  belt  of  limestone  pinnacles  of 
greater  or  less  width.  Another  notable  feature  is  the  occurrence 
on  the  northern  and  eastern  borders  of  several  peculiar  hills,  the 
long  axis  of  which  lies  parallel  to  the  edge  of  the  plateau. 

Of  these  hills  Gaunet  Hill  and  riiosijhate  Hill  (see  Map  and 
Figs.  4  A,  E)  may  be  taken  as  typical.  If  the  former  be  approached 
from  the  westward,  it  will  be  found  that  the  plateau  slopes  very 
gently  up  to  its  foot ;  then  there  is  a  steep  slope,  from  50  to  60  feet 
high,  and  above  this  a  level  surface  from  100  to  200  yards  wide. 
On  the  outer  edge  of  this,  and  rising  abruptly  from  it,  is  a  belt  of 
limestone  pinnacles,  some  of  which  are  more  than  10  feet  high; 


FIGURE    4. 

A 

of  dolofriUi-C  Ui^t-stunfi 

PI, ilea  II 

ofPhoi^hateojlLtn: 

-- 

■~       1  'ij^/icr  inland  cLiff  ) 

\A/ 

'^                     E 

GANNLT     HILL 

B 

HiU.  covered  uUk  UocKs  of  flhosfihale  of 

iirnt 

dolomitic   /wn^'^A'/// 

^^^.^r-^""" 

"^^ — ^/JA/  dsffofhyy-igslone, 

■  rUrrace 

iiutl  of  FtSAjUll. 

' 

p 

w         

PHOSPHATE    HILL 

C 

l)u  diff  oj  dolomiCic  UmesCont 

PUxleau 

'            >'     'n 

'^~\Ui/us  sl4jp.e  to 

'■--^■^p./'i^r  terrace 

NUKIHLK'N    LDGL    0(    PLAFLAU 


beyond  these  is  a  steep  slope  covered  with  a  wild  confusion  of 
blocks  and  pinnacles  of  limestone.  The  top  of  the  hill  is  about 
850  feet  above  the  sea,  while  that  of  the  plateau  within  is  some 
50  feet  lower,  at  least  at  the  northern  end.  Towards  the  south 
the  difference  becomes  less  and  less,  till  the  ridge  completely 
disappears.  The  inland  slope  is  strewn  with  blocks  cf  phosphate 
of  lime,  and  the  whole,  as  far  as  the  belt  of  pinnacles,  is  covered 
with  a  forest  of  lofty  trees  ;  the  outer  slopes  are  clothed  with 
thorny  creepers  and  low  trees. 

Pliosphate  Hill,  which  forms  the  north-eastern  angle  of  the 
plateau,  is  much  more  extensive,  and  in  the  northern  part  at  least 
there  is  no  distinct  belt  of  pinnacles  forming  its  outer  border,  but, 
instead,  a  fairly  gentle  slope,  terminating  in  a  low  limestone  clitf, 
below  which  is  the  level  upper  terrace.  The  whole  of  the  summit, 
as  well  as  the  northern  and  western  flanks  of  this  hill,  is  thickly 


Central  Plateau  and  Hills.  13 

covered  mth  a  bed  of  blocks  of  phosphatic  rock,  which  in  a  few- 
places  can  be  seen  to  rest  on  a  highly  dolomitized  limestone, 
showing  few  or  no  traces  of  organic  structure.  The  whole  of  the 
slopes  and  terraces  below  this  hill  are  thickly  strewn  with  nodules 
of  the  phospliate,  and  fragments  of  this  substance  are  found  enclosed 
in  the  more  recent  limestones  forming  the  lowest  cliffs. 

Another  form  assumed  by  the  raised  rim  of  the  plateau  occurs  on 
the  northern  side  (Fig.  4  C).  Here  it  forms  a  flat  surface  200  or 
300  yards  broad,  on  the  inner  side  of  which  there  is  a  sudden 
drop  of  10-15  feet  to  the  plateau,  forming  a  low  cliff  of  cavernous 
dolomitic  limestone,  which  can  be  traced  some  distance.  On  the 
outer  side  is  a  steep  slope,  covered  with  talus,  leading  down  to  the 
level  upper  terrace.  The  flat  surface  is  similar  to  the  reef  flat  of 
an  atoll,  the  inner  cliff  to  the  sudden  drop  of  two  or  three  fathoms 
which  often  occurs  on  the  lagoon  side  of  the  reef  flat,  and  the 
talus  slope  represents  the  reef  slope  on  the  seaward  side.  Much, 
liowever,  remains  to  be  done  in  the  examination  of  the  limestones 
before  it  can  be  definitely  decided  whether  this  interpretation  of 
the  physical  features  described  is  the  correct  one. 

Here  and  there  on  the  surface  of  the  plateau,  particularly  on  the 
northern  portion,  there  are  groups  of  limestone  pinnacles  of  fan- 
tastic shape,  often  15  feet  or  more  in  height;  these  do  not  usually 
show  many  traces  of  coral  structure,  but  are  largely  composed  of 
fragments  of  branching  Litliothamnion,  Halimcda,  and  many  pieces 
of  Carpenteria,  all  evidences  of  shallow-water  conditions.  In  other 
places  in  the  northern  angle  of  the  plateau,  just  beneath  the  soil, 
and  forming  slight  ridges,  is  a  chalk -like  rock,  showing,  as  a  rule, 
no  trace  of  organic  structure,  but  in  the  centre  of  the  larger  blocks 
there  is  sometimes  a  hard  unaltered  core,  which  contains  delicate 
shelled  foraminifera  and  some  Lithothamnion.  This  rock  was  most 
probably  a  chidky  mud  deposited  in  a  quiet  corner  of  the  lagoon. 
Another  characteristic  feature  of  this  northern  region  is  the 
occurrence  of  rounded  hills,  often  less  than  50  feet  high :  their 
lower  portion  is  a  soil-clad  slope,  and  the  flat-topped  summit  is 
composed  of  much  fissured  limestone,  forming  lines  by  pinnacles 
separated  by  deep  fissures  and  channels.  The  whole  is  covered 
with  tliick  forest. 

Fartlier  south  there  are  two  or  three  ridges  running  in  an 
approximately  cast-and-west  direction  and  having  their  longest 
slope  to  the  south,  so  that  the  plateau  descends  in  that  direction 
to  about  500  feet.  It  seems  not  impossible  that  these  ridges  may, 
in  part  at  least,  represent  the  uppermost  cliff  of  the  northern 
and  eastei'n  sides,  and  that  when  the  sea  stood  at  about  this  level 
the  coast,  or  more  probably  the  submerged  reef  of  the  southern  side 
of  the  island,  formed  a  wide  bay  opening  towards  the  south-west. 
The  southern  slopes  of  these  ridges  are  largely  formed  by  bare 
limestone,  often  full  of  coral,  and  here  and  there,  on  the  level 
also,  there  are  considerable  areas  covered  with  reefs  split  up  into 
pinnacles  of  rock  by  winding  channels  and  deep  fissui'es. 


14  Christinas  Island —  Valleys. 

The  western  flank  of  the  island  differs  considerably  from  the 
north  and  east,  the  upper  cliffs  being  represented  apparently  by 
gentle  slopes,  and  even  the  first  inland  clitf,  except  towards  North- 
West  Point  (Fig.  5)  and  Egeria  Point,  is  less  clearly  defined  than 
elsewhere.  Another  peculiar  feature  is  the  occurrence  of  several 
narrow  dales  or  gorges  running  towards  the  coast  in  a  direction 
a  little  south  of  west.  Some  of  these  cut  down  to  the  sea-level, 
others  open  out  on  the  shore  terrace  (as  above  defined).  In 
several  cases  their  floor  is  formed  by  volcanic  rock,  and  in  the 
wet  season  they  are  traversed  by  a  small  stream  which  descends  to 
the  sea  in  a  succession  of  falls  and  rapids.  At  the  time  of  my  visit 
(October)  there  was  no  water  in  any  of  these  valleys  except  one 
towards  the  north  (see  Map,  Hugh's  Dale);  but  the  rounded  steps 
and  boulders,  both  of  limestone  and  basalt,  show  that  a  considerable 
volume  of  water  must  pass  during  the  rains.  The  surface  of  the 
basalt  is  often  covered  with  a  thick  coat  of  lime  deposited  from 
the  water.  Some  of  the  falls  are  of  considerable  size ;  one  in 
Sidney's  Dale,  formed  by  the  edge  of  a  bed  of  basalt,  is  40  feet 
high  by  about  30  broad. 

The  cliffs  shutting  in  the  valley  are  sometimes  50  to  60  feet 
high.  They  are  generally  much  more  developed  on  one  side  than 
the  other ;  and  on  the  northern  side  there  may  be  merely  a  steep 
slope,  while  on  the  southern  there  is  a  vertical  cliff.  The  mode 
of  formation  of  these  valleys  will  be  considered  in  the  geological 
section,  but  it  may  be  here  mentioned  that  although  water  has 
no  doubt  helped  to  deepen  them — and  in  the  case  of  those  which 
reach  the  sea,  has  cut  through  the  shore  terrace  and  sea  cliff — 
they  do  not  appear  to  owe  their  origin  to  this  agency. 

From  time  to  time  a  good  deal  of  slipping  and  faulting  has 
taken  place  round  the  flanks  of  the  island,  and  in  some  localities 
has  been  so  extensive  as  to  materially  modify  the  arrangement  of 
the  inland  clifi's  and  terraces. 

Perhaps  the  most  extensive  of  the  slips  that  have  taken  place  is 
on  the  east  coast  a  little  south  of  North-East  Point  and  beneath 
the  eastern  sIojdcs  of  Phosphate  Hill.  Here  for  some  distance  the 
first  and  second  inland  cliffs,  or  the  slopes  representing  them,  are 
interrupted  by  a  precipice,  the  upper  edge  of  which  is  from  five 
to  six  hundred  feet  above  the  sea-level  ;  the  lower  third  or  so  is 
covered  with  a  talus  of  immense  blocks  of  limestone.  This  cliff' 
seems  to  be  the  result  of  the  slipping  down  of  an  outer  portion 
of  the  island,  extending  inland  nearly  as  far  as  the  cliff  spoken  of 
above  as  the  third  inland  cliff.  This  movement  must  have  taken 
place  before  the  elevation  which  gave  rise  to  the  present  shore 
terrace  and  sea  cliff,  since  these  are  continuous  with  tho^^e  to  the 
north  and  south,  and  can  be  seen  to  consist,  here  as  elsewhere,  of 
a  raised  fringing  reef,  which  has  here  grown  out  upon  the  foot  of 
the  talus  slope  above  mentioned,  and  sometimes  has  included  f'illen 
blocks  within  itself. 

JNorth    of   the  high    cliff   just   noticed   the  first  inland  cliff  is 


FIG.  5.-NORTH-WEST  POINT  FROM  THE  NORTH. 


FIG.  6.  -STEEP  POINT  FROM  THE  NORTH. 


10  C/iris/))iii!<  Lsfdiid — Cores. 

rt'sumi'd  ;  lull  it.  is  dl'  t\  (liU'tM-cnl  cliiirjiclcr  I'lom  llinl  ruiiiul  cIsowluM'c 
(HI  I  lie  iimili  iiud  (Mist,  const,  iiiul  consists  ol'  MiortMic  liiiu'stoiu^s.  It 
siH'iiis  pi'olinltli"  tliiil  this  clill'  lik(>\vis('  is  tlu"  result,  of  n  slippiiij; 
down  of  lli(>  scawiird  portions  of  I  ho  ishmd,  mid  on  tho  lornico 
id>ovi<  it  thoi'o  iii'o  sovoiiil  lidgcs  lUMikiii;;'  siniihil"  slips  of  loss  oxtiMit. 
Tlio  dill'  1)11  tho  soiilhi'i'ii  sid(>  of  tiit*  hoiidlaiid  (d'  Ki>(>riii  Point, 
shows  sifi'iis  (d"  !i  siiiiihir  orij^iii,  mid  thoro  it,  oiin  ht>  tdcnrly  sm<n 
tluit  a  nninluM'  of  minor  slips  liiivo  oi-ourrcd,  j!,'ivinji;  vise  to  sovovnl 
wnnill  viM'tii'id  (dill's  \vhi(d\  do  not  (Extend  iiiiy  }»-r('nt  distmico  mid 
()(M>ur  lit.  dill't'ii'iit  l('V(ds ;  th(>v  aro  all  sitnntiul  nbovo  tho  iniiiii 
(diir  l'ii('(\ 

Altlioni;h,  as  alroady  stated,  tlio  main  slippiiii;'  occurnHl  lud'oro 
lli(>  (dt>\alion  of  tho  pr(-s(Md  shon>  torra('(\  similar  movcnuaits  td' 
snuiU  (>\t(Mit  ha\o  tak(>n  plai't>  siiico,  and  at  North-Kast  Point  itself 
a  distimt  fault,  with  ji  throw  of  ahont  live  U'vi,  (Mils  aen.fis  tho 
slu)r(>  t(MTaee  and  runs  out  to  s(>a  in  a  north-(*ast(>rly  direction. 

At  St(>(>p  Point  (^Imj;'.  ('■>)  a  dislocation  of  a  soiiu>wliat.  dill'iMHMit 
cliarai't(M'  has  occuitimI.  TIum-i"  littl(>  downward  displacenient  has 
tak(>n  plac(>,  hut  th(>  proj(>clin;<' anj;h>  of  tluMsland  wliicli  forms  tho 
headland  has  split  away  from  lli(>  main  mass  and  lilt(Ml  slight ly 
outward  in  siudi  a  way  that  it  is  s(>par;d('d  from  the  main  mass  of 
tho  island  by  a  narrow  \allt>y.  'The  result  id'  this  is  (hat  at  the 
Point  the  shor(>  t(>rrac(>  is  int(M'rupled  fiu-  some  distance,  .and  tli(> 
S(>a  washes  the  has(>  id'  what  is  (dsew  her(>  the  lirst  inland  (dilf,  but 
\vhi(di  luM'o  forms  a  tine  luvidland,  w  ilh  a  V(>rlical  (dilf  S(«no  150  to 
200  \W\  liii;h.  This  dislocation  also  took  ])lac(>  b(d'or(>  the  (d(n'alion 
of  {ho  ]>r(>s(Mit  shore  t('rrac(\  and  tiuM'(>  is  solium  evid(>nc(*  that  tlu* 
bottom  of  tlu>  narrow  \alley.  nuirkiiii;'  tli(>  liiu*  of  fracture,  was  for 
;i  tim(\  at  l(>ast  in  part,  lill(>d  with  \\at(>r,  and  Steep  Point  Hill 
must  tlitMi  have  formed  a  small  island,  or  was  ])erhaps  joined  to 
tli(^  mainland  by  a  small  isthmus  formed  by  talus. 

|{(>sides  Ste(>p  Point.  Klyins;'  Kish  Oovo  is  tlu*  only  plac(>  nmnd 
the  island  wlii>r(>  the  shon^  tcrrac(^  is  interrupt (>d,  and  h(>r(>  also  this 
S(MMns  to  liav(<  b(>en  the  ri^snlt  of  tlu*  slippinj;'  of  th(>  (Uiter  i>ortion 
of  the  lofty  (dill',  Iml  in  this  cas(>  the  talus  has  accumulated  in  siudi 
a  way  as  to  form  tlu"  I'oundation  id'  the  cn^scent  slia|>ed  platform  on 
wlii(d\  th(>  S(dtleiu(ait  stands,  and  to  make  tli(>  submarim>  slop(\s 
sullici(Mitly  ^i'(>ntl(»  to  allow  the  fairly  broad  frinn'iiifj;  rind'  to  j;row 
outward,  siivint;'  ris(>  to  the  ]>r(>s(Mit  an(dior;i,i'(>.  '[Mu>  structure  of 
.Flyinn'  Fish  (\ivewill  b(Ml(>scribed  in  iir(\d(>r  detail  in  th(\ii(H>l(\i;'ical 
soction. 

(""liu  kins>;  and  slipiniii!;  of  (ho  ont(>r  llanks  of  tho  island  may  bo 
said  to  ho  nniv(>rsal.  and  in  the  lUMi^libiuirlKHvl  of  Klyiuii'  Kish  (\n'o 
both  the  s(>a  (dill'  and  (>V(>ii  Ihepn-seut  rcv\'  can  iu>  s(H>n  to  ho  lissunnl 
by  cra(d\S,  tracoable  for  soY(M"al  liuudrtHl  yards  and  runuiiii;'  rouuhly 
panilhd  t(>  th(>  coastlimv  This  circumstanc(>  u,'iv(\s  a  key  to  many 
p(>culiar,  and  at  lirst  incompreluaisihle,  features  on  some  (d'  the 
iiiglior  terraces. 


Clhnate  and  McU'oroloijij.  17 


Climate. 


The  climate  of  ChnHtiiias  fwland  in  both  phjasnnt  anfl  healthy, 
Duriri;^  tho  ^roator  pait  of  tlio  y«;jir  Uk;  wouthor  in  iriiicli  like  that 
oi'  u  hot,  'liy,  j'^rif^iihh  hiiiuifier,  teiiip<:n;'l  nearly  ulwayn  hy  a 
Hteady  »ea-hree;{e  from  the  K.H.E,,  which  Ih  generally  fairly  cool, 
ari'l  kreps  the  t«;nijjeraturr;  very  even  <lay  an'l  nif.^ht.  'J'lie 
luaxiMiiiiii  t«;mpejatiire  (in  the  Khiwle)  recorded  during  my  htay  wan 
89'-'  Fahr.  on  November  20th  ;  the  minimum  ''night)  wan  70^'  Fahr. 
on  February  l.'itli,  wlien  it  wan  raining  heavily,  The  great<*Ht 
range  in  twenty-four  hourH  was  \\'\  The  average  daily  maximum 
and  minimum  may  be  taken  an  about  84'^  Fahr.  and  7.0'  Fahr. 
rcHpectively,  the  former  occurring  an  hour  or  two  aft<5r  midfhiy,  the 
latter  shortly  befon;  hunrisf;.  The  averagt;  t<;mj;erature  of  the 
Hurface  of  the  nea,  rleduced  from  weveral  obHOvationH,  is  about  K'>''. 

The  prevalent  wind  iu  the  S,F,,  or  rather  K.B.P!.,  tra/le-wind, 
■which  blowH  the  greater  pari  of  the  year  (about  .'500  dayH  or/  an 
average).  From  ilay  to  December  it  i»  almoKt  uninterrupted,  but 
during  the  earlier  montliH  of  the  year,  which  are  the  rainy  ya'/omdw. 
in  tlie  inland,  the  wind  occaKionally  hhiftH  round  to  the  X.  and  N,K,, 
and  w^metimcH  blowH  hard  froni  then*;  directiouH,  accom[ianied  by 
heavy  rains.  At  such  times  Flying  Fish  Cove,  which  during  the 
prevalence  of  the  tra/le-wind  f'orniH  a  8heltere<l  anchorage,  \m> 
exposed  t^j  a  heavy  sea,  which  breaks  on  the  reef  with  great 
violence,  the  sjjray  filling  the  whole  valley  and  drifting  \\\>  the 
high  cliff  like  smoke.  The  beach  is  piled  up  till  it  is  nearly 
vertical,  and  at  high  tide  a  little  water  is  sometimes  spilled  over 
its  edge  ou  in  the  platform  behind.  DiiHng  these  peri'^ls  many 
birds  of  passage,  such  as  wagtails,  whimbn,-!,  swallows,  etc,,  reach 
the  island,  often  in  a  very  exhaiist^;d  condition,  and  several  new 
kinds  of  moths  and  butt/;rfiies,  not  w-en  at  other  times,  ^i:,\i: 
obtained.  Even  if  the  northerly  wind  only  lasts  a  few  hours 
swanns  of  dragon-flies  nearly  always  arrive  ;  after  two  or  three 
weeks  they  disappear  again. 

Except  for  showers  at  night  on  the  higher  parts  of  the  i«lan/I, 
almost  the  whole  rainfall  occurs  from  December  \/i  ifay  inclusive  ; 
during  these  months  there  are  s^^metimes  he-avy  downpours  lasting 
Wjveral  'lays,  but  as  a  rule  the  rnojnings  are  fine.  At  thes<;  times 
the  rain  nearly  always  comes  when  the  wind  shifts  round  t^^wards 
the  north.  In  the*  dry  seawm  f  May-December;  the  vegetation  is 
kept  fresh  by  very  heavy  dews  and  occasional  showers  at  night, 
Thew;  Uttt^-T  oft^>'n  occur  on  the  uphmrls  of  the  island,  and  seem 
t^>  be  caused  by  the  chilling  of  the  E.S.E.  wind,  which  results  in 
the  formation  of  clouds  over  the  high  land. 

The  raet<;orological  peculiarities  of  the  island  no  doubt  depend  on 
its  situation  close  Xjh  the  s<^^uthem  limit  of  the  raonK<^»on,  From 
towards  the  end  of  the  year  till  ^lay  the  northern  horizon  is  nearly 
always  marked  by  a  cloud-bank,  even  when  the  tra/ie-wind  is 
blowing  on  the  island,  and,  as  shown  above,  it  b  only  occasionally 


18  Christmas  Island— The  Soil. 

that  the  N.  and  N.E.  wind  extends  as  far  south  as  the  island, 
bringing  with  it  unsettled  weather. 

Unfortunately  no  rain- gauge  ^  was  taken,  so  that  accurate 
measurements  of  the  rainfall  were  not  made ;  but  the  luxuriance 
of  the  vegetation  over  the  whole  island,  the  fact  that  under  fallen 
logs  the  soil  is  generally  moist,  and  the  presence  of  perennial 
springs  on  the  east  coast,  are  sufficient  evidences  that  the  amount  is 
large.  Owing  to  the  porous  nature  of  the  limestones  and  the 
depth  of  the  soil,  there  is  a  complete  absence  of  standing  water 
and  of  marshy  ground,  except  close  to  the  small  stream  on  the  east 
coast ;  and  though,  no  doubt,  it  is  to  this  circumstance  that  the 
island  owes  its  extreme  healthiness,  still  the  lack  of  easily 
accessible  water  on  the  higher  ground  is  a  drawback  which  has 
to  be  reckoned  with.  Wherever  water  is  found  it  is  held  up  by 
the  volcanic  rock,  and  since  in  many  places  this  occurs  at  no  great 
depth,  borings  will  probably  give  an  abundant  supply  without 
much  difficulty. 

The  Soil. 

The  soil  which  covers  the  greater  part  of  the  terraces  and 
plateau,  with  the  exception  of  the  areas  occupied  by  the  reefs  and 
groups  of  pinnacles  described  above,  is  a  rich  brown  loam,  often 
strewn  with  nodules  of  phosphate  and  here  and  there  with  frag- 
ments of  volcanic  rock.  One  of  the  most  notable  features  about 
the  island  is  the  great  depth  to  which,  in  many  places,  the  soil 
extends.  For  instance,  near  the  northern  angle  of  the  plateau 
Mr.  Ross  sank  a  well  nearly  forty  feet  without  reaching  the  bed 
rock,  and  even  on  the  shore  terrace  near  Flying  Fish  Cove  a  shaft 
some  fifteen  feet  deep  was  entirely  in  soil  in  which  some  blocks  of 
limestone  were  embedded.  Eeef  s  of  bare  limestone  may  occur  quite 
close  to  such  places,  and  it  appears  therefore  that  the  soil  fills  great 
inequalities  in  the  surface  of  the  island.  It  seems  impossible  that 
a  soil  so  abundant  can  have  resulted  merely  from  the  disintegration 
of  limestone  and  the  decay  of  vegetation,  and  no  doubt  it  is  to  a 
considerable  extent  the  product  of  the  decomposition  of  volcanic 
rock  which  must  have  been  exposed  in  many  places  on  the  higher 
land,  either  in  consequence  of  the  incompleteness  of  the  limestone 
covering  of  the  volcanic  basis  of  the  island,  or  through  the  removal 
of  portions  of  that  covering  through  denudation,  or  possibly  in  a 
few  cases  through  the  extrusion  of  volcanic  material  in  the  form 
of  lava-flows  or  tufP  beds. 


^  In  Colonial  Report  No.  257  on  tlie  Cocos-Keelinjj  and  Christmas  Islands, 
paragraph  35,  it  is  stated  that  owing  to  injuries  received  bj-  the  meteorological 
instruments  while  in  my  hands,  Mr.  A.  Ross  had  been  unable  to  keep  the  records 
for  the  previous  year.  This  is  inaccurate.  The  thermometer  by  means  of  which 
Mr.  Ross  recorded  the  temperatures  in  former  years  was  never  in  my  hands,  and, 
except  perhaps  a  small  pocket  aneroid,  there  were  not,  to  my  knowledge,  any 
other  meteorological  instruments  on  the  island. 


The  In/iabifatih.  19 

It  "will  be  necessary  in  the  future  to  exercise  considerable  care 
both  in  the  clearing  of  the  forest  and  in  the  introduction  of  animals, 
such  as  pigs  and  goats,  likely  to  lead  to  its  destruction,  for  if 
the  disafforesting  of  the  island  "were  carried  out  to  any  very  great 
extent  the  rainfall  would  be  at  once  reduced,  and  there  would  be 
danger  lest  the  torrential  downpours  of  the  wet  season  should  lead 
to  the  gradual  removal  of  much  of  the  soil  left  unprotected  by 
vegetation. 


Inhalitants  a7id  Present  Condition  of  the  Island. 

At  the  time  of  the  visit  of  H.M.S.  "  Egcria  "  (Captain  Aldrich), 
in  1887,  the  island  was  found  to  be  entirely  uninhabited,  and 
there  was  no  indication  that  it  had  ever  been  occupied.  A  few 
ships,  probably  whalers,  seemed  to  have  touched  at  Flying  Fish 
Cove,  for  some  of  the  large  trees  had  letters  cut  on  them  [3], 
and  Mr.  Andrew  Clunies  Ross  told  me  that  there  was  a  report 
current  in  Batavia  that  some  thirty  years  ago  five  men  of 
a  Dutch  vessel  were  cast  away  on  the  south-east  coast,  where 
they  remained  for  several  months.  One  of  the  party  is  said  to 
have  died,  and  the  others  were  at  last  rescued  by  a  Dutch  ship. 
Captain  Maclear  also  mentions  [3]  that  one  of  his  officers  heard 
a  similar  report. 

Towards  the  end  of  1887  the  rocks  collected  during  the  visit 
of  H. M.S.  "Egeria"  were  submitted  to  Dr.  (now  Sir  John) 
MuiTay  for  examination,  and  he  detected  among  the  specimens 
from  the  higher  parts  of  the  island  some  which  consisted  of  nearly 
pure  phosphate  of  lime ;  it  is  to  this  discovery  that  the  island  OAves 
its  further  development. 

Early  in  1888  Dr.  Murray  sent  Dr.  H.  B.  Gruppy  to  explore  the 
island  and  work  out  its  structure.  He  went  to  Batavia,  and  thence 
paid  a  visit  to  the  Cocos-Keeling  Islands,  of  which  he  has  given 
a  valuable  account ;  ^  but  as  far  as  Christmas  Island  was  concerned 
the  expedition  miscarried,  and  he  returned  to  England  in  February, 
1889,  without  having  reached  it. 

In  the  meanwhile  Sir  John  Murray  had  given  such  information 
to  the  Government  as  led  to  the  annexation  of  the  island  in  June, 
1888,  as  already  mentioned  above  (p.  2),  and  in  November  of  the 
same  year  a  settlement  was  established  at  Flying  Fish  Cove  by 
Mr.  G.  Clunies  Boss,  of  Cocos-Keeling  Island,  and  since  that  date 
this  gentleman's  brother,  Mr.  Ancbcw  Clunies  Boss,  with  his 
familj-  and  a  few  Cocos-Island  Malays,  have  resided  there  almost 
continuously.  By  them  houses  were  built,  wells  were  dug,  and 
small  clearings  for  planting  coffee,  coconut-palms,  bananas,  and 
other  plants  were  made  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Flying  Fish  Cove. 


^  Scottish  Geographical  Magazine,  vol.  v  (1889),  pp.  281,  457,  569. 


20  Christmas  Island. 

In  February,  1891,  Sir  John  Murray  and  Mr.  G.  Clunies  Eoss 
"were  granted  a  lease  of  the  island  by  the  British  Government,  and 
in  1895-6  Mr.  Sidney  Clunies  Ross  made  explorations  in  the  higher 
part  of  the  island,  resulting  in  the  discovery  of  large  deposits  of 
phosphate  of  lime.  Finally,  in  1897  the  leaseholders  sold  their 
lease  to  a  small  company,  in  the  possession  of  which  the  island  still 
remains. 

During  my  visit  a  number  of  Malay  coolies  were  imported  to 
clear  the  forest  for  making  roads.  One  of  these  roads  was  made 
from  Flymg  Fish  Cove  to  the  east  coast,  another  to  Phosj)hate 
Hill,  and  a  third  from  West  White  Beach  to  the  west  and  south 
coast,  and  by  these  the  fiirther  exploration  of  the  island  was  much 
facilitated.  Another  result  of  these  clearings  is  that  the  spread 
of  various  plants  introduced  for  food  is  rendered  much  more  rapid, 
and  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  settlement  several  species  have 
already  run  wild  and  are  entering  into  competition  with  the  native 
flora.  The  most  successful  of  these  newly  introduced  species  are 
the  'chillie,'  which  already  forms  dense  masses  on  the  shore 
terrace  near  Flying  Fish  Cove,  and  the  papaia,  seedlings  of  which 
are  very  numerous  in  the  same  localitj',  and  were  also  noticed  here 
and  there  along  the  Phosphate  Hill  and  south-east  roads.  In 
both  these  instances  man,  no  doubt,  has  been  mainly  responsible 
for  the  disj)ersal  of  the  seeds,  but  in  the  case  of  the  chillies  birds 
have  probably  assisted.  Other  plants  will  certainly  follow,  and 
in  a  few  years  a  number  will  have  established  themselves  at  the 
expense  of  the  native  flora. 

Since  my  stay  in  the  island  nearly  two  hundred  Chinese  have 
been  imported,  and  the  presence  of  these  men  will  doubtless  lead  to 
the  introduction  and  dispersal  of  other  sjjecies  of  plants  and  animals, 
and  at  the  same  time,  judging  from  recent  reports,  it  will  bring 
about  a  very  considerable  reduction  in  the  numbers  of  the  rats. 

In  addition  to  the  Malaj's  and  Chinese,  there  are  now  on  the 
island  eight  Europeans  (including  the  wife  and  two  childi-en  of 
Mr.  W.  A.  "Wilkinson,  the  Company's  engineer)  and  five  Sikh 
police. 

At  present  the  chief  plants  introduced  include  coconut-palm, 
date-palm,  bamboo,  sugar-cane,  banana,  pineapple,  pomegranate,, 
papaia,  nutmeg,  cacao,  coffee,  chillies,  custard- apple,  pumpkins, 
gourds,  maize,  tobacco.  Cassia  siamea,  and  jjrobably  several  others. 
Of  some  of  these  only  a  few  plants  exist,  and  some  no  doubt  will 
prove  unsuitable  to  the  new  conditions  of  life. 

Scarcely  any  domestic  animals  have  been  j-et  introduced.  There 
are  a  few  ducks  and  fowls,  a  number  of  dogs,  necessary-  to  keep 
down  the  rats  in  the  settlement,  a  goat,  and  one  or  two  pigs.  The 
cat  fortunately  has  not  been  taken  to  the  island,  and  its  intro- 
duction should  certainly  be  avoided,  for  if  it  were  to  increase  to  any 
great  extent  the  sea-birds,  which  are  an  important  source  of  food, 
would  probably  be  destroyed  or  their  numbers  greatly  diminished. 
At   present   neither   the   jS^orway   rat  nor  the    hoiise  -  mouse   has- 


Imported  Animals.  21 

reached  the  island  ;  but  ^vhen  hirge  ships  call  at  the  island  and 
stay  there  for  some  time,  the  arrival  of  these  animals  is  inevitable. 
Probably  a  few  insects,  arachnids,  and  myriopods  may  have  come 
from  the  Cocos-Keeling  Islands  and  Java  in  Mr.  Eoss's  vessels,  and, 
in  fact,  I  have  seen  two  or  three  large  centipedes  which  arrived  in 
coconut-leaves  which  were  imported  for  thatching.  The  number 
of  forms  thus  introduced  must,  however,  bo  verj-  small,  since  the 
visits  of  these  vessels  only  occur  at  intervals  of  several  months. 

It  seems  advisable  to  give  these  details  as  to  the  present  condition 
of  the  island,  because,  although  they  are  unimportant  in  themselves, 
they  may  be  of  considerable  interest  if  the  locality  be  again  examined 
a  few  years  hence. 


CHRISTMAS    ISLAND. 


ZOOLOGY. 


MAMMALIA. 

By  C.  W.  Andrews,  B.Sc,  P.Z.S. 

As  might  be  expected  in  an  oceanic  island,  the  mammals  are 
both  few  in  number  and  of  small  size.  The  collections  brought 
back  by  the  officers  of  HJI.S.  "Flying  Fish"  and  by  Mr.  Lister 
included  two  species  of  rat  {Mus  macleari  and  M.  nativitatis), 
a  large  fruit-bat  {Pteropus  natalis),  and  a  shrew  {Crocidura 
fuliginosa^  var.  trichura) ;  a  small  insectivorous  bat  was  seen, 
but  no  specimens  were  obtained.  Unfortimately  no  additions 
have  been  made  to  this  list,  but  further  information  as  to  the 
habits  and  other  points  of  interest  have  been  obtained,  and  the 
small  bat  is  now  described  for  the  first  time. 

The  conditions  of  life  are  apparently  extremely  favourable,  food 
being  always  abundant,  and  the  hawk  and  owl,  which  are  the  only 
possible  enemies,  feeding  mainly  on  birds  and  insects.  The  con- 
sequence of  this  is  that  all  the  species  of  mammals  are  extremely 
common,  and  the  individuals  are  always  exceedingly  fat.  Perhaps 
Mus  nativitatis,  the  bull-dog  rat  as  the  Cocos  Islanders  have 
named  it,  is  the  least  numerous,  probably  because  of  some 
competition  with  the  much  more  active  and  versatile  M.  macleari., 
but  most  specimens  of  31.  nativitatis  have  a  layer  of  fat  fi'om  half 
to  three-quarters  of  an  inch  thick  over  most  of  the  dorsal  surface 
of  the  body.  The  fruit-bats  are  likewise  invariably  in  remarkably 
good  condition,  and  considerable  quantities  of  oil  can  be  obtained 
fi'om  them. 

"With  the  exception  of  the  small  bat,  all  the  species  have  been 
described  by  Mr.  0.  Thomas  in  two  papers^  dealing  with  the 
collections  made  by  the  officers  of  H.M.S.  "  Flying  Fish  "  and 
hj  Mr.  J.  J.  Lister.  His  descriptions  will  be  here  reprinted,  with 
such  additions  as  the  increased  material  renders  possible  and  with 
some  notes  on  the  habits  of  the  several  species. 


1  P.Z.S.,  1887,  pp.  511-514,  pis.  ili,  ilii ;  and  1888,  pp.  532-534. 


Mammalia. 


23 


1.   Pteropus  natalis,  Thomas.     (Plate  I.) 

P.Z.S.,  1887,  p.  511. 

Mr.  Thomas's  description  of  this  species,  founded  upon  two  adult 
females  and  a  new-born  male,  is  given  below  : — 

"Colour  (?)  uniformly  deep  shining  -  black  all  over,  the  only 
variation  in  tone  being  that  while  the  head  is  absolutely  black 
there  is  a  faint  brownish  tinge  in  the  fur  of  the  body.  Fur  thick, 
soft,  woolly,  more  so,  of  course,  upon  the  head  and  neck  than  on 
the  back,  "but  nowhere  really  straight;  on  the  fore  limbs  above 
it  extends  along  the  humerus,  and  thinly  along  the  proximal  half 
of  the  foreann ;  on  the  back  its  least  breadth  is  about  2^  inches  ; 
on  the  hind  limbs  it  extends  thinly  to  about  half-way  down  the 
tibia.  Below,  the  humerus,  proximal  half  of  foreai-ms,  hind  limbs 
to  just  below  the  knee,  and  wing  membranes  between  the  body  and 


Fig.  7. — Skull  and  Mandible  of  Pteropus  natalis,  showing  dentition. 

Natural  size. 

a  line  drawn  from  the  centre  of  the  forearm  to  the  knee,  are  all 
thinly  clothed  with  scattered  woolly  black  hairs.  Muzzle  broad 
and  obtuse.  Ears  rather  short ;  laid  forward,  they  barely  reach 
to  the  posterior  canthus  of  the  eye  ;  their  anterior  edges  evenly  biit 
slightly  convex,  their  tips  pointed  or  narrowly  rounded  off,  their 
outer  margins  straight  or  faintly  concave  for  their  upper  half, 
markedly  convex  for  their  lower;  their  basal  half  thinly  hairy 
internally;  their  distal  half  quite  naked,  black.  "Wings  arising 
on  the  back  about  an  inch  apart.  Intcrfemoral  membrane  narrow, 
(][uitc  hidden  in  the  fur. 

"  Teeth,  especially  the  canines,  small  and  short.     Tipper  incisors, 
forming  an  evenly  curved  series,  touching  one  another,  their  total 


24  Chrisimas  Island. 

breadth  5  mm.  Canines  short,  5  mm.  from  cinguhim  to  tip  behind, 
thin,  and  acutely  pointed  ;  their  postero  -  internal  basal  ledge 
proportionally  rather  broad.  Anterior  premolars  minute  or  absent. 
Posterior  premolars  and  first  molar  short,  evenly  oval  in  section ; 
the  surface  of  the  molars  and  last  premolar  singularly  smooth  and 
rounded ;  the  cusps  but  little  developed,  and  merely  consisting 
of  low  rounded  ridges  ;  last  molar  circular  in  section,  rather  larger 
than  one  of  the  outer  incisors,  about  1"5  mm.  in  diameter. 

"Lower  incisors  small,  separated  in  the  centre,  the  inner  about 
half  the  size  of  the  outer,  the  combined  diameters  of  those  of  each 
side  2  mm.  Canines  proportionally  still  shorter  than  in  the  upper 
jaw,  3"5  mm.  from  cingulum  to  tip  behind  ;  their  basal  ledge  broad. 
Anterior  premolar  very  large,  nearly  filling  up  the  space  between 
the  canine  and  second  premolar,  its  size  in  cross  section  nearly 
equal  to  that  of  the  canine.  Molars  smooth  and  rounded,  as  in 
the  upper  jaw.  Last  molar  in  section  about  one-third  the  size 
of  the  anterior  premolar,  and  three  -  quarters  that  of  the  last 
upper  molar. 

"  Dimensions  of  the  type,  specimen  «,  an  adult  female  in  spirit : 
Head  and  body,  210  mm. ;  head,  61  ;  muzzle,  22  ;  ear,  above  crown, 
26  ;  from  notch  at  base,  28;  forearm,  127  (  =  5'0  inches) ;  thumb, 
without  claw,  43;  index  finger,  90;  tibia,  62;  calcaneum,  21. 

"  Skull :  Basal  length,  52  mm.  ;  greatest  breadth,  30  ;  supra- 
orbital foramen  to  tip  of  nasals,  24*5  ;  interorbital  breadth,  6-5 ; 
intertemporal  breadth,  5'0  ;  breadth  from  tip  to  tip  of  postorbital 
processes,  19-1  ;  palate,  length  32,  breadth  outside  first  molar  16'0  ; 
length  of  first  molar  5'0. 

"It  is  unfortunate  that  of  this  new  species  the  only  specimens 
of  any  use  for  description  are  females,  since  it  might  happen  that, 
as  is  sometimes  the  case  in  Pt.  nicoharicus,  while  the  females  are 
wholly  black,  the  males  have  the  usual  yellow  or  orange  tippet. 
It  is  therefore  much  to  be  hoped  that  male  specimens  will  soon  be 
obtained  and  the  point  settled.  In  any  case,  however,  Pt.  natalis 
is  a  very  well-marked  species.  From  Pt.  nicoharicus  it  may  be 
distinguished  by  its  much  smaller  size  and  smaller,  shorter  molars, 
and  especially  by  its  much  shorter  and  feebler  canines,  the  latter 
character,  in  fact,  distinguishing  it  from  all  the  other  allied  sjiecies 
except  Pt.  lomhocensis.  Pt.  pselaphon,  another  woolly -black  species 
of  about  the  same  size,  a  native  of  Benin,  may  be  separated  at 
once  by  its  hairj^  legs,  the  hind  limbs  being  closely  haired  right 
down  to  the  feet.  Pt.  gouldi,  also  generally  black,  has  a  forearm 
165  mm.  long,  and  has  also  large  teeth  and  long  canines  bearing 
no  resemblance  to  those  of  the  present  species. 

"  On  the  whole  Pt.  natalis  seems  to  be  most  nearly  allied  to 
Pt.  lonibocensis,  Dobs.,^  as  yet  only  known  from  Lombock,  which 


1  Cat.  Chir.  B.M.,  p.  34  (1878). 


Mammalia.  25 

also  has  similarly  short  canines,  and  is  of  about  the  same  size. 
That  animal,  however,  is  of  a  dull  light-brown  colour,  -with  the 
neck  pale  yellow.  Its  teeth,  especially  the  anterior  molar,  are 
nan'ower  and  lighter  than  those  of  Pt.  melas  ;  the  first  lower  pre- 
molar and  the  last  molars  both  above  and  below  are  much  smaller, 
and  the  basal  ledges  to  the  canines  are  decidedly  narrower  than  in 
Pt.  natalis.  In  the  skull,  again,  Pt.  hmhocensis  has  a  shorter, 
broader  muzzle,  greater  spread  of  zygomata,  broader  interorbital 
space,  and  larger  postorbital  processes  than  the  present  species. 
Of  course,  in  comparing  the  colours  of  these  two  species  the 
question  of  sex  again  arises,  as  the  only  known  specimens  of 
Pt.  lomlocemis  are  both  males ;  but  considering  not  only  the 
differences  in  the  skull  and  teeth,  but  also  the  fact  that  CA'cn 
if  the  male  of  Pt.  natalis  have  a  yellow  tippet,  it  would  in  all 
probabilitj'  have  at  least  its  head  and  body  jet-black,  like  the 
female,  I  should  certainly  not  be  justified  in  assigning  the  Christmas 
Island  specimens  to  Pt.  hmhocensis.  It  should  also  be  noticed  that 
the  little  hair  that  has  appeared  on  the  crown  and  between  the 
shoulders  of  specimen  c,  a  newborn  male,  is  Tvoolh'  black  ;  its  neck 
is  unfortunately  still  entirely  naked." 

The  above  description  was  founded  upon  female  specimens. 
In  some  males,  probabh'  old  individuals,  there  is  a  distinct  trace 
of  the  tippet,  in  the  shape  of  a  band  of  brownish  fur  most 
conspicuous  on  the  sides  of  the  neck  and  narrowing  towards  tlie 
middle  of  the  back,  where  it  is  internipted  by  a  strip  of  black  fur 
like  that  covering  the  rest  of  the  body.  Scattered  through  the 
fur  there  are  a  few  white  hairs  or  white  banded  with  brown.  The 
fur  of  the  lumbar  region  is  smooth  and  straight. 

This  species  is  vcrj-  common  all  over  the  island,  and  at  the 
settlement  causes  great  destruction  of  fruit,  particularly  of  papaias 
and  bananas.  When  the  wild  fruits  are  ripe  comparatively  few 
of  these  bats  visit  the  gardens,  but  great  numbers  may  be  seen 
feeding  in  the  forest.  The  wild  fruits  to  which  they  are  most 
destructive  seem  to  be  those  of  the  '  Saoh '  {Sideroxylon)  and  the 
'  Gatet '  [Tnocarpiis). 

One  remarkable  point  about  this  species  is,  that  it  has  to  a  very 
great  extent  abandoned  the  nocturnal  habits  usual  in  the  group. 
Several  might  often  be  seen  sailing  and  circling  high  in  the  air  in 
the  hot  sunlight,  sometimes  even  at  midday,  and  I  have  also 
frequently  seen  them  feeding  in  the  daytime.^  The  ciy  is  a  very 
loud,  harsh  screech,  apparently  uttered  both  during  the  inspiration 
as  well  as  the  expiration  of  the  breath.     At  the  end  of  July  I  shot 


^  Macgillivray  has  recorded  that  on  Fitzroy  Island  he  saw  great  numbers  of 
Pteropus  conspicillatus  flying  in  bright  daylight.  (Voyage  of  the  "  llattlesnake," 
vol.  i,  p.  96.) 


26  Christmas  Island. 

a  female  carrj-ing  a  well-grown  young  one,  but  was  never  able  to 
obtain  another  specimen  in  this  condition.  Towards  the  end  of 
December  several  foetal  specimens,  some  near  the  term,  were 
obtained.  At  this  season  most  of  the  females  seem  to  live  in  the 
deeper  parts  of  the  forest,  and  nine  out  of  ten  of  the  specimens 
killed  near  the  settlement  were  males.  Shortly  afterwards  these 
also  began  to  disappear,  and  it  was  not  till  March  that  they  again 
became  numerous  in  the  clearings.  At  this  time  a  dead  tree  near 
the  east  coast  was  seen  covered  with  hundreds  of  these  bats,  but 
a  week  or  two  afterw^ards  they  had  completelj'  forsaken  it. 

Measurements  of  specimens  in  the  present  collection  arc  given 
below  : — 


Head  and  Bod)'. 

Hind-foot. 

Ear. 

s 

190 

ram. 

37 

mm. 

28  mm, 

cf 

198 

38 

99 

$ 

180 

36 

27  „ 

6 

170 

40 

28  „ 

? 

187 

35 

26  „ 

? 

180 

32 

.    25  „ 

? 

1G7 

36 

.    25  „ 

? 

193 

35 

25  ,, 

? 

180 

35 

.    26  „ 

2.   Pipistrellus  murrayi,  sp.n. 

Muzzle  obtuse,  but  less  so  than  in  P.  ahramus;  the  glandular 
prominences  rather  well  marked. 

Ears  triangular,  with  broadly  rounded  tips,  relatively  longer  and 
narrower  than  in  P.  ahramus ;  outer  border  somewhat  concave. 
Tragus  with  parallel  borders  and  rounded  tip ;  anterior  border 
straight,  posterior  convex. 

Feet  small;  wing  membrane  attached  just  below  base  of  toes. 
Distinct  post-calcaral  lobe.  Last  caudal  vertebra  (2  mm.)  free. 
Fur  covers  about  the  upper  third  of  the  humerus  and  half  the 
femur ;  it  extends  very  slightly  on  to  the  body  membrane.  On 
the  ventral  surface  the  fur  scarcely  extends  below  anus,  but  sparse 
hairs  clothe  the  interfcmoral  membrane  nearly  to  the  tip  of 
the  tail. 

Colour,  a  dark  brown  with  yellowish  tips  to  the  hairs,  but  some 
specimens  arc  a  distinctly  reddish  brown.  Fur  on  dorsal  surface 
long  and  thick.  In  front  of  ear  and  round  eye  the  skin  is  neaiiy 
bare,  and  the  same  is  the  case  with  the  tip  of  the  muzzle. 

The  outer  incisor  is  rather  longer  than  the  outer  cusp  of  the 
inner,  and  on  its  postcro  -  external  surface  the  cingulum  bears 
a  small  but  distinct  cusp. 

The  lower  incisors  slightly  crowded.  The  point  of  the  first 
premolar  is  visible  through  space  between  the  canine  and  p.m.  2. 

This  species  is  considerably  smaller  than  P.  abramus  and  the 
common  Pipistrelle,     It  is  larger  imd  much  darker  in  colour  than 


Mammalia.  27 

P.  pachiptis,  and  in  point  of  size  comes  very  near  to  P.  tenuis, 
which,  however,  is  distinguished  from  it  by  its  much  bhicker  tint, 
and  the  complete  absence  of  the  rufous  tinge  which  is  noticeable 
to  a  greater  or  less  extent  in  all  the  specimens  of  the  present 
species.  In  P.  tenuis  also  the  outer  incisor  is  stouter  than  the 
outer  cusp  of  the  inner.  P.  indiciis  is  brighter- coloured  and  some- 
what larger. 

The  measurements  of  this  species  are  as  follows  : — 

Type        Head  aud 


Specimen. 

Body. 

Tail. 

Ear, 

Hind. 

■foot. 

Forearm 

$      ... 

36- 

5  mm.   . 

..     29' 

■5  mm.   .. 

10     mm. 

...     7 

mm.   ... 

3 1     mm. 

h.$      ... 

35 

J » 

..     29 

)> 

.       9-5 

..      6-5 

30       „ 

a.  2      ... 

36 

)) 

..     29 

)> 

.     10-5 

...     7 

32       ,, 

c.  ?      ... 

3-t 

?» 

..     29 

)> 

.       8-5 

...     () 

32-5    ,, 

rf.?      ... 

36 

yy 

..     30' 

■5  ,,      .. 

.       9-5 

...     6-5 

31-5    ,, 

..?      ... 

36 

9J            •■ 

..     30 

J> 

.       9 

...     6-0 

31-5    „ 

The  above  measurements  are  taken  from  spirit  specimens.     The 
length  of  the  tail  is  given  approximately  only. 

The  following  measurements  are  from  freshly-killed  specimens  :— 


Head  and  Body. 

Tail. 

Ear. 

Hind-foot. 

Forearm. 

<? 

...     35  mm. 

?  mm. 

9  mm. 

...     6  mm. 

.     31     mm 

? 
? 
? 

...     40    „ 
...     38    „        ... 
...     38    „        ... 
...     35   „        ... 

30  „        . 

31  „        . 

..     10    „ 

..     11    „ 
..     10    „ 
..       9    „ 

...     7    „        .., 
...     6    „        .. 
...     8    „        .., 
...     6    „        .. 

.     32       „ 
.     30-5    ,, 
.     31       „ 
.     31       „ 

3.  Crocidura  fuliginosa,  Blyth,  var.  trichura,  Dobson. 

Soirx fnUginosKs,  Blyth:  Journ.  Roy.  Asiatic  Soc.  Bengal,  xxiv,  p.  3G2. 
Crocidura fulir/inosa,  var.  trichura,  Dobson:   P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  532. 

The  Christmas  Island  shrew  was  described  by  Dobson  as  a  local 
variety  of  Crocidura  fuliginosa  (Blyth),  a  species  occurring  in  the 
Eastern  Himalayas,  Assam,  and  Tenasserim.  His  description  is  as 
follows  : — 

"  This  variety  differs  from  the  typical  form  in  the  much  greater 
length  of  the  tail,  which  also,  unlike  most  specimens  of  that  species, 
is  beset  with  long  fine  hairs. 

"  In  the  shape  of  the  skull  and  teeth  and  in  all  other  characters 
it  so  closely  resembles  typical  examples  of  C.  fuliginosa  that  I 
hesitate  to  consider  it  more  than  a  local  variety  of  that  .species." 

The  specimen  which  Dobson  took  as  type  seems  to  have  possessed 
an  exceptionally  long  tail,  some  1 0  mm.  longer  than  tlie  head  and 
body.  In  most  of  my  specimens  measured  in  the  flesh  the  tail  is 
shorter  (in  one  case  hy  10  mm.)  than  the  head  and  body,  and  in  one 
or  two  specimens  only  is  it  slightly  longer.  Jv^evertheless,  since  in 
all  the  specimens  from  the  island  the  tail  differs  from  that  of  the 
typical  form  in  being  thickly  covered  with  fine  hairs,  it  will  be 
best  to  retain  Dobson's  varietal  name  trichura. 


28 


Chris f mas  Island. 


Measurements  of  the  specimens  obtained  are  given  below : — 


Head  and  Body. 

Tail. 

E 

ir. 

Hind-foot 

^ 

72  mm. 

75 

mm. 

7 

mm. 

15 

Dim. 

.? 

...       65 

68 

7 

16 

cT 

...       76 

72 

10 

17 

$ 

...       73 

74 

10 

16 

$ 

...       79 

73 

8 

15 

$ 

...       70 

65 

9 

15 

? 

...       67 

63 

7 

14 

$ 

...      78 

70 

8 

13 

? 

...       82 

72 

11 

16 

? 

...       70 

63 

9 

15 

The  measurements  of  Dobson's  ty^Q  are — 

Head  and  body,  70  mm.  ;  tail,  80  mm. ;  hind-foot,  16  mm. 

This  little  animal  is  extremely  common  all  over  the  island,  and 
at  night  its  shrill  squeak,  like  the  cry  of  a  bat,  can  be  heard  on 
all  sides.  It  lives  in  holes  in  rocks  and  roots  of  trees,  and  seems 
to  feed  mainly  on  small  beetles. 


4.   Mus  nativitatis,  Thomas.     (Plate  II.) 
P.Z.S.,  1888,  pp.  633-4. 
Mr.  Thomas's  description  of  this  species  is  given  below  : — 


a.  cf  (type)  . 

s.o^  .    .    . 

i 

Head 

and 

Body. 

Tail. 

Hind- 
foot. 

Forearm 

and 

Hand. 

Ear. 

Heel  to 

front  of 

last  footpad. 

mm. 
254 

264 

mm. 
176 

175 

mm. 
54 

54 

mm. 
6G 

65 

mm. 
20x17 

18x17 

mm. 
26-6 

27-3 

"  Skull :  Basal  length  46"8,  greatest  breadth  24*8  ;  nasals,  length 
20*5;  interorbital  breadth,  8'7  ;  interparietal,  length  7'1,  breadth 
12"5 ;  infraorbital  foramina,  length  of  outer  wall  4'1,  breadth 
fi'om  outer  corner  of  one  to  that  of  the  other  13'4  ;  palate,  length 
26"7,  breadth  outside  m.'  9'0,  inside  m.^  4-5;  diastema,  15'5 ; 
length  of  anterior  palatine  foramina,  9"3  ;  length  of  upper  molar 
series,  7'6.  Lower  jaw,  length  (bone  only)  30,  (to  incisor-tips) 
34'6  ;  gi'eatest  height,  obliquel}',  from  coronoid  to  angle,  15. 

"  Size  large  ;  form  thick  and  clumsy,  the  limbs  and  tail  stout  and 
heavy,  but  the  head  jieciiliarly  small,  slender,  and  delicate.  General 
colour  dark  umber-brown  all  over,  the  belly  not  or  scarcely 
lighter  than  the  back.  Ears  small,  laid  forward  they  barely  reach 
to  the  posterior  canthus  of  the  eye.     fur  of  back,  long,  thick,  and 


Mammalia.  20 

coarse,  but  without  the  extremely  long  piles  so  characteristic  of 
M.  macleari,  the  longest  hairs  being  about  40  or  45  mm.  in  hmgth. 
Hands  and  feet  very  thick  and  heavy;  the  claws,  especially  on 
the  fore  feet,  enormously  broad  and  strong,  not  compressed,  more 
than  twice  the  size  of  those  of  31.  macleari,  and  evidently  modified 
for  burrowing.  Palms  and  soles  naked,  smooth ;  the  pads  broad, 
low,  and  rounded,  unusually  little  prominent;  last  hind  foot  pad 
elonuatc.  Tail  shorter  than  the  body  without  the  head,  very 
thick,  evenly  tapeiing,  nearly  or  quite  naked  ;  its  scales  triangular, 
very  large,  the  rings  averaging  about  seven  or  eight  to  the 
centimetre ;  ^  its  colour  uniform  blackish  brown  throughout,  above 
and  below,  the  white  skin,  however,  showing  to  a  certain  extent 
between  the  scales. 

"Skull*  disproportionallj'  small,  light,  and  delicate;  compared 
with  that  of  M.  macleari  it  is  slightly  shorter  and  very  considerably 
narrower.  Supraorbital  edges  evenly  divergent,  slightly  beaded, 
but  without  any  marked  postorbital  thickening.  Outer  plate  of 
anterior  zygoma-root  short  and  weak,  scarcely  projected  forwards. 
Anterior  palatine  foramina  long,  reaching  backwards  just  to  the 
level  of  the  front  of  m.j  Bullae  rather  larger  than  in  M.  macleari, 
but  far  smaller  than  in  M.  everetti.  Lower  jaw  very  thin  and 
slender,  contrasting  \cvj  markedly  with  31.  macleari  in  this  respect. 

"Teeth-  small  and  weak,  their  structure  as  usual.  Front  of 
incisors  orange  above,  yellow  below. 

"This  fine  rat  cannot  possibly  be  confounded  with  anj-  other 
known  species  of  the  genus.^'  Its  size,  peculiarly  small  and  deli- 
cate head,  short  unicolor  tail,  large  hands  and  feet,  and  powerful 
digging  claws,  separate  it  at  once  from  anj-  of  its  congeners.  In 
souie  respects  it  agrees  with  the  description  given  long  ago  by 
Hermann  of  his  Mas  Javamis,*  but  its  brown  under-side  and  naked 
tail  prove  that  it  is  not  really  the  same,  and  it  is  probable  that 
Hermann's  description  was  merely  founded  on  an  unusually  large 
specimen  of  Man  decumanus. 

"  The  presence  of  a  second  large  rat  in  such  a  small  island  as 
Christmas  Island  is  a  very  noteworthy  fact,  and  recalls  the  state 
of  things  existing  in  Guadalcanar,  Solomon  Islands,  where  two 
still  larger  rats,  Mus  imperator  and  M.  rex,  one  terrestrial  and 
fossorial  and  the  other  arboreal,  live  side  by  side  in  the  same 
locaUty."  ' 


1  Ten  to  twelve  in  J/",  macleari. 

-  For  fio-iires  of  the  skull  and  teeth  see  Date  II  [his),  fin-s.  2,  4,  5,  9,  10. 

•^  3Ihs  infralHtcus,  a  species  from  Monnt  Kina  Balu,  North  Borneo,  described 
by  Mr.  Thomas  (Ann.  and  Ma<?.  N.  H.  (6),  ii,  p.  409)  since  the  above  was 
•written,  has  a  considerable  superficial  resemblance  to  M.  nativitatis.  Its  tail, 
however,  is  longer,  and  its  skull  is  large  and  heavy,  in  due  proportion  to  the  size 
of  the  bodv. 

*  Obs.  Zool.,  p.  63  (1804). 

=  See  supra,  pp.  479-481. 


30 


Clivistmas  Island. 


To  the  above  account  it  need  only  be  aclded  that  some  specimens 
are  of  a  much  warmer  brown  than  others,  a  difference  that  occurs 
irrespective  of  sex.  In  some  individuals  there  is  a  small  irregular 
patch  of  white  fur  on  the  belly.  In  very  young  specimens  the  fur 
is  a  bluish  black.     The  mammary  foiTuula  is  0  —  y  =  6. 

This  rat,  though  very  numerous  in  places,  especially  on  the  hills,' 
e.g.  Phosphate  Hill,  is  veiy  much  less  common  than  M.  macleari. 
I  never  saw  one  in  Flying  Fish  Cove,  though  they  certainly  have 
been  killed  there.  Thej-  seem  to  live  in  small  colonies  in  burrows, 
often  among  the  roots  of  a  tree,  and  occasionally  several  may  be 
found  living  in  the  long,  hollow  trunk  of  a  fallen  and  half -decayed 
sago-palm  {Arenga  listen').  The  food  consists  of  wild  fruits, 
young  shoots,  and,  I  believe,  the  bark  of  some  trees,  M.  nativitatu 
is  a  much  more  sluggish  animal  than  M.  macleari,  and,  unlike  it, 
never  climbs  trees ;  and  it  is  difficult  to  avoid  the  belief  that  the 
former  species  is  being  supplanted  by  the  latter  in  spite  of  the 
abundance  of  food.  Both  animals  are  strictly  nocturnal,  and 
31.  nativitafis,  when  exposed  to  bright  daylight,  seems  to  be  in 
a  half-dazed  condition.  The  Eoss  family  in  Christmas  Island  have 
given  this  species  the  name  "Bull-dog  Eat,"  and  this  has  been 
adopted  by  the  Malays. 

Measurements  of  the  specimens  in  the  present  collection  are  given 
below : — 


Head  and  Body. 

Tail. 

Ear. 

Hiud-foot 

^ 

(figiu'ed) 

275 

mm. 

.  182 

mm. 

.   24 

mm.  . 

50  mm. 

s 

•  ■• 

273 

.  159 

.   23 

..   52  „ 

$ 

265 

.  170 

.   23 

..   53  „ 

s 

260 

.  170 

.   25 

..   54  „ 

? 

253 

.  170 

.   22 

..   53  „ 

? 

250 

.  168 

.   25 

..   52  „ 

? 

235 

.  160 

.   23 

55  ,, 

? 

228 

.  183 

.   21 

..   55  „ 

? 

202 

.  140 

.   21 

..   50  „ 

5.    Mus  macleari,  Thomas. 
P.Z.S.,  1887,  p.  513. 
Mr.  Thomas's  description  of  this  species  is  as  follows : — 

"Fur  very  long,  thick,  and  coarse,  but  not  or  very  slightly 
spinous,  thickl}-  intermixed  on  the  back  with  enonnously  long 
piles  from  2  to  2J  inches  in  length.  General  colour  grizzled 
rufous-brown,  belly  but  little  lighter  pale-rufous.  Shorter  hairs 
eveiywhere,  pale  slaty- grey  at  base,  shining  red  at  tiji  ;  longer 
piles  uniformly  black  ;  the  general  tint  of  the  dorsal  surface  not 
unlike  that  of  Arvicola  ampkibitfs,  except  that  the  median  line 
is  a  good  deal  darker  owing  to  the  great  number  of  the  longer 
black  piles  there  present.  Whiskers  very  long,  many  of  them 
more  than  three  inches  in  length,  mostlj'  black.  Ears  naked, 
black,  broad,  short,  and  rounded,  their  breadth  about  equal  to 
their  length ;  laid  forward  they  fall  short  of   the  eye   by  about 


Mam7)ialia.  31 

a  quarter  of  an  inch.  Limbs  coloured  externally  like  back, 
internally  dull  grey  ;  upper  sides  of  hands  and  feet  uniform  dark- 
brown ;  solepads  six,  veiy  broad,  flat,  and  rounded,  evidentlv 
adapted  for  climbing;  pad  at  the  base  of  the  fifth  toe  with 
a  secondary  pad  at  its  postero  -  external  angle.  Claws,  both 
anterior  and  posterior,  short,  stout,  curved,  and  sharply  pointed, 
brown  horn-colour,  that  of  the  hallux  markedly  shorter  than  the 
rest ;  pollex  with  a  broad  nail  as  usual ;  fifth  hind-toe  withoiit 
claw  reaching  just  to  the  end  of  the  first  phalanx  of  the  fourth. 

"Tail  veiy  long,  its  posterior  luilf  black  all  round,  its  distal 
half  white  or  yellow,  thinly  and  finely  haired  with  short  grey 
hairs,  not  hiding  the  scales  ;  the  scales  large,  the  rings  averaging 
just  ten  to  the  centimetre. 

"Palate-ridges  3-5.  IMammce  4,  one  axillary  and  one  inguinal 
pair. 
■  "  Skull  1  lai-ge  and  strong.  Nasals  extending  to  about  a  milli- 
metre past  the  level  of  the  anterior  edge  of  the  orbit.  Supraorbital 
edges  beaded,  but  the  beading  not  continued  so  far  forward  as 
in  M.  everetti.  Inteii^arietal  large.  Front  edge  of  the  anterior 
zygoma- root  very  prominent,  projecting  forwards.  Palatal  foramina 
very  long,  their  posterior  end  about  one  millimetre  in  front  of  the 
level  of  m.i     Bullae  small  and  flattened. 

"  Incisors  thick  and  strong,  much  bevelled  externally,  their  faces 
dull  orange-yellow  above  and  yellow  below,  but  apparently  the  colour 
has  been  more  or  less  affected  by  spirit.     Molars  of  medium  size. 

"  Measurements  of  the  type,  an  adult  female  in  spirit : — Head 
and  body,  222  mm. ;  tail,  248  ;  hind-foot,  48-o;  ear,  13;  head,  64; 
forearm  and  hand,  66;  last  hind  footpad,  10-5;  heel  to  front  of 
last  footpad,  26. 

"  Skull  :i  Basal  length,  47-5  ;  greatest  breadth,  26  2  ;  nasals, 
length  19-5,  greatest  breadth  5-7;  intcrorbital  constriction,  least 
breadth  7-0;  interparietal,  length  6-6,  breadth  11-5;  length  of 
base  of  anterior  zygoma-root,  6-0;  palate,  length  30-0;  breadth 
outside  m.j  10-3,  inside  4-4;  palatal  foramina,  length  10-1  ;  back 
of  incisors  to  m.,  (ah-eoli),  15-7  ;   upper  molar  series,  9-0. 

"  This  fine  new  rat  belongs  to  a  small  group  of  species 
inhabiting  the  East  Indian  Archipelago,  all  of  which  agree  with 
Mus  macleari  in  being  of  large  size,  with  very  long  tails  tipped 
with  yellow,  and  with  small  rounded  ears.  '  Their  difi'ereutial 
characters  as  compared  to  M.  macleari  are  best  put  in  tabular 
form: — 

M.  macleari.     Mammae  1  —  1  =  4.     Dorsal  piles  present.    Front 
edge   of  anterior   zygoma-root   projecting,   very    convex. 
Palatal  foramina  long.     Bullae  veiy  small. 
Christmas  Island. 


1  For  figures  of  the  skull  and  teeth  see  Plate  II  {bis),  figs.  1,  3,  6,  7,  8. 
This  species  has  beeu  figured  iu  P.Z.S.,  1887,  pi.  xlii. 


32  Christmas  Island. 

M.  celeleyisis,  Gray.'      Mammae   1  —  2  =  6.      Xo  dorsal  piles. 
Front    edge    of    anterior    zygoma -root    not    projecting. 
Palatal  foramina  short. 
Celebes. 
M.  xanfhurus,  Gray.^     Mammfe  1  —  2  =  6.     Long  dorsal  piles 
present.      Front  of    zygoma -root- but  little  projecting. 
Palatal  foramina  long. 
Celebes. 
M.  everetti,  Giinth.^     Fur  long,  but  the  piles  not  enormously 
lengthened.       Front  of   zygoma  -  root   convex.       Palatal 
foramina  long.     Bullae  very  large. 
Philippines. 
M.   meyeri,   Jent.^      Fur  without   lengthened   piles.      Supra- 
orbital  edges  much   developed.      Front   of   zygoma-root 
slightly  convex.      Palatal  foramina  short.      Teeth  veiy 
large. 
Celebes. 
M.   muelleri,   Jent.^      Mammte    2  —  2  =  8.      Xo  dorsal  piles. 
Tail  unicolor.     Front  edge  of  zygoma  convex.     Palatal 
foramina  short.     Teeth  rather  small.     Bullae  medium. 
Sumatra  and  Borneo. 

"This  last  does  not  properly  belong  to  the  present  group  of 
species,  but  is  only  introduced  to  complete  the  list  of  those  of 
which  it  is  necessary  to  mention  the  distinguishing  characters 
when  describing  31.  macJeari  as  ugav.  All  these  species  also  differ 
fi'om  M.  macleari  in  having  the  general  colour  grey  or  yellow 
instead  of  rufous.  'So  other  described  species  could  possibly  be 
confounded  with  the  present  most  interesting  new  form,  with  which 
1  have  much  pleasure  in  connecting  the  name  of  Caj)tain  Maclear, 
of  H.M.S.  'Flying  Fish,'  to  whom  the  Museum  is  indebted  for 
the  Chi-istmas  Island  specimens." 

To  this  description  it  may  be  added  that  in  the  young  the  under 
surface  is  much  lighter  coloured,  and  in  one  specimen  is  quite 
white,  the  inner  side  of  the  fore  and  hind  limbs  being  nearly  so. 
In  the  young,  moreover,  the  long  piles  are  not  fully  developed, 
though  they  are  visible  among  the  fur. 

There  is  considerable  variation  in  colour  in  this  species.  In 
some  specimens  the  back  is  darker  and  less  rufous  and  the  long 
piles  are  less  developed  than  in  the  tj-pical  form. 


1  r.Z.S  ,  1867,  p.  598. 

*  Loc.  cit. 

3  I'.Z.S.,  1879,  p.  75. 

*  Notes  Levd.  Mus.,  i,  p.  12  (1878). 
5  Op.  cit.,u,  p.  16  (1879). 


Mammalia. 


33 


This  species  is  by  far  the  commonest  of  the  mammals  found 
in  the  island;  in  eveiy  part  I  %-isited,  it  occurred  in  swarms. 
During  the  day  nothing  is  to  be  seen  of  it,  but  soon  after  sunset 
numbers  may  be  seen  running  about  in  all  directions,  and  the 
whole  forest  is  filled  with  its  peculiar  querulous  squeaking  and 
the  noise  of  frequent  fights.  These  animals,  like  most  of  those 
found  in  the  island,  are  almost  completely  devoid  of  fear,  and 
in  the  bush  if  a  lantern  be  held  out  they  will  approach  to  examine 
the  new  phenomenon.  As  may  be  imagined,  they  are  a  great 
nuisance,  entering  the  tents  or  shelters,  running  over  the  sleepers, 
and  upsetting  everything  in  their  search  for  food.  They  seem  to 
eat  anything,  and  destroy  any  boots  or  skius  incautiously  left 
within  their  reach.  Their  natural  food  appears  to  be  mainly  fruits 
and  young  shoots,  and  to  obtain  the  former  they  ascend  trees  to 
a  great  height.  I  have  often  seen  them  run  up  the  trailing  stems 
of  the  lianas,  and,  in  fact,  thej'  can  climb  as  well  as  a  squirrel. 
In  the  settlement  they  utterly  destroy  all  the  fruit  they  can  get  at, 
and  frequently  come  into  conflict  with  the  fruit -bats  on  the  tops 
of  the  papaia  -  trees.  A  number  of  dogs  is  kept  to  keep  them 
in  check,  and  near  the  settlement  they  are  certainly  already  less 
niimerous  than  elsewlicre. 

In  the  daytime  these  rats  live  in  holes  among  the  roots  of  trees, 
in  decaying  logs,  and  shallow  burrows.  They  seem  to  breed  all 
the  year  round. 

In  the  bush  beaten  tracks  a  few  inches  broad  may  often  be  seen, 
and  Mr.  Eoss  informs  me  that  these  are  made  by  rats  travelling 
in  great  numbers  in  search  of  food.  I  never  had  an  opportunity 
of  observing  this,  and  am  not  sure  whether  it  is  this  species  or 
3Ius  natifitatis  which  makes  the  paths. 

The  measurements  of  the  specimens  of  this  species  in  the  present 
collection  are  given  below  : — 


Head  and  Body. 

Ti 

il. 

Ear. 

Ilind-foot. 

s 

...   238  mm. 

260  mm.   .. 

24  mm. 

49 

mm. 

s 

...   234  „ 

.   265 

25  „ 

50 

$ 

...   228  ,, 

240 

25  „ 

48 

s 

...   210  ,, 

.   240 

22  „ 

45 

$ 

...   210  ,, 

.   240 

23  „ 

50 

s 

...   208  „ 

.   218 

23  „ 

47 

$ 

...   200  ,, 

.   245 

23  „ 

50 

s 

...   187  „ 

.   207 

25  „ 

46 

$ 

184  „ 

.   196 

23  „ 

42 

$ 

152  ,, 

.   170 

19  „ 

40 

? 

2oo  ,, 

.   235 

25  „ 

45 

? 

...        •      )f 

.   260 

25  „ 

60 

? 

...   240  ,, 

255 

23  „ 

46 

? 

...   210  ,, 

.   260 

24  „ 

47 

D 


34 


Christmas  Island. 


FOTES   ON   THE   OSTEOLOdY    OF    MUS   NATIVITATIS 
AXD  MUS  MACLEARL 

By  Dr.  C.  I.  Foesyth  Majoe,  F.Z.S. 

(PLATE   II,    his.)      . 

Etfjj-  if  it  were  not  known  that  3Im  nativitatin  is  terrestrial  and 
bu}  rowing?,  while  Ihm  macleari  is  arboreal,  the  examination  of  the 
manus  of  both  species  woiild  reveal  this  fact  at  once.  The  bones  of 
the  antebrachinm,  the  carpals,  metacarpals,  and  proximal  phalanges 


rm: 


U 


1. 


Fig.  1. — Antebrachium  aud  carpus  of  Mm  macleari. 
Fig.  2. — -Antebrachium  and  carpus  of  Mhs  nativ'itatis. 

R,  radius ;  U,  ulna  ;  r,  radiale  ;  u,  ulna  re  ;  rm,  radiale  marginale  ; 
p,  pisiforme ;  c,  centrale ;  1-4,  first  to  fourth  carpale ;  a,  dorsal 
phalange  of  first  digit ;  i-v,  first  to  fifth  digit. 

are  all  slenderer  and  more  elongate  in  the  latter  species,  stouter 
and  broader  in  the  former,  the  longitudinal  dimensions  of  the 
fore-limb  as  a  whole  being  about  the  same  in  both. 


Mammalia.  35 

The  above  remark  does  not,  however,  apply  to  the  ungual 
phalanges,  which  in  M.  natkitatis  are  longer,  stronger,  and  less 
curved  than  in  the  other  species  ;  the  difference  in  length  is  the 
more  striking,  as  with  regard  to  the  proximal  phalanges  and 
metapodials  the  proportions  are  reversed,  these  being  more  elongate 
in  21.  macleari,  as  already  pointed  out. 

The  ungual  phalange  of  the  first  digit  of  JI.  nativitatis  is 
not  different  in  character  from  those  of  the  other  digits.  In 
M.  macleari  the  whole  of  the  thumb,  including  the  Metac.  i,  is 
more  reduced  than  in  the  former  species ;  and  its  ungual  phalange 
has  a  rounded,  nail-like  form,  absolutely  different  from  the  claw- 
like, curved  ungual  phalanges  in  the  other  fingers,  and  resembling 
somewhat  the  same  element  in  Primates.  A  still  more  appropriate 
comparison  of  the  digits  of  the  arboreal  31.  macleari  is  with  that 
of  Sciurm  (e.g.  S.  vuiffaris),  where  we  find  the  same  curved,  claw- 
like, ungual  phalanges  of  digits  ii-v,  and  the  same  rounded, 
nail-like,  ungual  phalange  of  the  first  digit.  The  reduction  of  the 
thumb  has,  however,  in  the  squirrel,  proceeded  further  than  in 
M.  macleari;  whilst  the  third  and  fourth  digits  have  furthei- 
proceeded  in  the  opposite  sense,  being  disproportionately  long. 

In  both  M.  nativitatis  and  21.  macleari^  an  ossicle  overlies, 
dorsally,  the  interphalangeal  articulation  of  the  thumb.  I  have, 
on  a  recent  occasion,  P.Z.S.  London,  1899,  p.  430.  suggested  that 
this  ossicle,  which,  although  never  mentioned  before,  is  of  quite 
common  occurrence  in  llodentia  and  Insectivora,  may  be  the  second 
phalange  of  the  thumb,  having  been  thmst  out  on  the  dorsal  surface. 

In  the  same  place,  quoted  before,  I  have  treated  at  length  of 
the  distal  pisiform  of  Muridte,  etc.  ;  this  bone  forms,  so  to  say, 
a  '  pendant '  to  the  distal  '  proepollex '  (see  below) ;  it  occurs  in 
both  the  species.     See  Text-fig.  5,  op.  cit. 

The  ossicle,  which  in  the  figures  given  in  the  above  quoted 
paper  is  marked  x,  is  equally  present  in  both  species  from 
Christmas  Island,  situated  on  the  volar  side,  between  the  latero- 
distal  angle  of  the  radius  and  the  pisiform;  in  old  specimens 
it  becomes  fused  with  the  former,  but  it  is  quite  possible  that  it 
often  vanishes. 

In  M.  nativitatis  it  is  much  smaller  than  in  the  other  species. 

31argi)ial  radiale. — The  only  writer,  to  my  knowledge,  who  has 
made  mention  of  the  '  praepollex '  in  the  genus  Mus,  is  Emery, 
who  describes  it  in  J/,  decumaniis.  In  this  species  there  is  in 
connection  with  the  distal  extremity  of  the  bone  in  ([uestion 
a  lamina  of  tendinous  connective  tissue  having  cartilaginous  con- 
sistence ("eine  knorpelharte  Platte  von  sehnigem  Bindegewebe  "), 
and  acting  as  a  support  to  the  very  prominent  and  compact  radial 
pad.  The  single  bone  of  Mas  decuinanus  is  considered  to  be  the 
homologue  of  the  proximal  of  the  two  bones  occurring  in  Pedetes ; 
to  the  distal  bone  of  the  latter  would  correspond  the  '  tendinous 
lamina'  of  Mas  decumanus.  The  character  of  a  cartilage  being 
denied  to  the  latter  structure,  the  inference  drawn  from  this  is  that 


36  Christmas  Island. 

its  homologue  in  Pedetes  is  a  dermal  bone  of  secondary  origin. 
In  the  latter  gemis  the  radial  pad  of  other  Eodents  has  been 
transformed  into  the  volar  prominence  sheathed  with  a  homy  cap  ; 
in  other  words,  the  structure  which  in  most  Rodents  is  an  organ  of 
touch  has  been  adapted  to  fossorial  functions  in  Pedetes} 

It  is  not  clear  to  me  on  what  grounds  Emery  here  denies 
a  cartilaginous  condition  to  the  distal  element  of  Mus  decumanus. 
In  a  subsequent  memoir-  he  seems  disposed  to  adopt  a  different 
view.  After  having  shown  that  in  Marsupialia  the  '  prsepollex  ' 
is  '  tj'pically '  composed  of  two  elements,  he  adds  :  "It  will  be  of 
particular  interest  to  investigate  whether  in  other  mammals, 
provided  with  a  compound  prsepollex,  the  distal  element  has 
a  cartilaginous  Anlage  (' knorpelig  angelegt  wird '),  and  is  the 
homologue  of  the  distal  portion  of  the  marsupial  prsepollex." 

Like  all  Muridse  which  have  come  under  my  observation, 
both  Mus  nativitatis  and  Mus  maeleari  have  a  large- sized  marginal 
radiale,  articulating  Avith  the  '  scapholunar '  and  the  Metac.  i  on 
their  median  and  volar  side,  and  thence  extending  obliquely  across 
the  vola  in  the  direction  of  the  distal  pisifonn  bone.  In  both  the 
species  there  is  attached  to  the  distal  and  ulnar  margin  of  the 
marginal  radiale,  what  appears  to  be  a  laminar  cartilaginous 
appendix,  incompletely  ossified  on  the  ulnar  side.  Neither  of  the 
two  specimens — one  from  each  species — is  adult.  I  expect  that  in 
adult  specimens  the  ossification  will  be  found  to  extend  over  the 
whole  of  the  distal  part  also.  This  condition  I  find  to  be  the  case 
in  an  individual  of  a  genus  closely  allied  with  Mus^  viz.  in 
Arvicanthis  {A.  niloticus),  although  the  sj)ecimen  is  not  pei'fectly 
adult. 

The  principal  differences  in  the  skulls  of  the  two  specimens  have 
been  pointed  out  by  0.  Thomas  (P.Z.S.,  1888,  pp.  533,  534),  and 
are  borne  out  by  the  figures  of  Plate  II  {lis).  The  skull  of 
M.  nativitatis  is  weaker,  more  slender,  and  narrower  than  that 
of  the  other  species ;  the  outer  wall  of  the  infraorbital  foramen 
is  shorter  and  projects  less  forward ;  the  incisive  foramina  extend 
farther  backwards.  The  molars  of  this  species  likewise  are  weaker 
and  less  complicated  with  secondary  cusps.  In  M.  maeleari,  the 
outer  cusps  of  the  upper  and  the  inner  cusps  of  the  lower  molars 
are  much  stronger  than  the  corresponding  parts  in  M.  nativitatis. 
In  several  specimens  of  the  latter  the  teeth  present  a  diseased 
appearance,  which  is  not  the  case  in  any  of  the  specimens  of 
M.  maeleari.  I  append  the  measiirements  in  millimetres  of  some 
of  the  skulls  collected  by  Mr.  Andrews,  three  of  M.  maeleari  and 
two  of  M,  nativitatis. 


^  C.  Emery,  "Zur  Morphologie  des  Hand-  und  Fuss-skelets  "  :  Anat.  Anz., 
V,  pp.  28S-291  (1890). 

-  C.  Emery,  "Beitrajje  z.  Entwickhmgsgesch.  und  Morphologie  des  Hand-  und 
Fuss-skelets  der  Marsupialier  "  :   Semen's  Forschungsreisen,  ii,  p.  394  (1897). 


Jfammalia — Arcs. 


37 


t 

M.  macleari, 
35 

1- 

M.  nativitatis, 
30 

i  1 

Basilar  lenfrth  (Ilenseliou)  ... 
Greatest  breadth  of  skull     ... 

Length  of  nasals  

Greatest  breadth  of  nasals  ... 
Least  breadth  iuinterorbital  \ 
constriction     ) 

47-4 

26-1 

19-6 

0-8 

6-9 

6-1 

30-1 
10-2 

40-5 
22-0 
18 
5-0 

0-e 

5-5 

24-0 
9-0 

42              42-5 

23-5           23-5 

18-5           19-5 

5-0             0-7 

8-0            7-0 

42-5 
23-5 
19 
5 -5 

7-5 

4-0 
23 

15-5 
6-0 
6-5 

Least  lenirtli  of  outer  wall  | 
of  iutraorb.  foramen    .    i 

Length  of  palate  

Breadth  outside  m.  1    

0-5 

24-0 
8-5 

14 
8-0 
8-0 

4-0 

22-5 

9 
16 

7 

6-8 

Back  of  incisor  to  m.  1 
Length  of  upper  molar  series. 
Length  of  lower  molar  series. 

17-5 
8-0 
8-2 

14-5 

8-0 
8-0 

AYES. 

By  R.  BoAVDLER  Shaepe,  LL.D.,  F.L.S.,  F.Z.S. 

(PLATES  III-YI.) 
"Whem  the  "Flying  Fish"  under  Captain  Maclear  first  visited 
Christmas  Ishmd  in  January,  1887,  two  new  species  of  birds  were 
discovered  by  the  exjiedition,  viz.,  Carpopliaya  icliartuni  and 
Tardus  enjthroiileanii^.  The  "  Egeria "  shortly  afterwards  ])aid 
a  visit  to  the  island,  and  Xr.  J.  J.  Lister,  who  was  naturalist 
to  the  e.\;pedition,  made  a  good  collection  of  birds  and  disccnered 
several  new  species.  His  notes  on  his  collecticni  were  also  of  great 
interest. 

Mr.  Andrews  obtained  .series  of  all  the  species  found  on  Christmas 
Island  by  Mr.  Lister,  and  he  was  able  to  add  several  nugratoiy 
.species  which  the  other  expeditions  had  not  met  with,  while  the 
number  of  birds  and  eggs  which  he  has  obtained  evince  great 
energy  on  his  part.  In  the  following  pages  his  field  notes  are 
accompanied  by  his  initials  '  C.  W.  A.' 


Order   COLUMBIFORMES. 
1.   Carpophaga  whartoni. 

Carpophaga  u-linrtotn,  Sharpe,  I'.Z.S.,  1887,  p.  olo,  pi.  xliii ;  Lister,  P.Z.S., 
1888,  p.  520;  Salvad.,  fat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.,  xxi,  p.  184  (1893); 
Sharpe,  Handl.  B.,  i,  p.  64  (1899). 

Xo.  6,  S  ihI.     Flving  Fish  Cove,  August  8,  1897. 
iS'o.  57,  9  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  October  21,  1897. 


38  Christmas  Island. 

No.  61,  (J  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  October  22,  1897. 

a,  b,  9  juv.     Phosphate  Hill,  October  24,  1897. 

c,  d,  e,  ^  ad.  et  imm.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  November  29,  1897. 

No.  72,  (J  imm.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  November  21,  1897. 

(J  ad.     Phosphate  Hill,  November  3,  1897. 

S  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  November  28,  1897. 

No.  71,  9'imui-     Flying  Fish  Cove,  November  24,  1897. 

(J  imm.     Flying  Fisii  Cove,  November  16,  1897. 

Of  this  fine  and  peculiar  Fruit-Pigeon  Mr.  Ancbews  procured 
a  good  series.  There  does  not  seem  to  be  any  appreciable 
difi^erence  in  the  colour  of  the  sexes,  but  the  young  birds  are  more 
reddish  underneath,  and  the  first  feathers  of  the  throat  and  breast 
are  of  a  dull  grej',  without  any  purplish  or  vinous  tint  whatever. 

[The  large  Fruit-Pigeon,  called  by  the  Malays  '  Pergam,'  is  very 
common  over  the  whole  island,  but  is  mucli  more  often  heard  than 
seen,  since  it  lives  among  the  thick  foliage  of  the  tops  of  the  lofty 
forest  trees,  where  to  the  unpractised  eye  it  is  extremely  difficult  to 
discover.  In  addition  to  the  ordinary  cooing  note,  the  male  utters 
a  deep  booming  cry  which  is  the  most  striking  of  the  forest  sounds 
during  the  daytime.  This  note  is  said  to  resemble  closely  the 
noise  made  by  tigers,  and  Mr.  Eoss  told  me  that  an  old  Bantamese 
wood- cutter  who  came  to  the  island  was  at  first  afraid  to  enter 
the  forest,  and  was  with  much  difticulty  persuaded  that  a  bird 
was  responsible  for  the  sound.  These  birds  are  very  tame,  and 
when  a  number  were  feeding  in  a  tree  it  was  generallj'  possible 
to  shoot  several,  one  after  the  other,  without  disturbing  the  rest. 
The  boys  in  the  island  used  to  catch  them  with  a  noose  of  string  at 
the  end  of  a  long  stick,  and  the  birds  woidd  sit  quietly  while  the 
instrument  of  their  destruction  was  prepared,  and  the  boy  climbed 
into  a  convenient  position  for  using  it.  On  one  occasion  I  caught 
one  with  my  hands  while  it  was  drinking  at  a  puddle  on  a  tree 
trunk. 

The  food  is  tlie  fruit  and  leaf-buds  of  the  various  forest  trees, 
and  the  birds  gather  in  great  numbers  in  trees  of  which  the  fruit 
is  just  ripening.  The  feet  are  very  powerful,  prehensile  organs, 
and,  while  feeding,  this  Pigeon  clambers  about  among  the  branches 
like  a  Parrot.  The  nest  is  a  very  scanty  stioicture  of  sticks  placed 
high  up  in  a  tree.  The  eggs  are  two  in  number,  white,  and 
elongated,  with  both  ends  alike.  I  saw  a  pair  building  on 
December  24th,  and  obtained  an  egg  on  January  6tli ;  many  young 
birds  were  shot  in  x\.pril.  There  seem  to  be  two  broods  a  year,  for 
in  the  middle  of  November  there  were  also  great  numbers  of  young- 
birds,  characterized  by  their  looser,  duller  plumage  and  grey  legs  ; 
in  the  adult  the  legs  are  a  bright  red.  I  have  counted  between 
fifty  and  sixty  on  the  bushes  round  the  small  waterfall  on  the  east 
coast.  The  year  before  I  visited  the  island  was  a  very  dry  one, 
and  Mr.  Eoss  informed  me  that  great  numbers  of  these  Pigeons  had 
died  of  thirst.— C.  AV.  A.] 


Aves.  39 


2.   Chalcophaps  natalis. 

Ghalcophaps  xatalis,  Lister,  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  622  :  Salvad.,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus., 
xxi,  p.  520  (l»9a);  Sliarpe,  Handl.  B.,  i,  p.  84  (1899). 

Nos.  24,  26,  (J  ad. ;  No.  25,  9  ad.  Flying  Fish  Cove,  August  6, 
1897. 

S  9  ad.     Flj-ing  Fish  Cove,  October  21,  1897. 
JS^o.  54,  9  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  October  21,  1897. 
No.  55,  5  juv.     Flving  Fish  Cove,  October  21,  1897. 
9  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  November  15,  1897. 

Young  birds  have  the  greater  wing-coverts  for  the  most  part 
rufous,  and  the  under  parts  irregularly  mottled  with  dusky  bars. 
As  Count  Salvador!  points  out,  the  male  is  not  to  be  distinguished 
from  some  of  the  males  of  C.  inclica,  but  the  female  differs  con- 
siderably from  the  female  of  that  species. 

[The  Ground-Pigeon  is  by  far  the  most  brightly  coloured  of  the 
birds  of  Christmas  Island.  It  usually  feeds  on  the  ground,  and 
can  run  rapidly.  Though  generally  seen  in  pairs,  small  flocks 
sometimes  occur,  particularly  near  water.  The  food  consists  of 
small  fruits.  The  nest  is  said  to  be  placed  in  thickets  of  screw-pine 
{Panclanm),  but  I  never  saw  either  it  or  the  eggs.  At  pairing- 
time  the  males  fight  fiercely,  and  are  said  to  kill  one  another 
occasionally.  Young  birds  are  seen  in  April.  In  spite  of  the 
brightness  of  its  colouring,  this  bird  is  difiicult  to  see,  the  green 
of  the  back  and  chestnut  brown  of  the  breast  matching  very  closely 
the  colours  of  the  leaves  and  soil. — C.  W.  A.] 


Order  EALLIFORMES. 
3.   Limnobsenus  fuscus. 

Lim)iob(enHs  fuscHs  (Liuu.),  Sharpe,  Cat.  Brit.  Mus.,  xxiii,  p.  14G  (1894). 

No.  40,  9  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  August  29,  1897. 

Iris  brownish  red,  lightest  round  the  pupil ;  legs'  reddish  brown. 

This  is  an  interesting  addition  to  the  list.  The  species  maj^ 
visit  the  island  regularly  on  migration,  but  Mr.  Andrews  only 
obtained  one  specimen. 

Order  LARIFORMES. 
4.  Anous  stolidus. 

Anous  gtolidus  (Linn.),  Saunders,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.,  xx,  p.  136  (1896). 

a,  ^  ad.     Rocky  Point,  November  15,  1897. 

h,  9  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  November  16,  1897. 


40  Christmas  Island. 

This  species  has  not  been  obtained  on  Christmas  Island  before, 
but  it  was  met  with  b^-  Dr.  H.  0.  Forbes  on  the  Cocos-Keeling 
Islands  in  February. 

[Breeds  round  the  coast,  the  eggs  being  deposited  on  small 
shelves  of  the  sea  cliff. — C.  W.  A.J 


Order   CHARADRIIFORMES. 
5.  Glareola  orientalis. 

Olareola  orientalis,  Leach :   Sliarpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.,  xxiv,  p.  58  (1896). 

No.  48,  9  imm.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  October  3,  1897. 
Not  previously  noted  from  the  island,  but  certain  to  be  a  regular 
visitor  on  migration. 

6.   Charadrius  dominicus. 

Charadritis  dominicus,  P.  L.  S.  Miill. :  Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.,  xxiv,  p.  195 
(1896)  ;  id.,  Handl.  B.,  i,  p.  152  (lb99). 

S  imm.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  November  14,  1897. 
Not  met  with  by  Mr.  Lister,  but  certainly  a  regular  visitor  on 
migration. 

7.  Ochthodromus  geoiFroyi. 

Charadriits  geoffroyi,  Wagl.  :  Lister,  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  528. 
Ochthodromus  qeoffroyi,  Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.,  xxiv,  p.  217  (1896) ;  id., 
Handl.  B.,  i,  p.  153  (1899). 

9  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  November  14,  1897. 
An  adult  female  in  full   winter   plumage.     It   is   e\idently    a 
regular  visitor  to  Christmas  Island  on  migration. 

8.  Numenius  variegatus. 

Numenius  varxegatus  (Scop.),  Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.,  xxiv,  p.  361  (1896). 

«,&,(?$  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  November  17,  1897. 

c,  9  ad.     Fljdng  Fish  Cove,  December  26,  1897. 

New  to  the  Avifauna  of  Christmas  Island,  but  doubtless  a  more 
or  less  regular  visitor  on  migration.  Mr.  Andrews  only  saw  one 
small  flock  of  four,  out  of  which  three  specimens  were  killed. 

9.   Tringoides  hypoleucus. 

Tringoidcs  Injpolencus  (Linn,),  Lister,  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  528;    Sharpe,  Cat.  B. 
Brit.  Mus.,  xxiv,  p.  456  (1896);  id.,  Handl.  B.,  i,  p.  161  (1899). 

No.  62,  9  imm.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  October  22,  1897. 
This  is  also  apparently  a  regular  visitor  on  migration,  as  it  was 
likewise  obtained  by  Mr.  Lister. 


Aves.  41 

10.    Calidris  arenaria. 

Calidris  arenaria  (L.),  Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.,  xxiv,  p.  526  (1896). 

An  adult  bird  in  moult,  still  retaining  a  few  of  the  feathers  of 
the  summer  plumage  on  the  back.  This  is  an  interesting  adtlition 
to  the  Avifauna  of  Christmas  Island,  and  increases  our  knowledge 
of  the  line  of  migration  pursued  by  the  Sanderling,  which  has  in 
recent  5'ears  been  discovered  in  North  Australia  and  in  the  Malay 
Archipelago. 

11.    Limonites  ruficollis. 

Limonites   rifjicollii   (Pall.),   Shai-pe,   Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.,  xxiv,  p.  545  (1896); 
id.,  Haiidl.  B.,  i,  p.  163  (1899). 

a,  h,  (J  juv.,  9  j^^'^'-     Flying  Fish  Cove,  September  20,  1897. 

Both  these  specimens  are  immature  birds  in  their  first  winter 
plumage.  The  male  has  the  wing  4*15  inches  and  the  female  4*0. 
The  species  has  not  been  met  with  before  on  Christmas  Island,  but 
is  doubtless  a  regular  visitor  on  migi'ation. 

12.    Gallinago  stenura. 

Gallinago  stenura,  Bp. :  Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.,  xxiv,  p.  619  (1896)  ;  id., 
Handl.  B.,  i,  p.  165  (1899). 

«,  c?  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  December  1,  1897. 
Not  previously  recorded  from  Christmas  Island. 


Order  ARDEIFORMES. 
13.   Demiegretta  sacra. 

Ardea  jugularis,  Wagl. :   Sharpe,  P.Z.S.,  1889,  p.  516;   Lister,  P.Z.S.,  1888, 

p.  138. 
Demiegretta  sacra  (Gni.),  Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.,  xxvi,  p.  138  (1898)  ;  id., 

Handl.  B.,  i,  p.  198  (1899). 

^T^   g   (  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  July,  1897. 

(  ad.  [white  phase]. 
Nos.  2,  4,  (jlmm.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  August,  1897. 
No.  3,  ad.  [white  phase]. 
«,  (J  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove.     November  18,  1897. 

The  bird  in  the  white  phase  of  plumage  has  verj"  little  crest, 
but  the  long  ornamental  breast-plumes  are  fully  developed.  Two 
of  the  outer  scapulars  are  grey  externally,  and  another  grey  plume 
is  concealed  by  the  long  ornamental  feathers  of  the  lower  back. 


42  C/nhimas  Island. 

Order  PELE0ANIF0RMF:S. 

Sub-Onlc=r  FIIKGATI. 

14.   Fregata  aquila. 

herjatn  aquila  (f.inri.),  Hhjirpf;,  I'.Z.H.,  18«7,  p.  516;  Lister,  P.Z.S.,  1888, 
p,  ;>2'J  ;  ()j,'ilvi(!  (Irnnt,  ('fit.  15.  I'.rit.  Miis.,  xxvi,  p.  443  (1898); 
Hhiirpc,  Ilaridl.  IJ.,  i,  ji.  %',!  (189'j^. 

n,  h,  J   Q.      l-'lviriK  Fiwh  Covo,  Novomh«rr  13,  1807. 

<'»  (f'l  6  V  .i"^'- "   ''''y"'K  I''i«^>  ^'<'Vo,  November  4,  18,  1897. 

Aeeordiri^  to  Mr.  ArxlrewH,  who  shot  houic  breedirij^  birds,  the 
iruile  of  tbe  ]arp;e  l''ri;^;i.t(:  F'ird  is  iiltiio.st  entirel}'  l)I;ifk',  br:in^ 
vvbite  only  from  tlie  lower  breji.st  down  to  the;  vent,  incliHliri^  tlie 
lower  flankH  and  npjuT  part  of  the  thighH.  The  female  is  black 
a.bove,  and  lias  the  throat  })lac.k,  but  is  white  from  the  lower  throat 
downwards;  the  sides  c>f  the  body  blaok,  with  a  larfi;e  white  pateli 
on  th(!  flanks.  The  youn^  birds  have  a  nisty-coloiired  head  and 
throat. 

[l'eilia[)S  tlie  most  interestinj^  of  the  birds  of  (Ihristmas  Island 
are  the  FH^ate- birds,  two  sjx^cifis  of  whieh  oeeur.  Niimluirs  of 
those  birds  eould  nearly  always  he  seen  sailinj^  and  eirelinj?  in  th(5 
air  at  all  hei<;hts  ;  in  calin  weather  they  of't<;n  soar  till  seareely 
visible.  The  flight  is  womh  ifiilly  ^'I'acefid,  and  it  is  a  pleasiin; 
to  wateh  a,  ^roup  itioviii^  alori)^  t,h(;  (toast  in  a.  sueeession  of 
swecpin;:;  circles,  risin;.!;  against  the  wind,  or  (l(!scendin<^  with  it. 
In  tli<,dit  the  head  is  earned  close  to  tlie  body,  ,so  that  the  bird 
seems  to  hav(!  no  n(!ck,  and  tlus  ti[)  of  the  y)eak  is  about  rjn  a  level 
witli  th(!  ant(!rior  anj^U;  of  the  oiitstn^tclicd  win^s.  The  feathers 
are  oftttn  cleaiKnl  during  flight,  and  occasionally  the  bird  shakes 
itself  lil<<!  a  dog  that  has  just  left  the  wat<;r,  dro[)ping  through 
th(!  air  meanwhile.  The  young  birds  se(;m  to  be  able  to  fly 
perfectly  well  as  soon  as  ihcy  leave  th(!  nest,  and  groups  of  them 
eoidd  oflcn  be  seen  near  the  coast  stooping  to  the  wat(;r,  one  after 
the  other,  to  pick  up  leaves  and  other  floating  objects,  and  then 
drojiping  them,  api)ar«!ntly  practising  the  method  by  which  their 
parents  obtain  their  food,  which  consists  of  surface  fi^h  and 
ceplialopods.      I  never  saw  a  Frigate-bird  dive. 

The  old  birds  by  no  means  depend  for  food  on  the  fisli  they  catch 
themselves,  but  systenwdically  rob  tlu;  (iannets,  which  bi'ced  in 
great  nund)ers  on  the  island.  Towards  sunset  many  Frigate-birds 
may  be  s(;en  sailing  along  tlu-  coast,  watching  for  the  return  of  tlie 
(larinr^ts,  fidl-fed  from  tlu;  fishing  grounds.  The  birds  being  well 
awar<!  of  what  is  in  stores  for  them,  and  knowing  that  if  they  can 
nsaeh  the  shelter  of  the  trees  tlusy  are  safe;,  approach  tin;  island  at 
a  gniat  speed,  flying  as  hiw  down  as  possible.  I'sually,  whih;  they 
are  still  at  some  distance,  two  or  three  Frigate-birds  give  chase,  and 


Aces.  4'{ 

Inint  the  (tiiuiiot  baokwiuxU  ami  forwanis,  oontiuually  trying  to  got 
l)i>ueath  it  and  to  out  off  its  rotivat  to  the  tivos.  T\\v  oliaso  may 
last  sovoral  miniitos.  bnt  at  longth  tho  oxliaustod  bird  disgorgos 
somo  of  tho  tish  it  luid  swallowod.  and  this  is  innnodiatoly  canght 
in  mid -air  by  ono  of  th«'  pursnors.  Mr.  Uoss  toKl  mo  that 
oooasionally  two  Frigato-birds  wonUl  oon\o  into  ooUision  aiid  broak 
thoir  wings,  bnt  this  I  novor  saw.  Tho  twigs  for  bnihling  tho 
nests  aro  obtained  on  tlu-  sumo  systom  of  robbory,  and  althimgh 
thoso  birds  will  juck  np  twigs  lloating  in  tho  si>a  and  lying  on 
tho  boaoh,  I  novor  saw  ono  attompt  to  break  tluMn  olf  tho  doa«l 
branohos  as  tho  (Jannots  do.  If,  whon  a  nost  is  partly  built, 
tho  bird  in  ohargo  ot  it  is  killod,  dozons  of  its  noighbonrs  oomo 
round  and  stoal  tho  n\atorial  thus  oonvoniontly  ooUootod  for  thorn. 
The  nost  oonsists  moroly  of  a  fow  handfuls  of  twigs  plaood  on  tho 
fork  of  a  small  branch,  and  it  sooms  Mondorful  how  tho  ogg 
romains  on  it.  Whon  tho  young  has  boon  hatohod  a  fow  days  tho 
nost  booomos  con\orlod  into  a  liard,  noarly  flat  oako  of  twigs  aud 
oxoremont.     Old  nosts,  and  thoso  of  Ciannots,  arc  ofton  utilized. 

About  tho  In^ginning  of  January  tho  adult  males  begin  to  ao(iuiro 
tho  remarkable  poneh  of  scarlet  skin  beneatli  their  thnntt.  This 
they  can  inflate  till  it  is  m>arly  as  largo  as  tho  ivst  of  tho  body, 
and'  a  dozen  or  more  of  these  binls  sitting  in  a  tree  with  out- 
strotehed  drooping  wings  and  this  great  scarlet  bladder  under  thoir 
heads  aro  a  most  remarkable  sight.  When  a  hen  bird  ap])roaches 
tho  troo  tho  males  utter  a  peculiar  ory,  a  sort  of  '  wow-wow-wow- 
vrow,'  and  clatter  their  beaks  like  oastanots,  at  tho  sanu^  time 
shaking  tho  wings.  When  they  take  to  flight  tho  air  is  allowed 
to  oseapo  from  tho  ])ouih.  but  occasionally  they  might  bo  seen 
flying  with  it  ji.'irtly  inflated. 

The  pairing  -season  extended  from  January  till  Ai>ril  ;  eggs  wor<> 
found  in  February,  anil  in  August  there  wore  still  nmny  youug 
birds  in  white  down,  but  by  October  all  had  llown.  Tht>  young 
continue  to  got  a  certain  amount  of  food  from  their  parents  oven 
after  the  latter  have  begun  to  biiild  again. 

In  the  neighbourhood  of  Flying  Fish  Cove  the  largo  spocios 
builds  near  tlu'  .si\i.  th(>  small  luio  on  tho  higlu'r  part  of  tho  island 
fartlu>r  inland.  The  cry  of  the  n\ale  in  the  small  s])ocios  is  (|uito 
ditferout  from,  and  mucii  more  musical  than  that  of  the  large  one. 

At  ]>rest<nt  Frigate-birds  ari>  ono  of  the  cliief  articles  of  food 
of  tho  inhabitants  of  (,'hristmas  Island,  and  they  aro  very  good 
indeed.  Tho  usual  way  of  obtaining  thorn  is  for  a  man  to  climb 
into  the  topmost  branches  of  a  high  tree  near  the  coast,  armed 
with  a  polo  eight  or  ten  foot  long  and  a  red  handkerchief.  Tho 
latter  ho  waves  about,  at  tho  same  time  yelling  as  h)udly  as  possible. 
The  birds  attracted  by  tho  noise  and  the  red  colour  swoo]t  rout\d 
in  large  numbers,  whon  they  aro  knoiked  down  with  the  long  i>olo. 
In  this  way  sutUcient  birds  to  supply  tho  small  colony  with  food 
can  usmdiy  bo  obtained  in  an  hour  or  two;  iiccasionally,  however, 
in  unfavourable  states  of  the  wind,  they  are  difficult  to  procure. 


44  Christmas  Island. 

Young.  Brownish  on  back,  head  fawn  brown,  whiter  on  back 
and  upper  part  of  neck.  The  brown  of  the  front  of  the  neck  passes 
on  breast  into  a  band  of  brownish-black  feathers.  Breast  and 
belly  white.  Beak  grej'ish  pinkish  -  white  ;  throat  and  _  eyelid 
greyish  white.  Feet  ditto.  Some  white  feathers  on  sides  of 
breast.  Sccondaiy-coverts  blackish  brown,  axillaries  white,  edged 
with  white.  liectrices  slightly  tipped  with  brownish  white.— 
C.  W.  A.] 

16.  Fregata  arid. 

Fregata  ariel  (Gould),  Ogilvie  Grant,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.,  xsvi,  p.  447  (1898), 

No.  18,  cJ.     Flying  FisK  Cove,  August,  1897, 

^■o.  45,  $.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  August,  1897. 

According  to  Mr.  Andrews,  the  male  is  entirely  black  below,  but 
the  female  is  white  on  the  throat,  breast,  and  sides  of  body.  The 
centre  of  the  lower  breast,  abdomen,  and  lower  flanks  are  black. 

Sub-Order  SUL^. 
16.  Sula  sula. 

Sula  sula   (Linn.),  Ogilvie  Grant,    Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.,  ixvi,  p.  436  (1898); 
Sharpe,  Handl.  B.,  i,  p.  236  (1899). 

Nos.  7,  9,  9  ad.     Flving  Fish  Cove,  August  4,  5,  1897. 
No.  10,  2  pull.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  August  4,  1897. 
No.  94,  9  imm.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  November  16,  1897, 

The  young  bird  was  obtained  by  Mr.  Andi'ews  on  the  4th  of 
August,"^  with  its  mother  (No.  9).  It  is  still  covered  with  white 
down,  though  more  than  half-grown. 

\_Sula  stila  (Booby)  breeds  near  the  coast.  Nest  of  sticks  on 
ground,  usually  near  edge  of  sea  cliff,  but  sometimes  on  the  high 
inland  cliffs  at  some  distance  from  the  sea.  One  or  two  eggs. — 
C.  "W.  A.] 

17,   Sula  abbotti. 

Sula  abbotti,  Ridgw.,  Proc.  U.S.  Nat.  Mus.,  xvi,  p.  599  (1893)  ;    Sharpe,  Handl. 
B.,  i,  p.  237  (1899). 

a,  (J  ad.     East  coast,  October,  1897. 

This  species  was  hitherto  known  only  from  Assumption  Island 
in  the  Indian  Ocean.  Mr.  Ogilvie  Grant  united  it  to  Sula  cyanops, 
but  it  is  certainly  quite  distinct. 

[Builds  nests  of  sticks  near  the  tops  of  the  highest  trees,  usually 
on  the  high  land  round  the  plateau.  Shot  young  in  September, 
This  bird  is  rarely  seen  on  the  north  coast  of  the  island,  but 
on  the  south  it  seems  lai'gely  to  take  the  place  of  S.  piscatrix. — 
C,  W.  A.] 


Aves.  45 


18.   Sula  piscatrix. 

Sifla  piscatrix  (Linn.),  Sharpe,  T.Z.S.,  1887,  p.  ol6  ;    Ogilvie  Grant,  Cat.  B. 
Brit.  Mus.  xxvi,  p.  432  (1898)  ;   Sharpe,  Handl.  B.,  i,  p.  237. 

Xo.  94,  9  i"i"i-     riying  Fish  Cove. 

\^SiiIa  piscatrix  is  very  common  all  roimd  the  coast.  Builds  nest 
of  sticks  in  high  trees.  Begins  to  breed  about  January,  and  there 
are  great  numbers  of  young  birds  in  grey  plumage  in  October. — 
C.  W.  A.] 

Sub-Order   PHAETHONTES. 

19.   Phaethon  rubricauda. 

Phaethon  pJxpniciDHS,  Gm.  :   Lister,  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  529. 

rhactlioH  rttbricanda,  Bodd.  :    Ou'ilvie  Grant,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.,  xxvi,  p.  451 
(1898) ;  Sharpe,  Handl.  B.,  i,  p.  238  (1899). 

Xo.  14,  $  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  August,  1897. 

<7,  J,  (J  9  ^^-     Flying  Fish  Cove. 

1^0.  15,  9  juv.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  August,  1897. 

c,  9  »cl-  Fhing  Fish  Cove,  August,  1897.  "Taken  on  nest 
with  Xo.  15." 

<?,  $  ad.  Flying  Fish  Cove,  March  21,  1898.  Taken  from  nest 
in  hole  of  cliff. 

[The  habits  of  the  white  Tropic  Bird  are  much  like  those  of 
the  yellow  one,  but  it  seems  to  nest  almost  exclusively  in  holes 
in  the  cliffs,  and  I  never  saw  it  flying  among  the  trees.  The 
colour  of  the  young  bird  is  exactly  like  that  of  the  other  species. — 
C.  ^V.  A.] 

20.   Phaethon  fulvus.     (Plate  III.) 

Phaethon  flavtrostris  («fc  Brandt),  Lister,  P.Z.S. ,  1888,  p.  528. 
Phaethon fulvus,  Brandt:  Grant,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.,  xxvi,  p.  455  (1898). 

No.  38,  S  '^^-     I'lyiiiS  Fish  Cove,  August  28,  1897. 
No.  41,  9  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  August  30,  1897. 
No.  47,  9  juv.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  September  20,  1897.      "Just 
beginning  to  fly." 

Nos.  67,  69," 9  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  November  19,  1897. 
No.  68,  $  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  November  19,  1897. 
fl,  J,  J  9  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove.     December  26,  1897. 

There  appears  to  be  no  difference  in  the  colour  of  the  sexes,  and 
the  orange  tint  is  equally  well  developed  in  both  the  male  and 
female.  The  young  bird,  however,  shows  no  orange  in  the 
plumage,  but  is  white,  spotted  on  the  head  and  barred  on  the  back 
with  black ;  the  inner  secondaries  with  black  longitudinal  markings 
of  irregular  shape  on  the  outer  web ;   the  primaries  and  a  few  of 


46  Christmas  Island. 

the  secondaries  black-shafted,  the  outer  primaries  with  more  or 
less  black  along  the  outer  web  ;  tail-feathers  white,  with  a  sub- 
teiTuinal  black  spot ;  a  cii'ciilar  spot  of  black  in  front  of  the  ej'e, 
extending  below  backwards  in  a  line  under  the  latter,  and  with 
a  black  line  aboye  the  ear- coverts  ;  flanks  with  a  tuft  of  chequered 
black  feathers  with  white  notches  and  spots.  These  latter 
feathers,  and  also  many  on  the  back  and  secondaries,  seem  to 
indicate  by  the  variation  of  their  pattern  that  the  latter  changes 
a  great  deal,  so  that  the  aspect  of  the  feather  becomes  gradually 
whiter  and  whiter. 

[']  he  most  beautiful  of  the  sea  birds  is  the  yellow  Tropic  Bird, 
which,  though  much  less  numerous  than  Ihe  Frigate-birds,  is  still 
fairly  common.  The  flight  of  these  birds  is  swift,  though,  owing 
to  the  rapidity  of  the  strokes  of  the  wing,  it  often  seems  as  if  they 
were  labouring.  I  never  saw  them  sail  except  for  a  short  distance 
when  wheeling  round.  On  hot  days  they  may  be  seen  in  twos 
and  threes,  flying  rapidly  up  and  down  above  and  among  the  tree 
tops,  continually  uttering  their  peculiar  crackling  cry,  and  pausing 
now  and  then  to  hover  before  holes  in  the  trees  which  seem  to 
offer  an  eligible  position  for  a  nest.  It  can  hardly  be  said,  however, 
that  they  make  a  nest,  for  the  single  dark- brown  mottled  egg 
is  merely  placed  in  a  .slight  hollow  on  the  floor  of  a  hole  in  a  tree 
or  in  the  sea  cliff.  The  young  bird,  when  nearly  full-grown,  is 
white,  barred  with  black,  and  since  I  never  saw  one  in  this 
plumage  out  of  the  nest,  it  seems  that  the  yellow  colour  is 
acquired  before  it  flies.  The  onlj-  distinguishing  mark  of  the 
youngest  bird  I  ever  saw  flying  was  the  presence  of  a  few  black 
bars  on  the  back  just  above  the  root  of  the  tail.  Eggs  and 
young  were  obtained  in  August  and  September ;  the  breeding 
season  seems  to  be  less  definite  than  in  the  case  of  the  other 
birds.— C.  W.  A.] 


Order  ACCIPITRIFORMES. 
21.   Astur  natalis.     (Plate  Y.) 

Urospizias  natalis.  Lister,  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  523. 
Aitur  natalis,  Sharpe,  Handl.  B.,  i,  p.  251  (1899). 

(J  juv.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  August  14,  1897. 

^s'os.  30-33,  S  9  juv.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  August  13,  1897. 

Iso.  36,  9  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  August  2U,  1897. 

^'os.  43-44,  9  ad.    j  pj  .^    j,.gj^  ^         August  22,  1897. 

(J  ]UV.  \        «       o  )  »  > 

^  juv.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  September,  1897. 
S  juv.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  October,  1897. 
9  juv.     Phosphate  Hill,  November  28,  1897. 

No.  3o,  S  ?  ad.   I  s     i^i^.gjjgt^  ^^^^^  August  20,  1897. 
S  ]uv.      )  .       o  . 


Aves.  47 

Mr.  Lister  has  given  a  very  good  description  of  this  species, 
and  has  pointed  out  its  simihirity  to  A.  griseiguJaris.  It  tliffers 
fi'om  the  latter  species,  however,  in  its  much  darker  slaty-grey 
head,  slaty-grey  bars  on  the  chest,  and  in  the  lighter  underwing- 
and  tail- coverts,  which  are  barred  with  white  and  vinous  rufous, 
and  are  not  so  uniform  vinous  as  in  ^.  griseigiilaris. 

[The  Goshawk  is  common  all  over  the  island,  and  is  very 
destructive  to  young  poultry  in  Hying  Fish  Cove.  Its  food 
consists  of  the  White-eyes,  Ground-Thrushes,  and  Ground- Pigeons, 
and  it  is  said  to  kill  the  large  Fruit-Pigeon  also,  but  this  I  never 
saw.  In  the  crop  of  one  there  were  remains  of  numerous  locusts. 
The  nest  is  made  of  twigs  and  pieces  of  creepers,  and  is  placed 
near  the  top  of  a  high  tree.  A  nest  with  one  young  was  found 
on  January  24th.  The  ciy  is  a  shai-p  'tweet-tweet-tweet,'  and 
when  shooting  Friiit-Pigeons  in  the  high  trees  a  rougli  imitation 
of  this  call  was  often  employed  to  cause  them  to  thrust  out  their 
head,  so  that  they  could  be  more  easily  seen,  and  would  present 
a  better  mark. — C.  W.  A.] 


22.   Ninox  natalis.     (Plate  IT.) 

Ninox  natalis,  Lister,  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  525. 

Xo.  37,  (J  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  August  8,  1897. 
Xo.  65,  9  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  October  24,  1897. 
]S^o.  66,  (J  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  November  9,  1897. 
No.  70,  5  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  November  24,  1897. 
9   ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  December  24,    1897.     Iris  and  feet 
bright  lemon-yellow. 

The  sexes  do  not  differ  in  colour,  and  there  is  scarcely  any 
variation  in  size,  as  the  males  have  the  wing  7 •6-7-8  inches  and 
the  females  7 -4-7 -8. 

[The  Owl  is  most  often  seen  in  thickets  of  screw-pine  and  in  the 
denser  parts  of  the  forest.  Its  food  consists  of  lizards,  locusts, 
white-eyes,  and  perhaps  rats.  The  nest  I  never  found,  but 
Mr.  Hugh  Ross  told  me  it  is  usually  placed  in  a  screw-pine  and 
made  of  twigs.  The  peculiar  cry,  resembling  veiy  closely  the  bark 
of  a  small  dog,  has  been  described  by  Mr.  Lister.  In 'the  forest 
after  sun-down  several  of  these  birds  could  be  heard  barking  in 
answer  to  one  another.  They  usually  begin  with  a  scarcely 
audible  'chuk-chuk,'  which  is  repeated  crescendo  till  they  break 
out  into  a  regular  bark,  which  may  be  repeated  a  considerable 
number  of  times  ;  this  may  stop  suddenly  or  die  away  gradually 
as  it  began.— C.  W.  A.] 


48  Christmas  Island. 

Order  CORACIIFORMES. 

Sub-Order  CYPSELI. 
23.   Collocalia  natalis. 

CoUocalia  natalis,  Lister,  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  520  ;  Hartert,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.,  xvi, 
p.  511  (1892)  ;  id.,  Tierreich,  Lief,  i,  Aves,  Macropt.,  p.  70  (1897). 

jS'o.  28,  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  August,  1897. 

9  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  IS'ovembcr  24,  1897. 

S  S  '^  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  NovcndDcr  25,  1897. 

9  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  December  28,  1897. 

ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  February  15,  1898. 

$  $  9\ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  "March  4,  1898. 

^  (5  9  9  9  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  March  7,  1898. 

The  series  brought  home  by  Mr.  Andrews  confimied  the 
characters  of  the  species,  but  the  differences  between  C.  natalis 
and  C.  neglecta  are  not  very  strongly  pronounced. 

Order    COCCYGES. 

Sub-Order  CUCULT. 
24.   Chalcococcyx  basalis. 

Chalcococcyx  basalis  (Horsf.),  Shelley,  Cat.  H.  Brit.  Mus.,  xix,  p.  294  (1891). 

A  single  immature  female  in  full  moult.  This  species  has  not 
before  been  obtained  on  Christmas  Island. 

Order    PASSERIFORMES. 

Family    MOTACILLID^. 

25.   Motacilla  nielanope. 

Motacilla  melanope,  Pall. :  Sliarpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.,  x,  p.  497  (1885). 

S  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  October  7,  1897. 

Iris  blue-black.  On  the  shore.  Stomach  contained  small  maiine 
worms. 

Also  not  recorded  from  Christmas  Island  previously. 

26.   Motacilla  flava. 

Motacilla  Jlava,  Liun. :    Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.,  x,  p.  516,  pi.  vi,  figs.  3-5 
(1885). 

No.  49,  S  imm-     I'b'i^g  ^ish  Cove,  October,  1897. 
a,  b,  imm.     Flying  Fish  Cove. 

Three  young  birds,  evidently  procured  on  migi'ation. 


Aves.  49 


Family  ZOSTEROPID^. 
27.  Zosterops  natalis.     (Plate  VI.) 

Zostervps  natalis,  Lister,  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  518,  pi.  xxvii. 

Ko.  21,  (^  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  August  5,  1897. 

ff,  S  '•^^-     FlviugFish  Cove,  August  10,  1897. 

b,  c,  ^  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  November  29,  1897. 

d,  S  acl-     riying  Fish  Cove,  JSTovember  24,  1897. 

e,  5  fifl^-     Flying  Fish  Cove,  December  3,  1897. 

f,  9,  S  9  'itL     Flying  Fish  Cove,  Maix-h  4,  1898. 

The  AVhite-eye  of  Christmas  Island  is  a  large  species,  and  easily 
recognized  by  its  colour.  I  can  see  no  difference  in  the  plumage 
of  specimens  killed  in  various  months,  and  the  young  resemble 
the  adults.  The  yellow  at  the  base  of  the  bill  scarcely  amounts 
to  more  than  a  small  loral  patch  and  does  not  form  a  frontal  band. 
N.B. — In  Mr.  Lister's  diagnosis  of  the  species  (p.  519)  the  first 
character,  ^-iz.,  that  the  crown  becomes  paler  "towards  the  base 
of  the  ^«//,"  must  be  a  misprint  for  'bill.' 

The  nest  is  a  pretty  little  structure  —  a  shallow  cup  suspended 
between  the  forks  of  a  twig,  to  which  it  is  attached.  The  nest 
consists  of  vegetable  fibre,  with  wool  as  a  basis,  and  it  is  lined 
with  the  same  black  fibre  of  the  sago-palm  as  that  used  by  the 
Thrush  for  its  nest.  A  second  nest  is  deeper  in  the  cup,  contains 
more  cotton,  and  has  a  few  white  feathers  interlaced  in  the 
outside.  The  two  eggs,  obtained  by  Mr.  Andi'ews  in  Xovember^ 
are  uniform  bluish  white.     Axis  0*7  ;  diam.  0"5. 

[The  little  Zosterops  (Burung  Waringin)  swarm  everj-where, 
even  in  the  middle  of  the  forest.  Thej-  seem  to  form  small  flocks, 
and  behave  much  like  Titmice,  climbing  about  among  the  foliage 
and  often  hanging  head  downwards  imder  a  leaf  or  branch  in  their 
search  for  insects.  They  also  eat  a  good  deal  of  fruit,  and  destroy 
many  papaias,  custard-apples,  and  bananas,  of  which  they  are  so 
fond  that  they  often  come  on  to  the  dinner-table  to  get  them. 
Thej-  liave  only  a  twittering  note,  but  when  a  Hawk  is  in  the 
neighbourhood  the  noise  made  by  a  flock  of  them  is  considerable. 
The  nest  is  usuallj'  placed  between  two  twigs  or  in  the  fork  of 
small  branches  of  bushes,  and  is  made  of  fibres  of  the  sago-palm, 
or  any  other  vegetable  fibre  they  can  get.  They  seem  to  breed 
nearly  all  the  year  round. — C.  W,  A.] 

Family   TUIIDID^. 
28.   Merula  erythropleura. 

Turdns  erijthropleuriis,  Sharpe,  P.Z.S.,  1887,  p.  515. 
Merula  erythropleura,  Lister,  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  517. 

Is"o.  23,  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  August,  1897. 

Nos.  52,  53,  (J  9  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  October  20,  1897. 

E 


■50  Christmas  Idaml. 

JS'o.  60,  S  ad.     Flyiug  Fish  Cove,  October  22,  1897. 
S  $  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  IN'ovembcr  4,  1897. 
S  ad.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  November  12,  1897. 
S  ad.     Flving  Fish  Cove,  IS'ovember  21,  1897. 
^  9  ad.     Flving  Fish  Cove,  December  29,  1897. 
^  juv.     Flving  Fish  Cove,  FebniaiT  14,  1898. 
9  ad.     Flving  Fish  Cove,  February  20,  1898. 
$  ad.     Flving  Fish  Cove,  March  7,  1898. 
9  jnv.     Xorth  Coast,  March  17,  1898. 
9  ad.     Phosphate  Hill,  November  3,  1897. 

This  species  is  of  the  group  of  Merula  javanica,  but  is  especially 
remarkable  for  the  size  of  its  bill,  which  is  very  large  in  proportion 
to  the  bird.  The  sexes  are  alike  in  colour,  and  the  j'oung  birds 
arc  more  dusky  brown,  with  pale  shaft-lines  to  the  feathers  of  the 
upper  surface.  In  the  young  the  bill  is  horn  brown,  not  yellow, 
and  the  under  surface  of  the  body  is  mottled  with  dusky-brown 
edges  to  the  feathers. 

[The  Grround-Thrush  is  common  everj-where,  but  is  most  numerous 
near  the  coast.  Like  the  other  birds  of  the  island,  it  is  very  tame, 
and  when  I  was  breaking  up  rotten  wood  searching  for  beetles, 
several  of  them  would  stand  (juite  close  \>\  in  reatliness  to  pick 
up  any  grubs  that  were  uncovered.  Its  food  consists  of  insects, 
seeds,  and  any  canion  it  can  find,  and  I  have  seen  one  kill  a  small 
brown  lizard,  though  it  seemed  to  have  some  difficulty  in  doing  so. 
"When  hunting  for  insects  among  the  dead  leaves,  the  colours  of  the 
plumage  harmonize  so  exactly  with  the  surrounthngs  that,  were 
it  not  for  the  bright  yellow  beak  and  eye-lids  the  bird  would  be 
almost  invisible.  The  alarm  cry  is  much  like  that  of  the  European 
Blackbird,  and  in  the  pairing  season  (December-January)  the  male 
has  a  song  something  like  that  of  the  English  Thrush,  but  harsher 
«nd  less  varied.  The  nest  is  made  of  fibres  of  the  wild  sago-palm 
{Arcnga  listen),  skeleton  leaves,  and  other  vegetable  fibre ;  it  is 
not  miiddined.  One  nest  was  taken  from  the  crown  of  a  screw- 
pine  (Pandaims),  another  from  the  hollow  top  of  a  broken  tree 
trunk,  some  fifteen  feet  from  the  ground.  Eggs  were  found  in 
December,  and  in  the  following  month  young  birds  just  able  to 
fly  were  numerous,  and  continued  to  be  so  till  April. — C.  W.  A.] 

Family   HIUrXDII^ID^. 

29.   Hirundo  gutturalis. 

Hirundo  gutturalis,  Scop.  :  Sharpe,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.,  x,  p.  134  (1885). 

9  juv.     Flj-ing  Fish  Cove,  October  16,  1897. 
A  young  female  of   the  Eastern  Chimney  Swallow,  in  moult 
from  the  first  plumage  to  the  glossy  dress  of  the  adult. 


Reptdia.  51 


EEPTILIA. 

By  G.  A.  BouLExNGEK,  F.ll.S. 

(PLATE  YII.) 

'The  first  collection  made  on  Cliristmas  Island  by  the  officers  of 
H.ll. S.  "Flying  Fish"  yielded  examples  of  three  species  — 
Gymnodactylus  marmoratus,  Kuhl,  Lygosonia  naticitatis  (n  sp.),  and 
Tt/phhps  cxocceti  (n.sp.).  Mr.  Lister's  visit  to  the  island  in  1888 
resulted  in  the  discovery  of  two  farther  new  species — Gecho  listeri 
and  Ahlepharus  egerice.  To  these  five  species  Mr.  Andrews  has 
.added  a  sixth,  the  widely  distributed  Lygosonia  atrocostatam. 

LACERTILIA. 

Family   GECKOXID^. 
1.   Gymnodactylus  marmoratus,  Kuhl. 

■Gymuodactijhix  uiannoratuK,  Boiilenger,  Cat.  Liz.,  i,  p.  44  (1885). 

Known  from  Java,  Sumatra,  and  Borneo;  also  from  the  mountains 
of  Perak,  in  the  Malay  Peninsula,  whence  I  have  recently  received 
a  specimen. 

2.   Gecko  listeri.     (PI.  VII,  Fig.  1.) 

■  Gecko  Ustcrl,  Bouleuger,  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  535. 

Head  moderate,  snout  once  and  one-third  the  diameter  of  the 
orbit,  which  equals  its  distance  from  the  very  small  round  ear- 
opening  ;  forehead  scarcely  concave.  Head  covered  with  small 
■granules,  which  arc  considerably  larger  on  the  snout ;  rostral 
quadrangular,  more  than  twice  as  broad  as  deep,  without  cleft ; 
nostril  pierced  between  the  rostral,  the  first  labial,  and  three 
nasals  ;  twelve  upper  and  ten  lower  labials ;  three  transverse  rows 
of  small  hexagonal  chin- shields.  Dorsal  scales  uniform,  minutely 
granular;  vcntrals  much  larger,  roundish  hexagonal,  subimbricate. 
Digits  with  a  very  slight  rudiment  of  web ;  seven  or  eight 
angularly  curved  lamellaj  under  the  median  toes.  A  short  angular 
series  of  twelve  prreanal  pores.  Tail  cylindrical,  covered  with 
uniform  small  flat  scales,  which  are  largest  inferiorly.  Pale  grey- 
brown  above,  with  a  few  rather  indistinct  brown  spots  and 
scattered  white  dots ;  a  brown  streak  from  the  nostril  to  the  eye  ; 
lower  parts  white,  with  small  brown  spots. 

Total  length     79  mm.  Fore  limb    12  mm. 

Head        12     ,,  Ilindlimb 15    ,, 

Width  of  head        ...       8-5  „  Tail      38   ,, 

Body         29      „ 


52  Christmas  Island. 

This  small  Gecho,  of  which,  a  single  male  specimen  was  obtained 
by  Mr.  Lister,  is  closely  allied  to  G.  piimilus,  Blgr.,  from  Papua 
(Port  Moresby  and  Torres  Straits),  from  which  it  is  at  once 
distinguished  by  its  nearly  free  toes. 

Family   SCIXCID^. 
3.   Lygosoma  atrocostatum,  Less. 

Lygosoma  atrocostatum,  Boulenger,  Cat.  Liz.,  iii,  p.  295  (1887). 

Mr.  Andrews  has  brought  home  two  specimens  of  this  species,. 
which  is  widely  distributed,  being  known  from  the  Philippines, 
Celebes,  the  Moluccas,  New  Guinea,  Cape  York,  the  Caroline  and 
Santa  Cruz  Islands.  I  may  also  add  to  its  known  habitat  Pulo- 
Tikos,  Penang,  where  it  was  found  by  Mr.  S.  8.  Flower,  and 
whence  it  had  been  described  by  Stoliczka  under  the  name  of 
Mahouya  jerdoniana. 

Lives  among  rocks  on  beach  at  Flying  Fish  Cove. 

4.  Lygosoma  nativitatis.     (PI.  VII,  Fig.  2.) 

Lygosoma  nativitatis,  Boulenger,  P.Z.S.,  1887,  p.  516,  and  1888,  p.  536. 

Section  Einoa.  Habit  lacertiform  ;  the  distance  between  the  end' 
of  the  snout  and  the  fore  limb  is  contained  once  and  one -third  to 
once  and  a  half  in  the  distance  between  axilla  and  groin.  Snout 
long,  obtuse.  Lower  eyelid  with  an  undivided  transparent  disk. 
Nostril  pierced  between  a  nasal,  a  postnasal,  and  a  supranasal ; 
frontonasal  broader  than  long,  forming  a  suture  with  the  rostral 
and  with  the  frontal ;  latter  shield  nearly  as  long  as  the  fronto- 
parietal, in  contact  with  the  first  and  second  supraoculars ;  four 
supraoculars  ;  seven  or  eight  supraciliaries  ;  frontoparietals  united 
into  a  single  large  shield ;  a  small  interparietal,  behind  which  the 
parietals  form  a  suture ;  a  pair  of  nuchals  and  a  pair  of  temporals 
boi'der  the  parietals ;  four  or  five  labials  anterior  to  the  large- 
subocular.  Ear-opening  oval,  a  little  larger  than  the  transparent 
palpebral  disk,  with  three  or  four  very  small  lobules  on  its  anterior 
border.  Thirty  to  thirty-four  scales  round  the  middle  of  the  body, 
all  smooth  in  the  adult,  quinquecarinate  in  the  yoimg,  laterals 
a  little  smaller  than  dorsals  and  ventrals.  No  enlarged  jirseanals. 
The  hind  limb  reaches  the  elbow.  Digits  moderately  elongate, 
a  little  flattened  at  the  base,  compressed  at  the  end ;  subdigital 
lamelloe  smooth,  thirty-one  to  thirty-four  under  the  fourth  toe. 
Tail  two  -  thirds  of  the  total  length.  Brown  above,  strongly 
iridescent,  with  small  golden  and  blackish  spots,  most  numerous- 
on  the  sides  and  limbs ;  lower  surfaces  white. 

Head...         15    mm. 

Width  of  head  9-5  „ 

Body 56      ,, 

Fore  limh      22      ,, 

Hind  limb      31      ,, 


Reptilia.  53 

This  species  "vras  originally  described  from  a  single  specimen ; 
numerous  examples  have  since  been  obtained  by  Mr,  Lister  and 
Mr.  Andrews. 

5.   Ablepharus  egerise.     (PI.  YII,  Eig.  3.) 

Ahlcpharits  cgcruc,  Boiileiiger,  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  535. 

Snout  pointed,  rostral  not  projecting.  Eye  entirely  surrounded 
■with  granules ;  upper  eyelid  represented  by  three  or  four  larger 
scales.  Kostral  largely  in  contact  with  the  frontonasal ;  pra3frontals 
forming  a  long  suture  ;  frontal  small,  in  contact  with  the  first  and 
second  supraoculars  ;  five  supraoculars,  second  largest,  fifth  smallest ; 
seven  supraciliaries  ;  interparietal  distinct  from  the  very  large, 
single  frontoparietal ;  a  pair  of  large  nuchals.  Ear-opening  rather 
small,  oval.  Scales  smooth  or  feebly  striated,  two  vertebral  rows 
largest ;  26  or  28  scales  round  the  middle  of  the  body.  Limbs  well 
•developed,  pentadactyle ;  the  hind  limb  reaches  the  axilla  in  the 
male,  the  elbow  in  the  female  ;  digits  long  and  slender,  smooth 
inferiorly.  Tail  once  and  a  half  the  length  of  head  and  body. 
Bronzy  above,  with  blackish  and  pale  greenish  spots ;  a  light,  dark- 
edged  dorso-lateral  band  ;  end  of  tail  blue ;  lower  parts  greenish 
white. 


Total  length      ... 

...     113  mm. 

Fore  limb     

.     ...     17mm, 

Head 

...       10    „ 

Hind  limb     

21    „ 

AVidthof  head  ... 

6    „ 

Tail       

68   „ 

Body 

...       35    „ 

^Numerous  specimens  were  obtained  by  Messrs.  Lister  and 
Andrews. 

Closely  allied  to  the  widely  distributed  A.  houtonii,  Desj.,  from 
which  it  differs  in.  the  distinct  interparietal  shield.  I  have,  how- 
ever, recently  noticed  (Ann.  Mus.  Geneva  [2],  xviii,  1898,  p.  719) 
the  presence  of  a  distinct  interparietal  in  a  specimen  of  that  species 
from  Lugh,  Somaliland.  A.  egerice  should  therefore  perhaps  be 
regarded  as  a  race  of  A.  houtonii. 


-o"" 


OPHIDIA. 

Family   TYPHLOPIDJE. 
6.   Typhlops  exocoeti. 

Typhlops  cxocmti,  Bouleuger,  P.Z.S.,  1887,  p.  517,  and  Cat.  Su.,  i,  p.  36,  pi.  iii, 
fig- 2. 

Snout  depressed,  rounded,  strongly  projecting  ;  nostrils  inferior. 
Eostral  broad,  upper  portion  broadest  anteriorly,  about  half  the 
width  of  the  head,  extending  to  the  level  of  the  eyes  ;  nasal 
incompletely  divided,  the  cleft  proceeding  from  the  second  labial ; 
.a  prseocular,  of  about  the  same  size  as  the  ocular,  in  contact  with 


54  Chridinm  Island. 

the  second  and  third  lahials ;  eyes  distingaiishable ;  upper  head- 
scales  a  little  larger  than  the  scales  on  the  body ;  four  upper 
labials.  Diameter  of  body  50  to  66  times  in  the  total  length  ;  tail 
nearly  twice  as  long  as  broad,  ending  in  a  spine.  Twenty  scale* 
round  the  body.  Pale  brownish,  each  scale  with  a  brown  spot; 
these  spots  largest  and  darkest  on  the  dorsal  surface,  where  they 
form  longitudinal  lines. 

Total  length,  480  mm. 

Two  specimens  were  captured  on  the  occasion  of  the  visit  of  the 
"  Flying  Fish."  Several  more  were  brought  home  by  Mr.  Andrews, 
"who  found  them  in  damp  places,  under  rocks  and  fallen  trees- 
Only  seen  out  on  dark  rainy  days. 

[Turtles  arc  often  seen  round  the  coasts  of  the  island,  and  they 
occasionally  come  up  on  to  the  white  beaches  to  deposit  their  eggs 
in  the  coral  sand — one  nest  on  the  West  White  Beach  contained 
142  eggs.  There  are  probably  three  species — Thalassochelys  caretta, 
Chelone  wibricata,  and  C.  mydas.  In  January,  a  small  specimen  of 
the  last  was  speared  in  shallow  water  near  North-East  Point. — 
C.  W.  A.] 


MOLLUSCA. 

By  E.  A.  SaiiTH,  F.Z.S. 


(PLATE  YIII.) 

The  land  -  shells  of  Christmas  Island  are  insignificant  both  in 
size  and  the  number  of  species.  Eleven  different  forms  were 
enumerated  by  the  writer  in  1888,'  nine  of  which  were  collected 
by  Mr.  Andrews,  besides  single  specimens  of  three  additional 
species,  namely,  02)eas  stibula,  Melampus  castaneus,  and  Assiminea 
andyeivsiana.  These,  however,  do  not  throw  any  additional  light  on 
the  relationship  of  the  fauna  with  that  of  other  parts  of  the  world. 
Although  seven  of  the  fourteen  species  recorded  are,  so  far  as  we 
know,  peculiar  to  the  island,  it  must  be  pointed  out  that  they 
belong  to  genera  the  species  of  which  have  no  very  striking 
characters.  The  three  forms  of  Lamprocystis  are  very  much  alike, 
and  appi'oximate  very  closely  to  certain  species  from  the  Philippines 
and  the  Malay  Archipelago.  The  Succineas  also  present  no  marked 
features,  and  might  have  been  found  anywhere.  Opens,  too,  is- 
a  genus  notorious  for  the   sameness    of  its  species    and  the  wide- 


1  Proc.  Zool.  Soc,  1S88,  p.  53G. 


MoUusca.  55 

distribution  of  several  of  them.  The  other  genera  represented  at 
Christmas  Island  —  Pytkia,  Melampiis,  Tnincatella,  Assiminea, 
and  Leptopoma — are  also  recognized  as  containing  species  which  are 
very  widely  distributed. 

In  conclusion,  therefore,  it  may  be  stated  that  the  fauna,  as 
represented  by  the  terrestrial  Mollusca,  does  not  show  any  special 
affinity  with  that  of  any  other  particular  locality ;  and  that  the 
same  species,  or  others  very  similar,  might  be  expected  to  occur 
not  only  at  adjacent  localities,  such  as  Sumatra  or  Java,  but  also 
further  eastward  in  Xew  Guinea  and  some  of  the  Pacific  Islands. 


Family  ZOMTID^. 
1.   Lamprocystis  normani  (Smith).     (PI.  VIII,  Figs.  1-3.) 

Ariopliaiita  {Microcijstis)  normani,  Smith,  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  537. 

Testa  parva,  plus  minus  depressa,  anguste  perforata,  tenuissima, 
nitida,  vel  pellucida  et  dilute  fusco-cornea,  vel  magis  opaca,  fusca, 
infra  suturam  et  ad  basim  pallida,  supra  et  infra  microscopice 
spiraliter  striata  ;  spira  brevissime  conoidea  ;  anfractus  5-6,  lente 
accrescentes,  convexiusculi,  ad  suturam  anguste  marginati,  ultimus 
ad  peripheriam  acute  rotundatus  aut  vix  angulatus ;  apertura 
obli(|ue  lunata ;  peristoma  tenue,  marginibus  distantibus,  colu- 
mellari  ad  insertionem  breviter  expanso  et  reflexo.  Diam.  maj.  6^, 
min.  6  mm.;  alt.  4^  mm.  Exemplum  majus  :  diam.  maj.  7f, 
min.  7  mm. ;  alt.  5|  mm. 

This  species  is  variable  in  size,  form,  and  colour.  The  typical 
specimens  were  uniformly  pellucid,  horny,  and  thin  in  texture, 
whilst  some  of  those  obtained  by  Mr.  Andrews  are  more  solid, 
larger,  and  of  a  brownish  or  reddish  brown  colour,  but  pale 
beneath  the  suture  and  upon  the  base  of  the  body-whorl.  Some- 
times the  upper  surface,  with  the  exception  of  the  apex,  which 
is  palish,  is  of  a  uniform  reddish  brown  tint.  The  spiral  striae 
are  only  visible  under  the  microscope,  and  are  less  conspicuous  on 
the  under  surface  than  above. 

2.  Lamprocystis  mabelae  (Smith).     (PI.  YIII,  Fig.  4.) 

AriophanUi  {Microcystis)  mahelce,  Smith,  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  537. 

Testa  L.  normani  simillima,  sed  magis  depressa,  anfractibus 
minus  convexis,  distinctius  striatis,  ultimo  ad  peripheriam  subacute 
angulato.     Diam.  maj.  6,  min.  oj  mm.  ;  alt.  3|- mm. 

Collected  by  Mr.  J.  J.  Lister. 

This  species,  if  the  specimens  upon  which  it  was  founded  be  adult, 
is  a  little  smaller  than  the  preceding.  It  is  similarly  perforated, 
of  the  same  texture  and  glossy  appearance,  but  more  depressed, 
and  has  flatter  whorls  which  are  a  trifle  more  distinctly  spirally 
striated  ;  the  body- whorl  is  quite  angular,  and  consequently  the 
form  of  the  aperture  is  rather  dift'erent. 


56  C/iristmas  Island. 

3.   Lamprocystis  mildredse  (Smith).     (PI.  VIII,  Figs.  5-7.) 

Ariophanta  [Microcystis)  mildredcB,  Smith,  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  537. 

Testa  L.  normani  similis,  sed  minor,  latius  perforata,  anfractibus 
magis  convexis,  utrinqiie  distinctius  spiraliter  striatis.  Diam.  maj.  5, 
inin.  4fmm. ;  alt.  3  mm. 

Collected  by  Mr.  J.  J.  Lister. 

This  species  is  smaller  than  either  of  the  preceding,  and  also  is 
more  distinctly  striated  both  above  and  below,  and  more  widely 
umbilicated.     The  whorls  are  rounder  and  the  suture  deeper. 

Family  SUCCI^^EID^. 
4.   Succinea  solidula,  PfeifPer.     (PI.  VIII,  Figs.  8,  9.) 

Siiccinea  solidula,  Pfeiffer,  P.Z.S.,  1849,  p.  134  ;   Monog.  Helic,  vol.  iii,  p.  22  ; 
Smith,  P.Z.S.,  1887,  p.  578,  figs.  1,  2. 

Testa  ovata,  pallida  flavescens  vel  dilute  rufescens,  subpellucida, 
incrementi  lineis  fortibus  obliquis  curvatis  sculpta,  undique  minute 
subgranulata ;  anfractus  3,  rapide  accrescentes,  perconvexi,  sutura 
obliqvia  sejuncti,  ultimus  magnus ;  apertura  inverse  auriformis, 
intus  nitons  ;  peristoma  tenue,  vel  interdum  intus  leviter  in- 
crassatum,  margine  columellari  paulo  incrassato,  callo  tenuissimo 
labro  juncto.  Long.  13  mm,,  diam.  maj.  10  mm.  ;  apertura  9  mm. 
longa,  6  lata. 

Another  small  but  adult  specimen  is  9  mm.  in  length  and  7  J  in 
diameter. 

Hah. — Flying  Fish  Cove  (Andrews). 

There  are  two  principal  characters  which  distinguish  this  species, 
namely,  the  thickened  peristome  and  the  peculiar  sculpture.  The 
former  is  not,  however,  observable  in  all  specimens,  but  its  absence 
may  be  due  to  their  immature  condition.  It  is  only  slight  in  any 
of  the  specimens,  and  internal;  hence  Pfeiffer's  expression  "  perist. 
submarginatum."  The  sculpture  has  the  appearance  (under  a 
strong  lens)  of  the  texture  of  very  fine  linen,  or  minute  crisscross 
lines,  rather  than  minute  granulations.  Besides  this  excessively 
fine  ornamentation  the  surface  exhibits  rather  strong  lines  of 
growth  or  subplications. 

5.   Succinea  solitaria.  Smith.     (PI.  VIII,  Figs.  10,  11.) 

Succinea  solitaria,  Smith,  P.Z.S.,  1887,  p.  518,  figs.  3,  4. 

Testa  suboblique  ovata,  supra  acuminata,  solidiuscula,  vel  albida, 
versus  apicem  rufescens,  vel  omnino  rubescens,  lineis  incrementi 
validis,  valde  obliquis,  curvatis,  striisque  spiralibus,  fortibus,  plus 
minus  distinctis,  sculpta  ;  anfractus  3,  rapide  crescentes,  duo 
su  peri  ores  perconvexi,  ultimus  supra  declivis,  antice  descendens ; 
apertura    rotunde    ovata,    supeme    acuminata,    intus    pallida    vel 


MoUusca.  57 

rubcsccns ;  peristoma  tcnuc,  intiis  interclum  subincrassatum, 
margine  columellax'i  plus  minus  incrassato  et  reflexo,  superne 
■callo  tenui  labro  juncto.  Long.  9i,  diam.  5^  mm.  ;  apertura  o  mm. 
longa,  42-  lata. 

Only  a  single  specimen  of  this  species  has  hitherto  been  known. 
The  fevr  examples  obtained  by  Mr.  Andrews  differ  in  being  of 
a  very  rich  reddish  colour.  The  solidity,  the  strong  lines  of 
growth,  and  the  spiral  striae  are  the  principal  distinguishing 
features  of  the  species.  The  transverse  striae  are  rather  coarse, 
and  more  conspicuous  in  some  specimens  than  others. 

6.   Succinea  listeri,  Smith.     (PI.  YIII,  Figs.  12,  13.) 
Succxnea  listeri,  Smith,  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  537. 

Testa  elongato-ovata,  superne  acnminata,  tenvds,  cornea,  rubes- 
■  cens  ;  anfractus  3,  rapide  crescentes,  ultimus  permagnus, 
incrementi  lineis  tenuibus  striatus ;  apertura  elongata,  ovata, 
superne  acuminata ;  peristoma  tenue,  marginibus  callo  tenuissimo 
junctis.  Long.  13|  mm.,  diam.  maj.  8  mm.;  apertura  10^  mm. 
longa,  7  lata. 

This  species  differs  in  form  and  sculpture  from  both  the  other 
species  from  the  island.  It  is  smoother,  and  has  a  shorter  spire 
and  a  longer  body- whorl. 

Family  STEXOGYRID^. 

7.   Opeas  subula  (Pfeiffer).     (PI.  VIII,  Fig.  14.) 

Achatina  subula,  Pfeiffer,  Wiegraaun's  Arch.  Naturg.,  1839,  vol.  i,  p.  352. 

Bulimus  subula.  Reeve,  Conch.  Icon.,  vol.  v,  pi.  Ixix,  lig.  494. 

Stenogyra  {(Jjjeas)  subula,  Binney  &  Bland,  Land  and  Fresh-water  Shells   of 

North  America,  pt.  i,  p.  230,  fig.  392. 
Bulimus  oparanus,  Pfeiffer,  P.Z.S.,  1846,  p.  34. 

Hah.  —  Many  islands  in  the  West  Indies,  Florida,  Mexico, 
Venezuela,  Fernando  jS'oronha,  Borneo,  Cochin  China,  Island  of 
Opara  or  Kapa,  etc. 

A  single  specimen  obtained  by  Mr.  Andrews  is  inseparable  from 
this  species,  Avhich,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  above  localities,  has 
a  very  wide  range.  I  am  unable  to  find  any  characters  which 
will  distinguish  this  species  from  0.  ojjaranus  (Pfr.),  the  sculpture 
being  precisely  similar  in  both.  The  crenulation  at  the  suture, 
especially  in  the  upper  whorls,  a  feature  not  noticed  in  the  descrip- 
tions, is  very  peculiar,  and,  although  visible  under  a  simple  lens, 
is  best  seen  under  a  compound  microscope. 

Binney  and  Bland  account  for  the  wide  distribution  of  this 
species  by  its  transplantation  Avith  the  banana  and  plantain 
throughout  the  Tropics.  These  trees  have  been  introduced  into 
Christmas  Island  from  Java,  and  possibly  the  Opeas  along  with 
them,  although  at  present  I  am  not  aware  of  its  having  been 
recorded  from  that  island. 


58  C/iristmas  Island. 

Family  ATJEICrLID^. 
8.   Pythia  scarabseus  (Linn.).     (PI.  VIII,  Fig.  15.) 

Fijthia  searahcBus,  PfeifEer,  Mou.  Auric,  p.  82. 

Hah. — Flying  Fish  Cove.  "Widely  distributed  in  the  islands. 
of  the  Malay  Archipelago  and  Oceania. 

The  specimens  from  Christmas  Island  are  much  smaller  than, 
usual,  the  largest  having  a  length  of  only  20  mm, 

9.    Melampus  luteus  (Quoy  &  Gaimard).     (PI.  VIII,  Fig.  16.) 
Melampiiii  lateiis,  Pfeiffer,  Mou.  Auric,  p.  36. 

Hal). — Same  as  preceding. 

Also  rather  smaller  than  usual.     Length,  14  mm. 

10.    Melampus  fasciatus  (Deshayes).     (PI.  VIII,  Fig.  17.) 
Melampus  fasciat lis,  Desh.  :  Pfeiffer,  Mou.  Auric,  p.  38. 

Jlai. — Same  as  preceding. 

Again  the  examples  are  small,  only  11^  mm.  in  length.  Some- 
are  red-banded,  whilst  others  arc  of  a  livid  greyish  tint  without 
bands,  the  spire  being  slate-blue  in  all. 

11.   Melampus  castaneus  (Miihlfeldt).     (PL  VIII,  Fig.  18.) 
Melampus  castaneus,  Pfeiffer,  Mou.  Auric,  p.  30. 

ITah. — Sandwich  and  Samoa  Islands. 

Only  a  single  young  specimen  was  obtained  by  Mr.  Andrews. 
It  agrees  in  every  respect  with  examples  from  the  Hawaiian'. 
Islands. 

Family  CYCLOPHOEID^. 
12.  Leptopoma  mouhoti,  Pfeiffer,  var.     (PI.  VIII,  Figs.  19,  20.) 

Leptopoma  moulioti,  Pfeiffer,  P.Z.S.,  1861,  p.  185;  Mouog.  Pueumou.,  vol.  iii^ 
p.  82  ;  Eeeve,  Conch.  Icou.,  vol.  xiii,  pi.  v,  fig.  25. 

Testa  breviter  conica,  umbilicata,  tenuiuscula,  subpellucida, 
sordide  albida,  epidcrmide  tenuissima  lutesccnte  induta,  interdum 
infra  periphoriam  fusco  maculata  ;  spira  conoidea,  ad  apicem  baud 
acuta ;  anfractus  5,  convexi,  liiis  spiralibus  filiformibus  (in  anfr. 
ultimo  circitcr  6)  striisque  inter  liras  spiralibus  tenuibus,  incre- 
menti  lineis  obliquis  ornati,  ultimiis  in  medio  vix  augulatus,  liris 
circa  12  (mcdiana  ad  peripheriam  ca^tcris  paulo -fortiori),  succinctus ; 
apertura  fere  circularis,  long,  totius  ^  paulo  superans ;  peristoma 
anguste  expansum,  baud  duplicatum,  marginibi;s  callo  tenui  junctis,, 
columellari  sinuato.     Long.  11-^- mm.,  diam.  maj.  1^-mm. 


Molhtsca.  59' 

Jlal. — Found  on  mossy  trunks  of  trees  in  the  upper  part  of  the 
island  (J.  J".  Lister) ;  north  coast  (Andrews). 

The  t3-pc  of  L.  mouhoti  was  described  from  Camboja,  and  differs 
slightly  in  being  a  ti'ifle  more  elevated  than  the  specimens  from 
Christmas  Island.  Its  peristome  also  is  slightly  broader.  At 
present  1  have  seen  only  two  specimens,  so  am  unable  to  judge 
of  the  constancy  of  these  differences. 

Family   TRUXCATELLID^. 

13.   Truncatella  valida,  Pfeiffer.     (PL  YIII,  Figs.  21,  22.) 

Truncatella  valida,  Pfeiffer,  Mon.  Auric,  p.  184;  Kiister,  Conch. -Cab.,  p.  11,- 
pl.  ii,  figs.  19-21,  23. 

Jlab. — Philippine  Islands,  New  Caledonia,  Samoa,  etc. 

The  two  or  three  apical  volutions,  constituting  the  protoconch, 
are  very  convex,  and  although  apparently  smooth  under  a  simple 
lens,  under  the  microscope  are  seen  to  be  very  finely,  regularly, 
longitudinally  striated. 

Family   ASSI3IINEID^. 

14    Assiminea  andrewsiana,  n.sp.     (PI.  VIII,  Fig.  23.) 

Testa  elongata,  conica,  imperforata,  rufescenti  -  cornea,  vix 
pellucida ;  anfractus  7,  convexiusculi,  lente  accrescentes,  infra 
suturam  linea  pellucida  marginati,  lasves,  nitentes,  ultimus  brevis, 
rotundatus  ;  apertura  obliqua,  inverse  auriformis,  longit.  totius 
-g-  fere  adnequans  ;  peristoma  marginibus  callo  tenui  junctis,  externo 
acuto,  tenue,  columellari  valde  incrassato  et  reflexo.  Long.  4, 
diam.  2^  mm. 

Only  a  single  specimen  was  obtained  of  this  pretty  little  species. 
It  is  closely  allied  to  A.  wuodmasoniana,  Nevill,^  from  Port  Canning, 
near  Calcutta.  It  is  similar  in  colour,  but  has  more  convex 
whorls,  and  wants  the  keel  which  surrounds  the  umbilical  region, 
also  a  fine  thread-like  line  which  winds  up  the  spire  round  the 
middle  of  the  whorls.  This  character,  present  in  all  four  specimens 
of  A.  ivoochna^oniana  obtained  by  the  Museum  from  Dr.  Hungerford's 
collection,  is  not  noticed  in  Mr.  jS^evill's  description. 


1  Jouni.  As.  Soc.  Bengal,  1880,  vol.  xlix,  pt.  2,  p.  163;   18S1,  vol.  l,  p.  InS,. 
pi.  vii,  fig.  1. 


*60  Chriatmas  Island. 

INSECTA. 

(PLATES   IX-XV.) 

Order   1.— LEPIDOPTERA. 

LEPIDOPTERA     RHOPALOCERA. 

By  Aethue  G.  Butlee,  Ph.D.,  F.L.S.,  F.Z.S.,  etc. 

(PLATE  IX,  Fig.  8.) 

In  tlie  Proceedings  of  the  Zoological  Society  for  1888  I  gave  an 
account  of  a  collection  of  Lepidoptera  obtained  by  Mr.  J.  J.  Lister 
■  on  Christmas  Island  in  1887  ;  this  collection  contained  five  species 
■of  Butterflies,  two  of  which  I  had  described  in  the  Proceedings  of 
the  preceding  year  in  a  Report  on  a  Zoological  Collection  made  by 
the  Officers  of  H.M.S.  "Flying  Fish." 

Previous  to  Mr.  Andrews'  visit,  therefore,  the  following  species 
■were  recorded  as  occurring  on  the  island :  —  Vadehra  macleari, 
BypoUmnas  listeria  Nacaduha  ahita,  Terias  amplexa,  and  Terias 
2ocdruelis ;  but,  as  the  last  of  these  turns  out  to  be  quite  distinct 
from  Moore's  species,  and  the  ordinary  female  of  T.  amplexa,  only 
four  distinct  species  were  known  to  exist  on  the  island.  To  these 
Mr.  Andrews  has  added  five  others,  one  of  which,  however,  was 
evidently  blown  across  from  Java,  to  the  species  of  which  island 
those  of  Christmas  Island  show  some  affinity,  although  less  than  to 
those  of  North  Australia. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  species  : — 

Family  NYMPHALID^. 

EUPLCEIN^. 

1.   Limnas  petilia. 

FapiUo petilia ,  Stoll,  Suppl.  Cramer's  Pap.  Exot.,  pL  xxviii,  fig.  3  (1787-91). 

Three  males  and  four  females  were  obtained  near  Rocky  Point 
in  September  and  iSTovember. 

Hitherto  this  species  has  only  been  known  as  purely  Australian  ; 
its  occurrence  on  Christmas  Island,  therefore,  is  the  more 
remarkable.  If  L.  petilia  reached  this  island  from  Australia 
there  seems  no  reason  why  it  should  not  have  passed  northwards 
to  Java ;  it  would  therefore  appear  more  probable  that  it  has 
travelled  in  a  south-easterly  direction  to  Australia,  but  that  it 
should  have  crossed  such  a  vast  tract  of  sea  is  indeed  extra- 
ordinary ;  nevertheless,  the  forms  of  Hypolimnas  nerina  occurring 
in  Australia  and  Java  are  almost  identical. 


Lqndoptera.  61 


2.  Vadebra  macleari. 

Vadebra  macleari,  Butler,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc,  1887,  p.  522,  fig.  1. 

Flying  Fish  Cove ;  August  to  November,  1897;  March,  1898. 

One  nearly  perfect  female  \yas  obtained,  which  (in  the  character 
of  its  primaries)  shows  rather  more  resemblance  to  the  female  of 
P.  sepulchralis  of  Java  than  do  the  males  ;  seventeen  males  were 
secured. 

SATYRIN^. 

3.  Melanitis  ismene,  var.  determinata. 

Melanitis  determinata,  Butler,  Proc.  Eut.  Soc,  1885,  p.  vi. 

One  female  of  the  wet-season  phase  (not  dated). 

This  species  has  an  enormous  range,  and  may  have  reached  the 
island  from  Java  ;  it  is  the  Indo-Malayan  insect,  and  does  not  show 
the  characteristics  of  M.  leda  (Avhich  occurs  in  no  part  of  India, 
Burma,  Ceylon,  or  Malaysia). 

NYMPHALIN^. 

4.    Charaxes  andrewsi,  sp.n.     (PI.  IX,  Fig.  8.) 

More  nearly  related  to  C.  pi/rrhus  fi'om  Amboina  than  to  any 
other  species  of  the  genus,  but  altogether  a  far  more  smoky- 
coloured  insect  on  the  upper  surface ;  all  the  white  markings  on 
the  primaries  of  C.  2J!/f'thus  are  here  represented  by  more  or  less 
buff-coloured  spots  ;  the  internal  patch,  bounded  above  by  the 
second  median  branch,  diffused,  and  more  or  less  heavily  irrorated 
with  black  scales  ;  the  secondaries  are  much  darker  than  in 
C.  pyrrhus,  the  central  whitish  band  more  sharply  defined,  and 
almost  always  abruptly  abbreviated,  so  that  it  rarely  descends 
below  the  second  subcostal  branch ;  the  greyish-lavender  markings 
of  C.  pyrrhus  entirely  wanting ;  the  black  outer  border  extended 
inwards,  so  as  to  cover  nearly  half  the  wing-surface ;  a  submarginal 
ochreous  band,  broken  by  grey  -  greenish  streaks,  bordering  the 
extremities  of  the  nervures. 

The  pattern  and  colouring  of  the  under-surface  is  much  more 
like  that  of  C.  jupiter  (from  Duke  of  York  Island,  the  Solomon 
Islands,  and  New  Guinea)  ;  it  differs,  however,  in  the  slenderness 
of  all  the  black  markings,  the  much  smaller  patch  across  the  end  of 
the  discoidal  cell  of  the  primaries,  and  the  much  reduced,  or  wholly 
obliterated,  patch  below  the  cell ;  on  the  secondaries,  the  red 
patches  are  brighter  and  somewhat  broader ;  the  white  submarginal 
spots  are  bordered  externally  with  bluish-lavender,  and  the 
interrupted  ochreous  band  is  brighter  and  better  defined ;  expanse 
of  wings,  S  87-92  mm.,  $  106-112mm. 


'62  Christmas  Island. 

"West  of  Flyinp;  Fisli  Cove  in  August  and  September ;  at  and 
near  Eocky  Point,  i^ovember  and  December,  1897;  Flying  Fish 
CoTe,  April,  1898. 

One  perfect  female  and  a  dozen  more  or  less  broken  examples 
(of  both  sexes)  were  collected.  As  usual  with  the  species  of  this 
geniis,  C.  andreicsi  has  an  extremely  rapid  flight  and  is  difficult 
to  catch. 

5.   Junonia  villida. 

Fapillo  viUida.  Fabricius,  Maut.  lus.,  ii,  p.   35  (1787)  ;    Donovan,   Ins.  New 
HolL,  pi.  xxY,  fig".  3  (1805). 

Five  specimens,  not  dated. 

This  is  the  typical  Australian  form  of  the  species,  differing  from 
that  occurring  on  the  islands  of  the  South  Pacific  in  the  narrower 
and  less  brilliantly  red -tinted  fuh'ous  markings.  Dr.  Horsficld 
obtained  the  same  form  in  Java. 

6.   Hypolimnas  misippus. 

Fapilio  misippiis,  Linnreus,  Mus.  Liid.  Ulr.,  p.  264  (1764). 

9  Flying  Fish  Cove,  March,  1898. 

The  single  example  obtained  is  much  rubbed  and  shattered ;  it 
was  the  only  specimen  seen,  and  appeared  immediately  after 
north-easterly  gales,  so  that  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  it  was 
blown  over  from  Java. 

7.   Hypolimnas  nerina,  var.  listeri. 

HypoUmnas  lisieri,  Butler,  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  542. 

Typical  R.  listeri  is  the  prevalent  form  in  Christmas  Island, 
but  "it  proves  to  vary  more  than  the  eight  examples  obtained  by 
Mr.  Lister  led  me  to  believe,  though  certainly  far  less  than  the 
race  occurring  at  Suva  (Viti  Levu).  In  the  wet  season  it  is  repre- 
sented by  a  form  the  male  of  which  is  like  R.  nerina  on  both 
surfaces,' bat  the  female  differs  in  having  the  tawny  patch  on 
the  primaries  small,  as  in  H.  ipkigenia;  a  second  form  agrees 
exactly  with  II.  ipliigevia  on  both  surfaces;  a  third  form  nearly 
approaches  H.  proaerpina,  but  has  much  smaller  tawny  patches 
on  the  female,  and  the  white  belt  on  the  under-surface  of  the 
secondaries  represented  in  both  sexes  by  a  whitish  haze ;  this 
variety  occurs  in  both  large  and  small  phases.  Then  follows 
typical  II.  listeri,  and  finally  a  form  near  R.  alcmene,  but  with 
only  a  spot  of  tawny  on  the  primaries  and  none  on  the  secondaries. 
It  will  be  necessary  to  consider  these  varieties  separately. 

Var.  1  (wet  phase).  Three  very  much  shattered  examples,  not 
dated,  but  probably  collected  in  February  or  March,  1898. 

Var.  2  =  //.  ipkigenia,  9  24th  December ;  $  Flying  Fish  Cove, 
29th  December,  1897. 


Lepidoptera.  63 

Var.  3,  nc^ix  H.  proserpina,  9  iS'ovember ;  (J,  9  9  riying  Fish 
■Cove,  December,  1897. 

Var.  4,  similar,  but  much  smaller,  five  males  and  two  females, 
not  dated. 

Var.  5,  H.  listeri.  West  of  Flying  Fish  Cove,  August ;  ]S"orth- 
East  Point,  23rd  December ;  the  remaining  specimens  were  probably 
all  taken  at  Flying  Fish  Cove,  and  are  dated  October,  November, 
and  December,  1897. 

Var.  6,  near  H.  alemene.  i^ ,  9  Flying  Fish  Cove,  in  December. 
Unfortunately,  most  of  the  specimens  of  this  species  are  so  much 
broken  as  to  be  hardly  fit  for  the  cabinet. 

8.  Nacaduba  aluta. 

■Capido  aluta.  Druce,  P.Z.S.,  1873,  p.  349,  pi.  xxxii,  fig.  8. 

Flying  Fish  Cove,  20th  October,  28th,  29th,  and  30th  December, 
1897;  March,  1898;  north  coast,  March,  1898. 

A  good  series  of  this  species  was  obtained ;  it  varies  considerably 
in  size. 

9.  Terias  amplexa. 

$  Terias  amplexa,  Butler,  P.Z.S.,  1887,  p.  523,  fig.  5. 

?  Terias patruelis,  Butler  (uot  Moore),  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  545. 

$  Firing  Fish  Cove,  August ;  9  September ;  $  $  November ; 
SS,  99  24th,  2oth,  28th,"and  29th  December,  1897;  $  north 
coast,  December,  1897  ;  9  February;  $  llocky  Point,  March,  1898. 

There  is  no  distinctive  seasonal  characteristic  in  this  species ;  all 
the  males  show  a  wet  type  of  coloration,  and  the  females  a  dry 
■one.  It  was  the  dry  characteristic  of  the  latter  sex  which  led  me 
to  suppose  it  might  be  a  variety  of  T.  j}atruelis.  There  can  be 
little  doubt  now  that  T.  amplexa  is  an  endemic  form,  and  the  only 
Terias  in  the  island. 


LEPIDOPTERA     PHAL-^N^. 

By  Sir  Geokge  F.  Hampson,  Bart. 

The  number  of  species  of  Moths  taken  (exclusive  of  Pterophoridse 
.and  Tineidai)  Avas  65,  among  which  are  all  the  five  species  taken 
by  Mr,  Lister,  and  described  in  the  P.Z.S.  for  1888,  pp.  542-546, 
by  Mr.  Butler. 

The  most  interesting  point  in  working  out  the  fauna  and  flora 
of  an  oceanic  island  is  the  distribution  of  its  species.  I  have 
therefore  given  the  full  distribution  of  each  species  as  far  as  they 


64  Chrktmas  Island. 

are  known  to  me.  The  distribution  of  Christmas  Island  Moths 
seems  to  show  very  clearly  that  it  has  no  connection  with  the- 
Malayan  sub-region,  bnt  is  very  intimately  related  to  the  Ceylonese 
sub-region,  with  a  less  strong  relationship  to  the  Australasian  fauna' 
found  in  Queensland,  J^ew  Gianea,  and  the  Pacific  groups.  In  the 
collection  hardly  any  of  the  numerous  species  confined  to  the  Malayan 
sub-region  occur ;  and  where  there  are  closely  allied  species  in  the- 
Ceylonese  and  Malayan  faunas,  it  is  the  species  of  the  former  region 
that  occur  in  Christmas  Island,  not  of  the  latter,  and  this  holds  with 
regard  to  large  conspicuous  species  whose  distribution  is  well  known, 
and  not  only  small  and  obscure  species  which  might  be  supposed  tO' 
have  been  overlooked  in  the  Malayan  sub-region. 

Family  SYNTOMID^. 

1.  Euchromia horsfieldi,  Moore :  P.Z.S.,  1859,  p.  200,  pi.  Ix,  fig.  13- 

4  (J,  5  5  ;  January,  February. 
Distrih. — Borneo,  Java,  Bali,  Sumbawa. 

Family  ARCTIAD.E. 

NOLIN^. 

2.  Nola  distributa,  Wlk. :  Journ.  Linn.  Soc.,Zool.,vi,p.  113(1862).. 

East  coast,  1  9- 

Distrih. — Madagascar,  China,  India,  Burma,  Borneo,  Bali. 

ARCTIAN.^. 

3.  Deiopeia  pulchella,  Linn.:  Syst.  Xat.,  10th  ed.,  p.  534  (1758). 

6  (5^,  5  9  ;  October.     All  of  the  pale  form  Candida,  Butl. 
Distrih. — Almost  universal  in  Old  World. 

4.  Argina  cribraria,  Clerck:  Icones  Ins.,  ii,  pi.  liv,  fig.  4  (1759). 

1  9-     Both  wings  extremely  pale. 

Distrih. — Madagascar,  Mauritius,  China,  Malayan  sub-region  to- 
New  Hebrides. 

Family  AGARISTID^. 
5.   Mimeusemia  econia,  n.sp.     (PI.  IX,  Fig.  7.) 

Head  yellowish  white ;  palpi  with  the  second  and  third  joints 
banded  with  black  ;  a  short  black  streak  above  the  frontal 
prominence  ;  antenna?  and  patches  above  and  behind  eyes  black ;: 
thorax  black,  with  white  stripes  on  dorsum  and  patagia ;    pectus 


Lepkloptera.  65 

and  legs  orange  yellow,  tarsi  banded  with  black  ;  abdomen  oran2:e 
yellow,  with  dorsal  fuscous  bands.  Fore  wing  chocolate  red,  with 
sub-basal  yellowish-white  spot ;  an  oblique  triangular  antemedial 
spot  from  subcostal  nervure  to  submedian  fold  ;  a  small  medial  spot 
below  costa,  and  a  large  spot  from  above  median  nervure  to  sub- 
median  fold ;  a  spot  beyond  the  cell  from  below  costa  to  below 
vein  3  ;  the  costal  area  black,  with  silvery-blue  spot  near  base  ; 
a  silvery -blue  streak  on  basal  half  of  vein  1 ;  antemedial  spots  in 
and  below  cell,  with  a  streak  of  scales  above  them  on  costa ;  the 
discocellulars  silvery  blue  ;  the  postmedial  line  silvery  blue,  oblique 
from  costa  to  vein  4,  then  recurved  to  below  end  of  cell;  the  area 
from  just  beyond  it  strongly  irro rated  with  whitish  scales ;  cilia 
white  near  apex  and  tornus.  Hind  wing  black,  with  basal  white 
patch  extending  on  inner  area  to  middle,  its  outer  edge  slightly 
angled  at  subcostal  and  median  nervures  ;  an  elliptical  spot  beyond 
the  cell ;  cilia  white  near  apex  and  towards  tornus. 

3  ^,  1  9  ;  Flying  Fish  Cove,  October.      Exp.  $  40,  $  42  mm. 
Allied  to  Perakana,  Hoths. 

Family  NOCTUIDiE. 

CARADRININ^. 
6.  Dipterygia  vagivitta,  Wlk. :  Journ.  Linn.  See,  Zool.,  vi,  p.  185. 

2  9  ;  February,  March. 
Distrib. — Sikhim,  Borneo. 

7.   Amyna  selenampha,  Guen. :  Noct.,  i,  p.  406. 

5  (J  ;  March. 

Distrib. — Natal,  Madagascar,  China,  India,  Ceylon,  Andamans, 
Philippines,  Borneo,  Java. 

8.   Amyna  octo,  Guen. :  'Noct.,  i,  p.  233. 

5  (J,  4  9  ;  December-February.  Of  these  six  belong  to  the 
form  axis,  with  the  white  discoidal  spot  on  fore  wing. 

There  are  also  1^,1  '^,  oi  a  very  dark  form,  fore  wing  with 
some  orange  on  the  white  discoidal  spot,  and  a  prominent  white 
spot  on  costa  close  to  apex ;  this  is  also  foimd  in  Pulo  Laut  and 
Fergusson  Island,  New  Guinea. 

Distrib. — Throughout  the  Tropical  Zone. 

9.    Prodenia  littoralis,  Boisd. :  Faun.  Ent.  Madag.  Lep.,  p.  91, 

pi.  xiii,  fig.  8. 

8  (?,  4  9  ;  September-March. 

Distrib. — Mediterranean  sub-region,  and  throughout  the  Tropical 
and  sub-Tropical  Zones  of  the  Old  World. 


66  Christmas  Island. 

10.   Leocyma  tibialis,  Fabr. :  Syst.  Ent.,  p.  578. 
Dtstrih, — India,  Formosa,  New  Caledonia,  Tonga,  Tahiti. 

NOCTUINJE. 

11.   Armactia  columbina,  Wlk,,  xxxiii,  808. 

6  J* ,  6  9;  December-Marcli. 
Dibtrib. — Queensland. 


12.   Brana  calopasa,  Wlk.,  xiii,  1100. 

15  (?»  8  9  j  September-January,  round  on  several  occasions 
in  dense  masses  measuring  about  2  X  1  ft.  X  6  in.,  or  in  long  narrow 
masses  on  trees  or  rocks ;  probably  due  to  a  single  female  attracting 
a  large  number  of  males. 

Distrib. —  Ceylon,  New  Guinea. 

13.   Ophiusa  honesta,  Hiibn. :    Samml.  Exot.  Scbmett.,  ii,  p.  4, 

pi.  203,  figs.  1,  2. 

14  (J,  8  9  ;  February-March. 

Listrih. — India,  Ceylon,  Burma,  Andamans,  Philippines. 

14.   Ophiusa  coronata,  Fabr. :  Syst.  Ent.,  p.  596. 

2  (J,  7  9;  September. 

Distrih. — India,  Ceylon,  Burma,  Andamans,  Java,  Queensland. 

15.   Ophiusa  serva,  Fabr.  :  Syst.  Ent.,  p.  593. 

5  (5,  18  9  ;  December-March. 

Distrih. — India,  Ceylon,  Burma,  Borneo,  Java,  Celebes,  Queens- 
land, ]^ew  Hebrides. 

16.   Bocula  limbata,  Butl. :  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  545.    (PI.  IX,  Fig.  1.) 

2  (?)  8  9;  December -March.  The  genus  Eudragana  was 
described  by  Mr.  Butler  from  the  single  female  collected  by 
Mr.  Lister,  which  had  remained  unique  in  the  collection.  It  will 
form  a  section  of  the  genus  Bocula^  Guen. :  antennae  of  male  with 
long  bristles  and  cilia ;  patagia  short,  ending  in  tufts  of  hair ; 
abdumen  with  large  lateral,  oval  tufts ;  hind  wing  with  slight 
costal  fold  and  subcostal  fringe  of  very  long  scales  on  upper  side. 


Lcpidoptera.  67 


17.  Acantholipes  similis,  Moore :  Lep.  Atk.,  p.  174,  pi.  vi,  fig.  5. 

1  9-     Small,  like  specimens  from  Borneo. 
Distrih. — India,  Borneo. 

18.  Thermesia  rubricans,  Boisd. ;  Faun.  Ent.  Madag.  Lep.,  p.  106, 

pi.  xvi,  fig.  1. 

Distrib. — Africa,  Madagascar,  throughout  the  Oriental  region  to 
the  Pacific  groups. 

19.  Ophideres  salaminia,  Fabr. :  Eat.  Syst.,  iii,  2,  p.  17. 

Distrih. — Madagascar,  Formosa,  throughout  the  Oriental  region 
to  Queensland  and  Fiji. 

20.  Ophideres  ancilla,  Cram. :  Pap.  Exot.,  ii,  pi.  149,  F. 

4  <?.  4  9  ;  August- February. 
Distrih. — India,  Ceylon,  Burma. 

21.  Ophideres  fullonica,  Linn. :   Syst.  Nat.,  i,  2,  p.  812. 

6  c?7  ^  9  '  September,  October. 

Distrih. — Africa,  and  throughout  the  Oriental  region  to  New 
Guinea  and  Queensland. 

22.  Ophideres  materna,  Linn. :  Syst.  Nat.,  i,  2,  p.  840. 

7  (^,  5  9  ;  September. 

Distrih. — Tropical  Africa,  India,  Ceylon,  Burma,  Andamans, 
Java,  North  Australia. 

23.  Cosmophila  erosa,  Hiibn. :  Zutr.  Samml.  Exot.  Schnutt.,  ii,  19, 

figs.  287,  288. 

1  (J,  2  9;  March.  The  male  belongs  to  the  form  with 
pectinated  antennoe. 

Distrih.  —  United  States,  "West  Indies,  Africa,  Madagascar, 
Mauritius,  throughout  the  Oriental  region  to  Queensland  and  Fiji. 

24.  Cosmophila  vitiensis,  Butl. :  Trans.  Ent.  Soc,  1886,  p.  408. 

(PI.  IX,  Fig.  12.) 

4  (?)  5  9  ;  March.  The  antennae  of  males  have  short  branches 
on  outer  side,  and  are  fasciculate  on  the  inner  j  the  postmedian  line 


68  Chrktmas  Inland. 

of  fore  wing  has  its  excurved  portions  rounded   or   straight,   not 
angled ;  the  usual  colour  variations  occur. 
Distrib. — New  Hebrides,  Fiji,  Tahiti. 

25.   Eutelia  delatrix,  Guen.  :  Noct.,  ii,  p.  304. 

3  J,  3  9. 

Distrib. — India,  Ceylon,  Burma,  Singapore,  Java,  Queensland. 

26.   Stictoptera  describens,  Wlk.,  xiii,  1139. 

1  9  ;  December. 

Distrib. — South  India,  Ceylon,  Singapore. 

27.   HydriUodes  vexillifera,  sp.n.     (PI.  IX,  Fig.  6.) 

(J.  Palpi  recurved  over  head,  the  first  joint  angled  with  scales 
in  front ;  the  second  largely  tufted  with  hair  at  the  extremity,  tlie 
third  bent  downwards  and  tufted  with  hair ;  fore  tibiae  and  femora 
with  large  tufts  of  hair ;  fore  wing  with  slight  costal  fold  on 
under-side  fringed  with  large  scales  ;  hind  wing  with  the  basal  area 
on  under-side  clothed  with  fulvous  androconia. 

Fuscous  brown ;  the  tufts  on  fore  legs  and  at  extremity  of 
abdomen  tinged  with  ochreous.  Fore  wing  with  faint  traces  of  an 
antemedial  line ;  a  black  point  at  middle  of  cell ;  the  postmedial 
line  arising  from  a  white  point  on  costa,  then  indistinct,  waved, 
and  incurved  from  vein  3  to  submedian  fold ;  the  subtermiaal  line 
indistinct,  curved  and  angled  inwards  in  submedian  fold ;  hind 
wing  with  discoidal  lunule.  Under-side  of  hind  wing  paler,  with 
distinct  discoidal  spot  and  waved  postmedial  line  ;  the  fulvous 
scales  in  male  extending  on  inner  area  to  near  tornus. 

1  (J,  4  9;  December-March.  £xj>.  26mm.;  also  from  the 
Louisiades,  St.  Aignan  (Meek). 

28.   Maliattha  signifera,  ^^Ik.,  xii,  793. 

12  ^,  18  9  ;  August-March. 

Distrib.  —  Japan,  China,  India,  Ceylon,  Burma,  Andamans, 
Penan  g,   Queensland. 

29.   Erastria  griseomixta,  sp.n.     (PI.  IX,  Fig.  5.) 

9  •  Head  and  thorax  grey,  slightly  mixed  with  brown  scales  ; 
abdomen  fuscous  brown.  Fore  wing  grey,  irrorated  with  brown 
scales  ;  an  indistinct  sub-basal  line  oblique  from  costa  to  median 
nervure,  where  it  is  angled,  obsolete  below  submedian  fold ;  the 
antemedial  line  indistinct,  slightly  waved,  oblique  from  costa  to 
median  nervure,  then  nearly  erect ;  a  slight  rufous  point  at  lower 
angle  of  cell ;    the  postmedial  line  indistinct,  bent  outwards  below 


Lepidoptera.  69 

costa,  where  there  is  an  obscure  brownish  spot  on  it,  then  minutely 
dentate  and  slightly  defined  by  white  scales,  the  area  between  it 
and  the  slightly  waved  subterminal  line  browner.    Hind  wing  dark 
brown,  paler  towards  base ;  cilia  greyish. 
1  9  j  February.     Exp.  22  mm. 

30.   Tarache  olivacea,  Hmpsn. :   111.  Het.  B.M.,  viii,  p.  63, 

pi.  H2,  fig.  9. 

1  $  ;  February. 

Listrib. — Shanghai,  Naga  Hills,  Mlgiris  ;  a  closely  allied  species 
in  Abyssinia. 

31.   Earias  chromataria,  Wlk.,  xxvii,  204. 

1  9  •  Fore  wing  with  the  dark  terminal  band  very  broad  ;  hind 
wing  tinged  with  fuscous. 

Listrib.  —  Africa,  Japan,  India,  Ceylon,  Burma,  Andamans, 
Sula,  Java. 

Family  LTMANTRIAD^. 

32.   Porthesia  pulverea,  sp.n.     (PI.  IX,  Fig.  9.) 

^.  "White;  head  and  thorax  strongly  or  slightly  tinged  with 
yellow  brown ;  antennae  with  the  branches  brownish ;  abdomen 
with  the  anal  tuft  orange.  Fore  wing  strongly  or  slightly  irrorated 
with  large  yellow-brown  scales ;  more  or  less  prominent  brown 
medial  and  postmedial  lines  excurved  from  costa  to  median 
nervure.  Hind  wing  white,  the  termen  and  cilia  often  tinged 
with  brown. 

9-  The  anal  tuft  pale  yellow  or  brownish  ;  fore  wing  much 
less  irrorated  with  brown,  the  lines  hardly  traceable,  or  quite 
obsolete. 

-0  Si  8  9  ;  December-March.  Allied  to  P.  irrorata,  Moore, 
from  Java. 

33.    Orgyia  postica,  Wlk.,  iv,  803. 

1  S  ;    January. 

Listrib. — Formosa,  India,  Ceylon,  Burma,  Borneo,  Java,  New 
Guinea,  Queensland. 

Family  SPHINGID^. 

CH^ROCAMPIN-E. 

34.    Chaerocampa  erotus,  Cram. :  Pap.  Exot.,  ii,  pi.  104  b. 

10  (J,  4  9  ;  July- January. 

Listrib. — Andamans,  Queensland,  Solomons,  Tonga. 


'0  Christmas  Island. 


35.  Cliserocampa  vigil,  Guer. :   Deless.  Voy.,  ii,  p.  80,  pi.  xxiii, 

fig.  1. 

13  S^  7  9  ;  August-January. 

JDistrih. — India,  Ceylon,  Andamans,  Philippines,  Java,  Queens- 
land, New  Hebrides. 

36.  Theretra  lucasi,  Wlk.,  viii,  141. 

1  9  ;  December. 

Distrih. — Oriental  region  to  North  Australia. 


SPHINGIN^. 
37.   PseudospMnx  discistriga,  Wlk.,  viii,  209. 

4  9  >  December,  January. 

Distrih. — Japan,  China,  India,  Ceylon,  Andamans,  Borneo,  Java, 
Queensland. 

MACEOGLOSSINJE. 
38.   Cephonodes  hylas,  Linn. :  Mant.  Ins.,  p.  539. 

9^.695  September-March. 

Dintrib. — West  and  South  Africa,  Oriental  region  to  Australia, 
and  Gilbert  Islands. 

All  the  specimens  belong  to  the  form  con  finis,  Boisd.,  previously 
recorded  from  South  Africa  only. 

Family   GEOMETRID^. 

BOARMIAN^. 

39.  Hyperythra  lutea,  Cram. :  Pap.  Exot.,  iv,  p.  157,  pi.  370  c,  ». 

2  (J ,  2  9  ;  January. 

A   small  form  of   the  species,   with  the  male  extremely  dark, 
similar  to  a  specimen  from  Claremont  Island,  North  Australia. 
Distrih. — Oriental  region  to  North  Australia. 

40.    Boarmia  acaciaria,  Boisd.:  Faun.  Ent.  Madag.  Lep.,  116, 

pi.  xvi,  fig.  4. 

4  (?,  1  9  !  October-February.     Showing  the  usual  large  amount 
of  variation,  but  all  belonging  to  the  dark  form  cornaria,  Guen. 


Lepidojjtera.  '  71 

Bistrib. — West  and  South  Africa,  Madagascar,  Oriental  region  to 
Australia  and  North  Caledonia. 

41.  Boarmia  scotozonea,  sp.n.     (PL  IX,  Pigs.  4,  15.) 

$.  Pale  olive-brown,  irrorated  with  black  scales;  palpi  at  sides 
and  frons  black ;  forelegs  streaked  with  black ;  abdomen  dorsally 
suffused  with  black  fi-om  second  to  subterminal  segment.  Fore 
■wing  with  obscure,  slightly  curved,  antemedial  series  of  points  and 
indistinct  oblique  medial  line ;  a  postmedial  series  of  points,  with 
dark  spots  on  it  between  veins  6  and  4,  with  a  diffused  blackish 
patch  beyond  it  extending  nearly  to  termen ;  a  pale  subterminal 
line  dentate  towards  costa ;  some  black  points  on  termen.  Hind 
wing  with  obscure  antemedial  line ;  a  more  prominent,  minutely 
dentate,  medial  line  followed  by  a  rust-red  line  ;  an  ill-defined, 
pale,  subterminal  line,  somewhat  dentate  towards  costa,  and  with 
rust-red  line  on  its  inner  side,  the  area  beyond  it  pale  from  vein  4 
to  tornus ;  two  terminal  black  lunules  towards  apex  and  one 
towards  tornus.  L'nder-side,  with  the  terminal  area  of  both  wings, 
black,  with  subterminal  series  of  pale  spots  becoming  a  line  towards 
inner  margin  of  hind  wing.  Antennae  ciliated  ;  fore  wing  Avith 
small  fovea. 

9.  The  area  beyond  the  postmedial  line  of  fore  wing  and  medial 
line  of  hind  wing  suffused  with  black,  except  the  costal  area  of 
fore  wing. 

24  J,  3  9;  September-March.  The  only  close  ally  of  this 
species  is  B.  cessaria,  Wlk,,  from  India  and  Ceylon. 

LARENTIAN^. 

42.  Sauris  hirudinata,  Guen. :  Phal.,  ii,  p.  362. 

1  (^,  3  9  !  December-March. 

Distrtb.  —  8onth.  Africa,  India,  Ceylon,  Burma,  Sumatra,  Java, 
Queensland,  Fiji. 

GEOMETEIN^. 

43.  Thalassodes  veraria,  Guen. :  Phal.,  i,  p.  360. 

One  9  iJi  ^3,d  condition,  which  is  bright  yellow-green  instead  of 
blue-green,  and  may  belong  to  a  closely  allied  species. 
Distrib. — India,  Ceylon,  Java. 

ACIDALIAN^. 
44.   Craspedia  optivata,  Wlk.,  xxiii,  780. 

5  (J ,  1 6  9  ;  December-March.  The  females  agree  very  well  with 
the  Australian  form,  but  the  males  have  the  discoidal  spots  and 
terminal  points  larger. 


72  Christmas  Island. 

Bistrib.  —  North  Australia,  Queensland,  New  Soutli  Wales, 
Tasmania. 

45.   Craspedia,  sp. 

One  9  i^  too  bad  condition  to  identify,  apparently  allied  to 
C.  eulomata,  Snell. 

Family  UEANIAD^. 

EPIPLEMIN^. 

46.   Epiplema   inhians,  Warr. :    A.M.N.H.  (6),  xvii,  214. 

(PI.  IX,  Fig.  2.) 

^  S,  3  9;  December-Marcli.  Agrees  exactly  with  specimens 
from  Sikhim  and  the  Khasis,  from  which  it  has  been  previously 
recorded  only  ;  one  female  is  browner,  with  a  black  medial  band  to 
both  wings. 

Family  PYRALID^. 

GALLERIAN^. 

47.   Doloessa  castanella,  Hmpsn. :  Moths  Ind.,  iv,  p.  4. 

1  ^  ;  February. 
Distrtb. — Ceylon. 

48.   Corcyra  cephalonica,  Stt. :  Ann.,  1866,  p.  147. 

1  (?,  4  9  ;  March. 

Distrih. — Europe,  "West  Indies,  Ceylon.    Probably  introduced. 

PHYCITIN^. 
49.   Homoeosoma  nimbella,  Zell. :  Isis,  1839,  p.  178. 

1  ^• 

Bistrih.—JJmiedi  States  of  America,  Europe,  Syria,  Cape  Colony. 

50.   Ephestia  scotella,  sp.n.     (PI.  IX,  Fig.  13.) 

9.  Dark  purplish -brown  slightly  suffused  with  grey.  Fore 
wing  without  trace  of  antemedial  line  or  discoidal  points  ;  a  very 
indistinct  pale  sub  terminal  line  ex  curved  from  below  costa  to 
vein  2 ;  a  terminal  series  of  indistinct  black  points.  Hind  wing 
fuscous ;  veins  3  and  5  stalked. 

2  9;  December,  January.     Exp.  16  mm. 


Lepidoptera.  73 

51.  Heterographis  singhalella,  Eag. :  Ann.  Soc.  Ent.  Fr.,  1888, 

p.  283. 

1  9  ;  January.     In  bad  condition,  which  may  belong  to  a  closely 
allied  species. 

Distrib. — Ceylon. 

52.  Euzophera  cinerosella,  Zell. :  Stett,  Ent.  Zeit.,  1867,  p.  380. 

2  9 !  January. 

Distrib. — Europe.     Probably  introduced. 

53.  Epicrocis  cegnusalis,  Wlk.,  xix,  905. 

3  9  ;  January-March. 

Distrib. — Madagascar,  China,  India,  Ceylon  and  Burma,  Sumatra, 
Australia. 

ENDOTRICHIN^. 

54.   Endotricha  listeri,  Butl. :  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  546. 
(PI.  IX,  Eig.  3.) 

28  cJ,  81  9;  August-March. 

PYRALIN^. 

55.   Herculia  nannodes,  Butl.:    111.  Het.  B.M.,  iii,  p.  71, 

pi.  Iviii,  fig.  5. 

1  (J,  10  9  ;  December-Eebruary. 
Distrib. — Japan,  China,  Borneo. 

PTE  AUSTINS. 
56.   Zinckenia  nigerrimalis,  sp.n.     (PL  IX,  Eig.  10.) 

Antennaj  of  male,  with  the  tuft  of  scales  from  basal  joint  very 
large,  convolute,  and  enclosing  the  base  of  the  shaft,  which  is 
greatly  thickened  by  scales  on  inner  side  after  the  excision.  Deep 
dull  black  ;  palpi  with  the  second  joint  banded  with  white;  pectus 
and  legs  partly  white  ;  abdomen  with  slight  dorsal  segmental  lines 
on  upper  sides  and  broad  bands  on  ventral  surface.  Eore  wing  with 
medial  white  spots  in  cell,  below  the  cell  and  on  inner  margin ; 
a  trifid  spot  beyond  the  cell  above  vein  5,  and  two  spots  nearer  the 
termen  between  veins  3  and  5  ;  cilia  wliite  above  middle  and 
tornus.  Hind  wing  with  oblique,  slightly  curved,  white  medial 
band  not  reaching  costa  or  inner  margin ;  cilia  white  below 
apex,  and  tipped  with  white  near  middle. 

■*  (?)  8  9  ;  December-March. 


74  Christmas  Island. 

57.   Zinckenia  fascialis,  Cram.  :  Pap.  Exot.,  iv,  pi.  398  c. 

4  (J,  7  $  ;  August. 

Distrib.  —  Neotropical,    Nearctic,   South.    Palsearctic,  Ethiopian, 
•  Oriental,  and  Australian  regions. 

58.   Dichocrocis  surusalis,  Wlk.,  xviii,  695. 

Distrio. — Japan,  Ceylon,  Sumatra,  Borneo,  Bali,  Celebes. 

59.    Sylepta  lunalis,  Guen. :  Delt  &  Pyr.,  p.  352. 

Distrio.  —  Formosa,  India,  Ceylon,  Burma,  Borneo,  Celebes, 
Sumbawa,  Venezuela. 

60.  Dichocrocis  auritincta,  Butl. :  Trans.  Ent.  Soc,  1886,  p.  431. 

(PL  IX,  Fig.  14.) 

Distrib. — Bali,  Tenimber,  Australia. 

61.  Glyphodes  (Phacellura)  holophsealis,  sp.n.    (PI.  IX,  Fig.  11.) 

Fuscous;  palpi  below,  pectus  and  ventral  surface  of  abdomen 
white ;  the  anal  tuft  fulvous,  with  black  tips ;  wings  fuscous 
brown,  with  a  purplish  tinge ;  an  oblique  opalescent  shade  on 
medial  area  of  both  wings. 

7  (J,  8  9  ;  September-March.  The  only  near  allies  of  this 
species  are  Neotropical. 

62.  Glyphodes  indica,  Saund. :    Trans.  Ent.  Soc,  1851,  p.  163. 

4(?,  1  9- 

Distrib. — Ethiopian,  Oriental,  and  Australian  regions. 

63.  Glyphodes  suralis,  Led. :   Wien  Ent.  Mov.,  1863,  p.  405, 

pi.  xiv,  fig.  7. 

3  (?,  6  9  ;  August-March. 

Distrib. — Nicobars,  Amboina,  New  Guinea,  Solomons,  and  Pacific 
groups. 

64.   Hellula  undalis,  Fabr. :  Ent.  Syst.,  iii,  2,  p.  226. 

Distrib. — United  States  of  America,  Mediterranean  sub-region, 
Ethiopian  and  Oriental  regions. 


Lepidoptera.  75 


MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA. 

By  the  Rt.  Hon.  Lord  Walsingham,  M.A.,  LL.D.,  F.R.S., 

Trustee  Brit.  Mus. 

PYEALIDINA. 
Family  OXYCHIROTID^,  Meyr. 

1.   Oxychirota  paradoxa,  Meyr. 

Oxyehirota paradoxa,  Meyr.:  Tr.  Ent.  Soc.  Load.,  1884,  438-9. ^ 

-&«J.—N.S.  Wales  :     Sydney,  June. ^ 

Christmas  Island ;  Jan.-Mar.,  1898;  seven  specimens.  (C.  W. 
Andrews.) 

I  find  a  specimen  in  my  collection,  apparently  belonging  to  this 
genus,  collected  at  Paradeniya  in  Ceylon  by  Dr.  G.  H.  K.  Thwaites, 
which  is  quite  distinct  from  Meyrick's  species. 

Family  PTEROPHORID^. 

2.   Cosmoclostis  quadriquadra,  Wlsm.,  sp.n.  ^ 

Antennae  white.  Palpi  scarcely  projecting  beyond  the  head ; 
white.  Head  pale  rust-brown  above,  face  white.  Thorax  yellowish 
white  anteriorly,  rust-brown  posteriorly ;  under-side  shining  white, 
tinged  with  yellowish  at  the  sides.  Fore  wings  cleft  to  beyond 
middle  ;  yellowish  white,  the  costa  and  dorsum  narrowly  pale  rust- 
brown  ;  a  few  rust-brown  scales  crossing  the  wing  at  one-fourth 
are  succeeded  by  a  rust-brown  patch  at  the  base  of  the  fissure, 
wider  on  the  tornal  than  on  the  apical  lobe ;  before  the  middle  of 
the  apical  lobe  is  another  transverse  oblique  rust-brown  patch, 
joined  along  the  dorsum  of  the  lobe  to  an  ante-apical  patch  of  the 
same  colour  which  overflows  the  dorsal  but  not  the  costal  cilia  ;  on 
the  tornal  lobe  there  is  also  a  broad  straight  transverse  rust-brown 
patch  beyond  its  middle,  colouring  the  cilia  above  and  below  it,  the 
cilia  (except  where  so  coloured)  are  whitish.  Exp.  al.  11-13  mm. 
Hind  wings  and  cilia  bronzy  grey,  the  cilia  of  the  dorsal  lobe  paler. 
Abdomen  rich  rust-brown,  with  four  quadrate  whitish  patches 
above — one  basal,  one  ante-median,  one  post-median,  and  one  on 
the  anal  segment ;  under-side  shining  white,  tinged  with  yellowish 


76  Christmas  Island. 

at  the  sides.  Hind  legs  -wliite,  smeared  above  on  the  tibiae  and 
banded  on  the  tarsi  with  pale  rust-brown ;  spurs  white,  tinged  with 
rust-brown  before  their  extremities,  the  scales  at  the  base  of  the 
spurs  not  conspicuously  raised,  rust-brown  mixed  with  white. 

Co-types  (3),  Mus.  Br. 

Mah. — Christmas  Island;  Dec,  1897 — Jan.,  1898;  fourteen 
specimens.     (C.  W.  Andrews.) 

The  specimens  are  in  poor  condition,  but  show  that  the  species 
is  distinct  from  C.  aglaodesma,  Meyr.,  not  only  from  its  smaller  size 
but  from  the  different  arrangement  of  the  abdominal  spots  and  the 
tint  of  the  hind  wings,  besides  minor  differences  in  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  markings.  It  is  obviously  an  insular  form  allied  to 
the  New  South  Wales  species,  which,  however,  also  occurs  in  the 
(Solomon  Islands. 


TINEINA. 

Family  HYPONOMEUTID^. 

3.  Brenthia  elachista,  Wlsm.,  Bp.n. 

Antennae  annulate  with  bronzy  fuscous  and  whitish  towards  the 
base,  becoming  blackish  above  on  their  outer  half.  Palpi  porrect ; 
white,  annulate,  with  bronzy  fuscous — two  annulations  on  each 
joint.  Head  and  thorax  bronzy  brownish.  Fore  wings  cinereous, 
profusely  speckled  with  bronzy  Ijrownish,  foiTaing  transverse  sinuate 
strigulae  across  the  outer  half  ;  a  short,  bronzy  brown,  basal  patch, 
wider  on  the  costa  than  on  the  dorsum,  this  is  outwardly  bounded 
by  a  band  of  the  pale  ground-colour,  beyond  which  the  wing  is 
again  shaded  with  bronzy  brownish ;  a  minute  patch  of  fuscous 
speckling  at  the  outer  end  of  the  cell,  with  a  white  spot  on  the 
costa  above  it,  this  is  succeeded  by  a  blue  and  lilac  metallic  spot ; 
the  apex  and  termen  are  broadly  ornamented  with  velvet-black, 
alternating  on  its  inner  margin  with  golden  brown  and  speckled  on 
its  outer  margin  with  lustrous  shining  metallic  iridescent  spots — 
the  first  two  slightly  below  the  apex,  silvery  white  set  in  black, 
the  others  more  or  less  coalescing  in  a  narrow  band  about  the 
middle  of  the  termen,  Avith  some  scattered  metallic  scales  again 
below  them  ;  cilia  shining,  greenish  grey  on  their  basal  half,  pale 
bronzy  brownish  externally.  Exp.  al.  6  mm.  Hind  wings  bronzy 
brownish  grey,  with  an  oblique  transverse  white  band  from  the 
costa  to  below  the  middle  at  one-third  from  the  base,  with  some 
shining  metallic  lilac  spots  towards  the  apex  and  termen  ;  cilia 
brownish  grey,  streaked  with  white  through  their  middle  below 
the  apex.  Abdomen  bronzy  brownish.  Legs  white,  spotted  with 
bronzy  broAvnish  above  on  the  tibiae  and  tarsi. 
Co-types  (2),  Mus.  Br. 


Lepidoptera.  77 

jjah.  —  Christmas  Island  ;  Jan.-Mar.,  1898  ;  six  specimens. 
(C.  W.  AndrsM-s.) 

Smaller  than  any  previously  described  species  of  this  genus, 
greatly  resembling  B.  paronacella,  Clem.,  and  the  larger  quadri- 
Jiorella,  Z.,  from  North  and  South  America  respectively. 


4.   Simaethis  ornaticornis,  Wlsm.,  sp.n. 

Antennae  with  the  basal  joint  enlarged,  obtuse  ;  brownish 
ochreous,  the  stem  white,  conspicuously  annulated  with  black. 
Palpi  whitish,  barred  with  brownish  ochreous  on  the  outer  sides. 
Head  brownish  ochreous,  mixed  with  pale  cinereous.  Thorax 
brownish  ochreous,  becoming  dark  brownish  grey  posteriorly. 
Fore  wings  with  the  costa  much  arched,  widening  outward  from 
the  base,  apex  rounded,  termen  obliquely  convex  ;  olivaceous 
brownish,  with  two  narrow  transverse  bands  of  pale  cinereous 
speckling  between  base  and  middle,  the  outer  one  terminating  in 
a  whitish  costal  spot,  beyond  which  is  another  reduplicated  whitish 
costal  spot,  the  space  between  them  dark  brownish  fuscous, 
another  small  white  spot  lies  in  the  costal  cilia  immediately  above 
the  apex ;  some  blackish  patches  around  the  outer  end  of  the  cell 
are  succeeded  by  some  paler  transverse  strigulse  and  accompanied 
by  brownish  cinereous  scaling,  the  ante-apical  and  ante-terminal 
portion  of  the  wing  being  irregularly  clouded  with  fuscous,  the 
termen  olivaceous  brown,  with  a  dark  brown  line  along  the  base 
of  the  bronzy  greyish  cilia.  Exp.  al.  1 1  mm.  Hind  wings  dark 
bronzy  brownish,  with  some  faint  pale  curved  streaks  running 
through  them  before  the  margin  ;  under-side  with  two  speckled 
pale  cinereous  bands.  Abdomen  bronzy  brownish.  Legs  fuscous, 
tarsi  with  three  white  bands. 

Co-types  (2),  Mus.  Br. 

Hah.  —  Christmas  Island  ;  Peb.-Mar.,  1898;  ten  specimens. 
(C.  W.  Andrews.) 

This  species  resembles  in  shape,  colouring,  and  markings  the 
typical  forms  of  Simaethis,  and  is  apparently  nearer  to  the  European 
oxyacanthella,  L.,  than  to  any  other  well-known  species. 

5.  Phycodes  adjectella,  Wkr. 

mgilffia  adjectella,  Wlk. :    Cat.  Lp.  Ins.  B.M.,  XXVIII,  512  (1863). i 
Fhycodet  adjectella,  Wlsm.  :    Tr.  Ent.  Soc.  Lond.,  1891,  80.* 

Hah. — Sierra  Leone.^  East  Africa :  Tangani,  Kolumbi  Creek, 
Aug.* 

Christmas  Island;  Dec,  1897  —  Jan.,  1898;  two  specimens. 
(C.  W.  Andrews.) 

Apparently  a  small  form  {exp.  al.  11  mm.)  of  Walker's  African 
species. 


C/iristmas  Island. 


6.   Tortricomorpha  chlorolepis,  "WIsm.,  sp.n. 

Antennae  dark  brown.  Palpi  dark  brown  externally,  brownish 
cinereous  on  their  inner  sides ;  terminal  joint  short,  not  rising  above 
the  level  of  the  head.  Head  greyish  brown.  Thorax  dark  brown, 
sprinkled  with  greenish  and  pale  cinereous  scales.  Fore  wings  dark 
brown,  profusely  sprinkled  with  pale  yellowish  green  scales,  the 
greenish  scaling  is  somewhat  thicker  on  the  basal  half,  on 
a  transverse  band  passing  the  end  of  the  cell,  and  about  the 
apical  and  terminal  portion  of  the  wing,  leaving  a  brown  band  less 
thickly  scaled  across  the  middle ;  cilia  brownish  grey,  a  narrow 
brownish  ochreous  marginal  line  preceding  them.  £xp.  al.  ^  28, 
9  23  mm.  Hind  wings  greyish  brown,  the  outer  two-thirds  of  the 
cilia  whitish  cinereous.  Abdomen  greyish  brown.  Legs  greyish 
brown,  the  end  of  the  hind  tibiae  and  the  last  four  tarsal  joints 
brownish  ochreous. 

Type.—S  $  Mus.  Br. 

Hob. — Christmas  Island ;  Peb.,  1898;  three  specimens.  (C.  W. 
Andrews.) 


Family   TORTRICID^. 

[EPAGOGE,  Hb.  =  DICHELIA,  Gn.  =  HASTULA,  ifill.'i 

7.  Epagoge  halysideta,  Wlsm.,  sp.n. 

Antennae  greyish  cinereous.  Palpi  triangular ;  pale  brownish 
ochreous.  Thorax  greenish  olivaceous,  with  two  scarlet  longi- 
tudinal streaks.  Pore  wings  dull  olive-green  to  two-thirds  from 
the  base;  on  the  green  portion  are  three  lines  of  scarlet  streaks  — 
the  first,  from  the  base  below  the  costa,  broken  beyond  its  middle, 
the  basal  half  tending  to  join  the  outer  half  of  a  similarly  broken 
median  streak  ;  the  third,  also  from  the  base,  is  broken  into  three 
spots  below  the  middle  and  outer  half  of  the  fold  ;  three  small 
scarlet  spots  and  a  transverse  elongate  one  precede  the  darkened 
outer  third  of  the  wing,  which,  after  a  narrow  margin  of  metallic 
pinkish  ochreous,  becomes  rich  yellowish  brown,  with  obscure 
greyish  fuscous  semi-metallic  shading  and  reticulations ;  along  the 
costa,  commencing  near  the  base,  is  a  series  of  minute  pale  ochreous 
spots,  gradually  increasing  and  becoming  oblique  geminated  streaks, 
continuing  to  the  apex  ;  these,  beyond  the  middle,  are  joined  in 
pairs  at  their  lower  extremities,  giving  the  appearance  of  links  of 
a  chain;  cilia  pale  ochreous,  with  fuscous  streaklets  running 
through  them.  £xp.  al.  9  mm.  Hind  wings  dark  greyish. 
Abdomen  bronzy  grey  ;  anal  tuft  ochreous.     Legs  pale  ochreous. 


Lepidoptera.  79 

Type.—$  Mus.  Br. 

Hah. — Christmas  Island  ;  Jan.,  1898;  unique.     (C.  "W.  Andrews.) 

A  single  specimen,   adding   to   the    somewhat    curious   tropical 

distribution  of  this  conspicuous  form,  allied  species  occurring  on 

tlie  west  coast  of    Africa,   Malaysia,   Queensland,   and   extending 

northwards  to  Shanghai. 


C^NOGNOSIS,  Wlsm.,  gen.  nov. 

{xaivos  =  '  new  ' ;    <^vwai^  =  '  knowledge.') 

Type  :    Ccenognosis  incisa,  Wlsm. 

AntenniB  (5)  simple.  Palpi  porrect,  median  joint  clothed  withi 
loose  hair-scales  beneath. ;  terminal  joint  nearly  half  the  length  of 
the  median,  slightly  drooping,  smooth.  Head  rather  rough  above. 
Thorax  smooth.  Fore  wings  narrow  at  the  base,  slightly  widening 
outward,  costa  moderately  straight,  apex  obtusely  falcate,  termen 
deeply  sinuate,  not  oblique,  tornus  rounded:  neuration,  12  veins — 
2  from  scarcely  beyond  middle  of  cell ;  3  from  before  angle  of  cell, 
much  recurved,  approximating  to  4  on  termen;  4  and  5  separate, 
4  recurved,  5  to  sub-apical  sinus ;  6  to  lower  extremity  of  the 
falcate  apex;  7  to  above  apex,  8  and  9  out  of  7  ;  10  nearer  to  7 
than  to  II ;  II  from  outer  third  of  cell.  Hind  wings  as  broad  as 
the  fore  wings,  scarcely  sinuate  below  the  rounded  apex  :  neuration, 
8  veins  —  3  and  4  connate;  5  parallel  to  4 ;  6  and  7  stalked. 
Abdomen  normal.  Legs  smooth  ;  a  slight  projecting  tuft  of  scales 
at  the  end  of  the  hind  tibiae. 

Apparently  allied  to  the  New  Zealand  genus  Epalxiphora,  Meyr., 
which  is  also  represented  in  New  South  "Wales. 

8.   Caenognosis  incisa,  Wlsm.,  sp.n. 

Antennae  pale  brownish.  Palpi  white,  a  brownish  streak  on  the 
outer  side  of  the  median  joint  reaching  to  half  its  length,  terminal 
joint  tinged  with  brownish.  Head  dark  rust-brown.  Thorax 
white,  with  a  brownish  tinge.  Fore  wings  sericeous  white,  costa 
narrowly  tinged  with  rust-brown,  through  which  run  short  oblique 
white  streaklets  commencing  before  the  middle  and  continuing 
nearly  to  the  apex  ;  apex  obtusely  caudate,  rich  ferruginous, 
a  silvery  streak  running  through  the  lower  half  of  the 
ferruginous  patch,  joined  at  its  base  by  a  similar  slender  streak 
from  the  costa  and  at  its  apex  by  another  curving  around  the  base 
of  the  apical  cilia ;  this  patch  is  preceded  by  a  dai'k  fuscous 
quadrate  spot  a  little  beyond  the  upper  angle  of  the  cell  with 
smaller  patches  of  fuscous  scales  on  either  side  of  it ;  along  the 
middle  of  the  termen  are  three  or  four  patches  of  similar  fuscous 
scales  between  the  veins,  and  a  few,  less  noticeable,  are  distributed 


80  Christmas  Island. 

along  the  dorsum  below  the  fold;  cilia  at  the  apex  ferruginous, 
below  it  white  tipped  with  fuscous,  around  the  tornus  plain  white. 
Exp.  al.  17  mm.  Hind  wings  pale  yellowish  brown  with  a  roseate 
gloss ;  cilia  pale  brownish,  tipped  with  dirty  whitish  towards  their 
apex.  Abdomen  pale  yellowish  brown.  Legs  pale  yellowish 
brown,  the  terminal  four  joints  of  the  hind  tarsi  darker  brownish 
above,  with  whitish  spot  at  the  joints. 

Type.—^  Mus.  Br. 

Jiab.  —  Christmas  Island;  March,  1898;  unique.  (C.  W. 
Andrews.) 

Family  TINEID^. 

9.   Dendroneura  punctata,  "Wlsm.,  sp.n. 

Antennae  olivaceous  ochreous.  Palpi  divergent  ;  whitish 
ochreous  beneath,  streaked  with  fuscous  along  their  upper  side. 
Head  pale  olivaceous  grey ;  face  flattened,  slightly  paler.  Thorax 
and  fore  wings  shining  pale  olivaceous  grey,  with  a  greenish  iri- 
descent gloss ;  a  small  fuscous  spot  lies  a  little  below  the  costa  at 
three-fourths  from  the  base,  and  is  preceded  by  a  similar  small  spot 
on  the  dorsum  ;  cilia  pale  olivaceous  greyish.  Ex'p.  al.  11-12  mm. 
Hind  wings  widened  near  the  base,  becoming  rapidly  attenuate 
beyond  the  middle  to  the  acute  apex ;  tawny  olivaceous  greyish, 
cilia  scarcely  paler.  Abdomen  pale  cinereous.  Legs  with  the 
usual  flattened  femora  characteristic  of  this  genus ;  hind  tibiae  very 
hairy  above  ;  pale  cinereous. 

Co-types  (2),  Mus.  Br. 

JTfli.  —  Christmas  Island;  Dec,  1897;  Jan.-reb.,  1898;  ten 
specimens.     (C.  "W.  Andrews.) 

The  species  of  this  genus  are  said  to  be  attached  to  sugar-cane 
and  the  banana.  One  has  been  recorded  from  the  West  Indies ; 
others  occur  in  Hawaiia  and  the  Society  and  Marquesas  Islands. 


Hymenoptera. 


81 


Order   2.— HYMENOPTERA. 


By  W.  r.  KiEBY,  F.L.S.,  r.E.S.,  etc. 


(PLATE   XIV,  Figs.  5-9.) 

I  HATE  been  able  to  identify  eleven  species  of  Hymenoptera,  obtained 
by  Mr.  Andrews  on  Christmas  Island,  all  but  two  of  which  are,  as 
far  as  yet  known,  peculiar  to  the  island.  Of  these,  I  have  described 
six  as  new,  one  of  which  I  have  made  the  type  of  a  new  genus. 
There  are  also  single  specimens  of  three  species  of  Ichneumonidse, 
which  it  is  not  desirable  to  describe  until  more  specimens  are 
obtained.  I  have  added  the  descriptions  of  new  species,  and  any 
notes  of  importance  from  my  former  paper  on  the  Hymenoptera 
collected  by  Mr.  Lister  (P.Z.S.,  1888,  pp.  551,  552). 


LIST  or  SPECIES. 


TEREBRANTIA. 

ENTOMOPHAGA. 
Proctotrypid^. 

DbTININ.^  (?). 

Mantibaria,  g.n. 
anomala,  sp.n. 

ICHNETJMONn).E. 

Ophionin^. 

Opkion,  Eabr. 
Jlavocephalus,  sp.n. 


ACULEATA. 
HETEROGYNA. 

EoRMTOID^. 

PONERIN^. 

Lobopelta,  Mayr. 
diminuta,  Smith. 

FORMICINJE. 

Camponotiis,  Mayr. 
melicMoros,  Kirb. 


FOSSORES. 

Crabronid^, 

Larein^. 

Notogonia,  Costa. 
alecto,  Smith  (?). 

DIPLOPTERA. 

Etjmenid^. 

Odyneriis,  Latr. 
polyphemus,  Earb. 

Yespid^. 

Polistes,  Latr. 
balder,  Kirb. 

ANT90PHILA. 

Apid^. 

Andrenin^. 
Halictus,  Latr. 
andretvsi,  sp.n. 
binghami,  sp.n. 

Megachilix^. 
Megaehih,  Latr. 
rotundipenms,  sp.n. 
nivescens,  sp.n. 

G 


82  Christmas  IxJand. 


MANTIBARIA,  Kirby,  gen.  nov. 

Head  very  large,  oval,  as  broad  as  the  thorax,  and  broader  than 
long;  ocelli  arranged  in  an  equilateral  triangle,  antennae  inserted 
close  together  between  the  eyes,  and  set  with  short  hairs,  scape 
slightly  curved,  about  four  times  as  long  as  broad,  second  joint 
rather  longer  than  broad,  slightly  narrowed  at  the  base  and 
truncated  at  the  extremity  ;  flagellum  nine-jointed,  the  joints 
transverse,  closely  appressed,  a  little  broader  than  long,  except 
at  the  extremities,  the  last  as  long  as  the  preceding  three,  and 
ending  in  a  fine  point ;  pronotum  nearly  square,  a  little  rounded 
in  front ;  scutellum  forming  an  obtuse-angled  triangle,  truncated 
behind,  and  with  a  slight  central  carina ;  abdomen  moderately 
broad,  with  six  dorsal  segments  visible,  of  about  equal  length  ; 
legs  short,  stout,  clothed  with  short  hairs,  but  destitute  of  spines  ; 
tarsi  five -jointed,  the  first  joint  rather  longer  than  broad,  the 
second,  third,  and  fourth  transverse,  the  fifth  as  long  as  all  the 
rest  put  together,  greatly  swollen,  and  followed  by  large  claws, 
which  are,  however,  more  or  less  damaged  in  all  the  specimens 
before  me,  and  hence  cannot  be  further  described.  Eudimentary 
wings  visible  under  the  microscope. 

Afiinities  uncertain ;  I  am  inclined  to  refer  the  species  to  the 
Dryininm^  but  without  feeling  at  all  sure  that  this  is  its  real 
position. 


1.   Mantibaria  anomala,  sp.n.     (PI.  XIV,  Figs.  5,  5«.) 

Long.  Corp.  2*5  mm. 

Black  above,  very  finely  punctured ;  antennae,  legs,  face,  and 
sometimes  a  ring  round  the  eyes,  testaceous  or  rufo-testaceous ;  tip 
of  abdomen  and  sometimes  the  incisions  more  or  less  reddish. 

Five  specimens  from  Flying  Fish  Cove,  August,  1897.  Parasitic 
on  Mantis,  etc. 


2.   Ophion  flavocephalus,  sp.n. 

Long.  corp.  14  mm. ;  exp.  al.  22  mm. 

Male  and  Female. — Testaceous,  head  yellow,  except  the  antennae 
and  mouth-parts,  which  are  testaceous,  and  the  very  large  ocelli, 
which  are  black.  Thorax,  in  the  male,  with  three  longitudinal 
brown  stripes.  Abdomen :  first  segment  with  its  apical  third 
rather  suddenly  enlarged ;  second  segment  fusiform,  thickest 
beyond  the  middle,  but  before  the  extremity ;  the  abdomen  is 
thictly  clothed  with  short  hair,  especially  towards  the  extremity, 
which  is  brownish,  darkest  in  the  male.  Wings  iridescent 
hyaline,   with  piceous  nervures ;  costa  of  fore  wings  blackish  as 


Illjinennpfern.  83 

fnr  as  the  stigma,  and,  including  the  latter,  yellow  beyond. 
Stigma  slightly  indented  at  its  base  by  the  cubito-discoidal  cell, 
below  which  point  are  two  testaceous  specks,  enclosed  by  a  curved 
Avater-line ;  the  outer  extremity  of  tlie  cubito-discoidal  cell  is 
unusually  broad,  about  two-thii'ds  as  broad  as  its  lower  extremity ; 
costa  of  hind  wings  edged  with  a  blackish  line. 

Described  from  one  pair,  taken  near  Flying  Fish  Cove. 


3.  Lobopelta  diminuta.     (PI.  XIV,  Fig.  6,  9  ) 

Tonera  diminuta,  Smith:  Cat.  Hym.  B.M.,  vi,  p.  89,  n.  23  (1850). 

i^ine  workers  ;  north  part  of  island,  March,  1898.  One 
female  (?)  without  locality ;  described  below. 

A  common  East  Indian  species,  previously  recorded  from 
Christmas  Island,  as  well  as  from  Calcutta,  Borneo,  etc. 

Mr.  Lister's  collection  contained  four  workers  from  a  nest  found 
near  the  summit  of  the  island,  on  October  4,  1887. 


Lohopelta  diminuta,  9  (?).     (PI.  XIV,  Fig.  7.) 

Long   Corp.  6  mm.  ;  exp.  al.  12  mm. 

Dull  black,  clothed  with  short  grey  hairs,  especially  conspicuous 
on  the  abdomen.  Antennge  dull  reddish,  clotlied  with  a  very  fine 
pile.  ]\J  outh-parts,  tegulte,  and  the  last  two  segments  and  under- 
surface  of  the  abdomen,  and  a  narrow  border  to  the  segments  ;  the 
trochanters,  base  and  tip  of  femora,  and  the  tibiae  and  tarsi  rufous ; 
the  hind  tibiae  brown  in  the  middle.  Front  coxae  much  thickened, 
front  tibiae  cultrate,  with  a  very  large  oblique  terminal  spine. 
Petiole  large,  erect,  sloping  in  front,  and  truncated  behind.  Wings 
fusco-hyaline,  with  fuscous  nervures;  stigma  blackish  j  neuration 
nearly  that  of  Ponera. 


4.   Camponotus  melichloros. 

Camponotas  melichloros,  Kirb.  :   P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  551. 

"Long.  corp.  7-8  ram. 

' '  Worker.  Structure  nearly  that  of  C.  ligii  iperdus,  Latr.  Thoracic 
sutures  fairly  well  defined ;  node  of  petiole  forming  a  rounded 
plate.  Smooth  and  shining,  sparingly  clothed  with  erect  white 
hairs ;  thorax  honey-yellow ;  head  and  tarsi  reddish ;  flagellura 
paler ;  abdomen  black,  with  pale  sutures ;  eyes  and  extreme  tips  of 
mandibles  black,  the  latter  sexdentate. 

"The  following  label  was  attached  to  the  bottle  :  'Two  forms 
from  same  nest  in  rotten  wood,   Flying  Fish   Cove,   October  2'. 


84  Christmas  Island. 

[1887].  The  specimens  differ  little,  except  that  some  are  rather 
smaller  and  paler  than  others,  and  with  conspicuously  smaller  head." 
A  large  series  of  the  various  forms  of  this  species  from  flying 
Fish  Cove,  August-October,  1897,  and  February,  1898  ;  from 
north  coast,  December,  1897;  and  from  north  part  of  island, 
January,  1898.  The  workers  vary  from  3-9  mm.  in  length. 
The  females  are  10-11  mm.  long  and  22-25  mm.  in  expanse. 
They  are  of  a  rather  darker  chestnut- red  than  the  workers,  and 
the  abdomen  is  black,  clothed  with  short  grey  hairs.  The  wings 
are  yellowish  hyaline,  with  yellowish  nervures.  The  males  are 
7mm.  long  and  14mm.  in  expanse;  the  upper  part  of  the  head 
is  black,  the  antennae  and  front  of  the  head  and  face  reddish.  The 
thorax  is  reddish,  with  brown  or  black  markings,  and  the  abdomen 
is  black,  with  the  sutures  light  reddish.  The  legs  are  reddish,  with 
black  femora.     Workers  found  in  a  rotten  stump. 


5.   Notogonia  alecto  (?). 

?  Larrada  alecto,  Smith:  Journ.  Linn.  Soc,  Zool.,  ii,  p.  103,  n.  6  (1858). 

Long.  Corp.,  (^  7,  9  10  mm.;   exp.  al.,  J'  11,  9  17  mm. 

Black,  head  and  thorax  thickly  and  finely  punctured,  clothed 
with  a  very  fine  silvery  pile,  especially  on  the  face,  scutellum,  and 
abdomen ;  middle  and  hind  tarsi  more  or  less  reddish  in  the  female, 
and  hind  tibiae  edged  within  -^ith  silvery  pile ;  scutellum  oval, 
much  longer  than  broad,  thickly,  coarsely,  and  very  irregularly 
rugose-punctate,  wings  brownish  hyaline,  with  brown  nervures. 

Nine  specimens,  from  Flying  Fish  Cove,  August-October,  1897; 
east  coast,  September,  1897;  north  coast,  1898. 

Apparently  identical  with  a  specimen  marked  "  Larrada  alecto, 
Smith,"  from  Celebes;  but  as  we  have  no  authentic  specimens  of 
that  species  from  Singapore,  the  original  locality,  I  am  not  certain 
that  the  Christmas  Island  insect  is  the  true  alecto. 


6.  Odynerus  polyphemus. 

Odynerus  polyphemus,  Kirb. :  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  651, 

"Long.  Corp.  10mm.  ;   exp.  al.  17mm. 

"Black,  thickly  and  closely  punctured;  head  with  a  yellow 
spot  between  the  antennae  ;  the  orbits  opposite  the  antennae  very 
narrowly  edged  with  yellow ;  a  yellow  streak  on  each  side  of  the 
base  of  the  clypeus,  just  below  the  antennae,  and  a  yellow  streak 
behind  each  eye,  above  the  middle.  Prothorax  edged  in  front 
with  a  broad  yellow  stripe,  tapering  and  interrupted  in  the  middle, 
and  cut  squarely  o£P  on  each  side.      Tegulae  pitchy,  with  a  very 


Hymenoptera.  85 

small  yellow  dot  in  the  middle,  a  triangular  yellow  spot  above,  and 
another,  sub -rotund,  on  the  mesopleura.  Scutellum  with  a  broad 
longitudinal  yellow  strijDe  on  each  side  ;  post-scutellum  yellow, 
metathorax  with  a  broad  curved  yellow  stripe  on  each  side. 
Abdomen  with  the  first  segment  yellow  above,  except  in  front, 
a  black  line,  interrupted  behind,  on  the  median  line  above ;  second 
segment  yellow  above,  except  at  the  base,  and  on  a  wide  conical 
space  which  extends  to  three-quarters  of  its  length  ;  on  the  hinder 
edge  of  the  segment  the  yellow  colour  is  continued  on  the  lower 
surface,  but  does  not  form  a  complete  ring,  being  widely  inter- 
rupted in  the  middle  ;  the  third  segment  bordered  behind  on  the 
upper  surface.  Wings  dirty  hyaline,  smoky  along  the  costa,  and 
in  the  radial  cell. 

"Allied  to  0.  confluentus,  Smith,  from  Sumatra,  but  differing 
much  in  colour  from  any  described  species." 

Thirteen  specimens,  from  Flying  Fish  Cove,  August,  1897;  west 
coast,  October,  1897;  north  part  of  island,  December,  1897,  and 
January,  1898;  central  part  of  island,  February,  1898. 


7.  Polistes  balder. 

Folittes  balder,  Kirb. :  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  552. 

"Exp.  al.  28mm.;  long.  corp.  13mm. 

"  Ochreous  -  yellow,  with  linear  black  markings.  Head  with 
a  black  line  just  above  the  antennge,  the  ends  of  which  run 
upwards  on  each  side,  and  slightly  diverge ;  below  the  antennte 
the  clypeal  suture  is  black,  and  this  curve  is  sometimes  connected 
with  the  upper  one  by  a  black  line  on  each  side  within  the 
antennae;  a  black  line  crosses  the  head  just  behind  the  ocelli,  over 
which  extends  a  continuous  black  spot;  the  tips  of  the  mandibles 
are  also  black,  as  well  as  the  basal  parts  of  the  head  and  prothorax. 
Thorax  with  all  the  sutures  more  or  less  black,  sometimes  not 
continuously  ;  the  central  black  line  is  frequently  incomplete 
behind.  Pectus  and  pleura  black,  the  latter  marked  with  four 
or  five  large  and  small  yellow  spots.  Scutellum,  post-scutellum, 
and  metathorax  yellow ;  the  sutures  rather  broadly  black ;  groove 
of  the  metathorax  black.  Legs  almost  entu-ely  yellow,  or  reddish 
yellow  ;  the  trochanters  and  the  extreme  tips  of  the  coxoe  and 
base  of  the  femora  black.  Abdomen  inclining  to  reddish  yellow, 
but  with  no  distinct  markings,  except  a  black  spot  above  at  the 
base  of  the  first  segment,  and  the  suture  between  the  first  and 
second  segment,  which  is  generally  black.  Wings  smoky  hyaline, 
with  brown  nervures ;  costal  nervure  and  costal  region  yellowish. 

"  Allied  to  P.  heir  (BUS,  Fabr.,  but  smaller  and  differently 
coloured.  The  first  segment  of  the  abdomen,  too,  appears  to  be 
a  little  longer  and  more  gradually  widened. 


86  CJiyidmas  Inland. 

"  Two  nests  accompanied  these  wasps.  They  are  round,  and 
the  smaller  one  is  considerably  raised  in  the  middle.  The  upper 
surface  is  grey ;  the  outer  portion  is  inky  black  towards  the  base, 
and  whitish  on  the  sides  above. 

"One  of  the  wasps  was  taken  on  October  1,  at  Flying  Fish 
Cove ;  a  nest,  with  eggs,  larvae,  and  cocoons,  was  found  on  the 
under-side  of  a  branch  at  the  same  place  on  October  2 ;  and 
another  nest,  with  wasps  flying  round  it,  on  October  5." 

Six  specimens,  from  Flying  Fish  Cove,  August,  1897  ;  and 
norlh  part  of  island,  December,  1897,  and  January,  1898. 

Makes  small  hanging  nests  on  trees  and  bushes,  and  stings 
severely. 


8.   Halictus  andrewsi,  sp.n.     (PI.  XIV,  Fig,  8.) 

Long.  Corp.  6  mm;  exp.  al.  10  mm. 

Female.  —  Face  forming  a  long  oval  between  the  eyes,  clothed 
with  bronzy-green  pile,  back  of  head  bronzy  green,  rarely  purplish 
black,  cheeks  clothed  with  long  grey  hair  ;  antenniB  rufo-testaceous. 
with  the  scape  and  following  joint  black  ;  mesonotum  and  scutellum 
bronzy  green,  the  borders  of  the  former  sometimes  purplish  black  ; 
post-scutellum  broad,  depressed,  more  strongly  punctured  than  the 
rest  of  the  thorax,  and  of  a  darker  bron zy- green  ;  it  is  bordered 
behind  and  on  the  sides  with  long  whitish  hairs.  Abdomen 
shining  bronzy-green,  very  finely  punctured,  with  the  sutures 
narrowly  testaceous.  XJnder-surface  mo-tly  bronzy  green,  but  paler 
than  above ;  legs  testaceous,  frequently  more  or  less  bronzed, 
especially  on  the  femora;  wings  iridescent  hyaline,  with  brown 
nervures  ;  centre  of  stigma  yellow. 

Probably  allied  to  H.  luccinus  and  vicinus,  Yachal. 

Eleven  specimens,  those  with  localities  marked  "  J^Torth  part  of 
island,"  January,  1898. 


9.   Halictus  binghami,  sp.n.     (PL  XIV,  Fig.  9.) 

?  Balicius protetis,  Bingham:    Faun.  Brit.  Ind.,  Hym.  i,  p.  428,  n.  737  (1897)  ; 
nee  Vachal. 

Long.  Corp.  5'5mm. ;  exp.  al.  10-11  mm. 

Female.— Kedidi  and  thorax  black,  sometimes  with  a  very  faint, 
greenish  tint,  very  finely  punctured,  an  impressed  vertical  line 
fi'om  between  the  bases  of  the  antennae  to  half  the  distance  from 
thence  to  the  anterior  ocellus;  lower  part  of  the  face  clothed  with 
grey  pubescence ;  tongue  testaceous ;  metanotum  longitudinally 
striated,  and  bordered  with  grey  pubescence.  Abdomen  more 
shining  black,  the  segments  not  constricted,  basal  segment 
polished,  smooth,  rufous,  the  segments  narrowly  bordered  behind 


Hymenoptera.  87 

"with  testaceous,  and  fringed  with  yellowish  -  grey  pubescence. 
Legs  dark  reddish-brown,  sometimes  with  a  darker  line  above,  and 
clothed  with  long  yellowish- grey  pubescence.  Wings  iridescent 
hyaline,  with  yellowish-brown  neui'ation. 

Four  specimens,  from  north  part  of  island,  January,  1898. 

This  insect  agrees  very  well  with  Lieut.  -  Col.  Bingham's 
description  of  the  female  from  Tenasserim,  which  he  doubtfully 
refers  to  M.  proteus,  Vachal ;  but  I  cannot  regard  it  as  Vachal's 
species,  which  is  described  as  having  the  "  metanotum  (post- 
scutellum)  tomento  croceato  tectum."  It  is  black  in  the  Christmas 
Island  specimens,  bordered  with  grey  pubescence.  But  it  is 
possible  that  the  male,  which  Bingham  doubtfully  refers  to  the 
same  species,  may  be  Vachal's  insect.  However,  as  I  have  no 
specimens  of  these  Halicti  to  compare,  and  as  the  Christmas 
.Island  species  would  in  any  case  require  to  be  renamed,  I  have 
named  it  after  my  friend  Lieut. -Col.  Bingham,  whose  book  on  the 
Aculeate  Hymenoptera  of  India  is  so  useful  to  all  who  have 
occasion  to  study  foreign  Hymenoptera. 


10.   MegacMle  rotundipennis,  sp.n. 

(J  long.  corp.  9  mm.;  exp.  al.  17  mm.  ^  long-  corp.  12  mm.; 
exp.  al.  21  mm. 

Male. — Head  transverse,  very  finely  punctured,  fully  as  wide  as 
thorax  ;  mandibles  and  lower  part  of  head  black  ;  mouth-parts 
more  or  less  ferruginous  in  rubbed  specimens,  but  in  fresh 
specimens  the  face,  like  the  greater  part  of  the  head  and  thorax, 
is  clothed  with  pale  fulvous  pubescence.  Eyes  with  their  inner 
orbits  obliquely  approximating  below  ;  abdomen  black,  the  seg- 
ments banded  behind  with  brighter  fulvous  pubescence,  and  the 
two  apical  segments  densely  clothed  with  the  same  above.  Legs 
black,  clothed  with  long  grey  hair,  with  a  slight  fulvous  shine  : 
front  tarsi  beneath,  and  at  the  tips,  ferruginous ;  middle  and  hind 
tarsi  thickly  clothed  with  fulvous  pubescence  beneath,  darkest  in 
the  latter.  Wings  hyaline,  slightly  clouded  towards  the  margins; 
nervures  brown  ;  wings  rather  broad,  and  the  fore  wings  obtusely 
rounded  at  the  tips. 

Female  similar,  with  the  abraded  thorax  much  more  coarsely 
punctured  than  the  head,  and  the  abdomen  clothed  with  fine 
golden-grey  pubescence  ;  the  last  segment  above  clothed  with 
thick  fulvous  pubescence;  the  abdomen  beneath  coarsely  punctured, 
and  clothed,  especially  towards  the  extremity,  with  long,  recumbent, 
fulvous  hair;  the  greater  part  of  all  the  tarsi  likewise  thickly 
clothed  with  bright  fulvous  hair. 

Described  from  five  males  and  one  female,  from  Flying  Fish 
Cove,  August  and  September,  1897,  and  West  Coast,  October,  1897. 
On  the  flowers  of  forest  trees  (especially  Grewia) ;  rather  scarce. 


88  Christinas  Island. 

This  species  resembles  M.  lucid ce,  Dalla  Torre  {rufipes,  Smith), 
more  thau  any  other  species  in  the  jS'at.  Hist.  Mus.  Collection  ; 
hut  the  latter  species  is  more  brightly  coloured,  and  the  costal 
nervure  is  fulvous  instead  of  brown. 


11.   Megachile  nivescens,  sp  n. 

$  long.  Corp.  10,  exp.  al.  19  mm.;  9  ^^^o-  <^o^P-  ^*'  ^^P'  ^^• 
23  mm. 

Much  resembles  the  last  species,  but  the  face,  except  the 
ferruginous  proboscis,  is  entirely  black,  and  the  head,  face,  thorax, 
and  bands  on  the  abdomen  above  are  clothed  with  dense  silvery- 
white  pubescence.  The  bands  towards  the  tip  of  the  abdomen  are 
slightly  bordered  behind  with  fulvous  in  very  fresh  specimens,  and 
the  terminal  segment  is  clothed  above  with  rich  fulvous ;  beneath, 
the  abdomen  is  banded  with  silvery  white,  as  above,  in  the  male, 
and  clothed  with  long,  recumbent,  fulvous  hair  in  the  female.  Tlie 
legs  are  clothed  with  yellowish- grey  hair,  the  hair  on  the  tarsi 
being  bright  fulvous  beneath,  and  more  or  less  above,  at  least  on 
the  middle  tarsi. 

Twelve  specimens,  mostly  worn  females,  from  Flying  Fish  Cove, 
August-October,  1897;  west  coast,  October,  1897  ;  north  part  of 
island,  December,  1897,  and  January,  1898.  Very  common  on 
sea-cliffs,  frequenting  flowers  of  Femphis  and  Sctsvola. 


Order  3.— DIPTERA. 


[The  Diptera  unfortunately  have  not  yet  been  determined.  The 
specimens  collected  are  roughly  as  follows: — Tipuliclce,  3  or  4  species; 
Oulicidce,  2  species  ;  MycetopldlulcR,  1  species  ;  Stratiomyidce, 
2  species;  Asilidce,  4  species;  Bomhjlidce,  1  species;  Dolichojmlidce, 
probably  2  species ;  Syrpindce,  1  species  ;  Iluscida;,  at  J  east  7  or  8 
species ;  Mi(roj)ezidcB,  1  species ;  Ort(didce,  1  species  ;  Ochthiphilida;, 
1  species;  Hippohoscida,  2  species.  There  are  also  several  other 
specimens,  and  the  collection  probably  includes  between  thirty 
and  forty  species  in  all. — C.  W.  A.] 


Coleoptera.  89 


Order  4— COLEOPTERA. 

By  C.  0.  Wateehotjse,  F.E.S.,    C.  J.  Gahan,  M.A.,  F.E.S., 
and  G.  J.  Abeow,  E.E.S. 

(PLATES  X  AND  XI.) 

Family  C ARABICS. 

1.   Morio  orientalis,  Dej. 

Common  in  rotten  wood. 

In  the  Museum  there  are  specimens  from  Java,  Penang,  Andaman 
and  !Nicobar  Islands. 

2.   Harpalus,  sp. 

Two  specimens,  which  at  present  are  undetermined. 

3.   Trechus(?). 
A  small  species  apparently  referable  to  this  genus. 

Family  STAPHYLimD^. 

4.  Gyrophaena,  sp. 

This  and  the  following  we  are  at  present  unable  to  determine. 

5.  Philonthus,  sp. 

6.  Lithocharis,  sp. 

7.   Psederus  listeri,  Gahan,  sp.n.     (PL  X,  Fig.  1.) 

Niger,  articulis  duobus  primis  et  duobiis  nltimis  antennarum 
fulvis  ;  elytris  chalybeate  -  cyaneis,  dense  fortiterque  punctatis, 
quam  prothorace  vix  brevioribus ;  tarsis  fulvo-testaceis,  interdum 
leviter  infuscatis.     Long.  8-9  mm. 

Head  and  prothorax  black  and  glossy.  Antennae  with  the  first 
two  and  the  last  two  joints  fulvous  or  testaceous,  the  intermediate 
joints  dark  brown.  Elytra  very  slightly  shorter  than  the  pro- 
thorax  ;  steel  blue  or  sometimes  greenish  blue  in  colour ;  thickly 
and  rather  strongly  punctured.  Abdomen  pitchy  black  ;  the  legs 
of  the  same  colour,  with  the  tibiae  less  dark  towards  the  extremity, 


90  Christmas  Island, 

and  the  tarsi  fulvous  or  testaceous,   sometimes  shaded  with  dark 
brown. 

Phosphate  Hill,  ISTovember,  1897  ;  l^orth  Coast,  December,  1897. 
This  species  was  obtained  also  by  Mr.  Lister  in  Christmas  Island. 
Dr.  Sharp  informs  me  that  he  has  in  his  collection  an  allied  bat 
distinct  species  from  Java. 

8.   Lispinus  castaneus,  Fauv. 

One  example  only  of  this  species  was  obtained  by  Mr.  Andrews. 
Through  Dr.  D.  Sharp's  kindness  I  have  been  enabled  to  compare 
it  with  a  typical  specimen  of  L.  eastaufus,  from  New  Guinea.  It 
is  somewhat  smaller  in  size,  and  its  elytra,  instead  of  being  reddish 
chestnut,  are  dark  brown  in  colour. 


Family  HTDROPHILID^. 

9.  Dactylosternum  abdominalis,  Fabr. 

Flying  Fish  Cove,  in  August  and  October. 

Specimens  in  the  Museum  are  from  Brazil,  Fernando  Neronha, 
Madeira,  Canaries,  Cape  Verdes,  St.  Helena,  Rodriguez,  Mauritius, 
Sierra  Leone,  Angola,  2\^atal,  Ceylon,  Penang,  Andamans,  Sandwich 
Islands,  etc. 

Family  HISTERID^. 

10.  Hololepta  malleata,  Lewis,  sp.n. 

Oblongo-ovata,  subdepressa,  nigra,  nitida;  fronte  plana;  thorace 
impunctato,  stria  marginali  tenui  ;  elytris  striis  dorsalibus,  1*  brevi, 
2*  brevissima,  appendice  brevi  curvato,  subhumerali  baud  lata 
utrinque  abbreviata  ;  propygidio  lateribus  anguste  punctate  ; 
pygidio  sparse  punctato  postice  Isevi ;  prosterno  lato ;  mesosteruo 
sinuato  utrinque  angulariter  marginato ;  tibiis  anticis  4-dentatis. 

Long,  (absque  mandibulis)  8-9  mm. 

Oblong  oval,  rather  depressed,  black,  shining  ;  the  head,  surface 
flat,  smooth,  and  impunctate,  mentum  in  both  sexes  agrees  with 
that  of  If.  indica,  Er.  ;  the  thorax  is  arched  at  the  sides,  bisinuoiis 
before  the  scntellum,  very  feebly  angulate  behind  the  middle  of 
the  lateral  edge,  marginal  stria  fine  and  ceasing  at  the  anterior 
angle ;  the  elytra,  lateral  fossa  rather  narrow,  not  very  deep,  and 
shortened  at  both  ends  ;  stria?,  first  dorsal  short  and  a  little  oblique, 
second  very  short,  the  apical  appendage  is  short  and  slightly 
incurved  at  the  apical  tip ;  the  propygidium  is  smooth  except  for 
a  few  lateral  punctures  before  the  middle ;  the  pygidium  (^  is 
smooth,  with  a  few  punctures  scattered  transversely  and  irregulaiiy 
along  its  base,  9  punctures  similarly  placed,  but  more  numerous 


Coleoptcra.  91 

and  less  scattered ;  the  prosternum  is  rather  broad  and  dilated  at 
the  base ;  the  mesosternuni  is  sinuous  anteriorly  and  distinctly 
angulate  on  either  side,  and  the  short  marginal  striae  follow  the 
course  of  the  angles  ;  the  auterior  tibife  are  4-dentate. 

The  species  is  in  many  respects  similar  to  S.  indica,  Er.,  but  in 
Erichson's  species  the  pygidium  is  densely  punctured  and  the 
mesosternum  is  not  so  conspicuously  angulate  laterally. 

Mab. — jSorthern  part  of  the  island,  January,  1898. 

11.   Platysoma  lignarium,  Lewis,  sp.n. 

Oblongum,  subparallelum,  parum  convexum ;  fronte  concaya, 
labis  transversa,  stria  transversa  Integra  sed  tenuiter  impressa ; 
pronoto  stria  laterali  hand  interrupta,  valida;  elytris,  striis  dor- 
salibus  1-3  integris,  4-5  et  suturali  apicalibus  ;  propygidio 
transversim  punctato  ;  pygidio  parum  dense  ocellato  -  punctate, 
margine  postice  elevato  ;  prosterno  hand  striate  ;  mesosterno, 
sinuato,  marginato  ;  tibiis  anticis  4-dentalis. 

Long.  (J  4'5-5  mm. 

Oblong,  somewhat  parallel,  little  convex,  black,  shining,  legs  and 
tarsi  reddish  brown ;  the  head,  forehead  concave,  labrum  trans- 
verse, stria  complete  but  hoe ;  the  thorax  transver-e,  rounded  otf 
at  the  anterior  angles  only,  marginal  stria  very  fine  and  ceasing 
near  the  eye,  lateral  stria  strong,  with  the  interstice  uniform  in 
width,  not  narrowing  at  the  base,  and  distinctly  wider  than  that 
of  P,  biimanum,  Mars.  ;  scutellar  puncture  linear ;  the  elytra,  stria;, 
inner  humeral  tine,  basal,  and  oblique,  outer  humeral  wanting, 
1-3  dorsal  strong,  parallel,  and  complete,  4  apical,  and  not 
reaching  the  middle,  5  shorter,  not  half  the  length  of  the  fourth, 
and  with  a  wider  space  between  it  and  the  apex  ;  sutural  com- 
mences behind  the  middle  of  the  dorsum,  and  reaches  only  to 
a  point  on  a  line  with  the  anterior  part  of  the  hfth ;  the  pro- 
pygidium  has  ocellate  punctures  transversely  arranged,  which  leave 
a  smooth  margin  along  its  edges  both  before  and  behind;  the 
pygidium  is  closely  punctured,  punctures  ocellate,  hinder  margin 
strongly  elevated;  the  tibiae,  anterior  4-dentate,  intermediate  4-5, 
posterior  3-spinose. 

This  species  belongs  to  the  same  group  as  Platysoma  odiosum, 
Mars.,  and  in  its  oblong,  rather  parallel  form,  it  resembles 
P.  suturale.  Lew. 

ITab. — Found  in  rotting  wood  on  the  coast  and  in  the  central 
part  of  the  island. 

12.  Paromalus,  sp. 

There  is  a  single  example  in  this  collection  of  an  apparently 
undescribed  species  ;  it  has  a  large  and  deep  round  fovea  in  the 
centre  of  the  pygidium,  and  is  therefore  probably  a  male. 

Mab. — In  rotting  wood. 


92  Christinas  Island. 

Family  NITIDIJLID^. 

13.   Prometopia  quadrimaculata,  Motscli. 

This  is  evidently  a  widely  distributed  species,  as  it  was  described 
by  Motscbulsky  from  Ceylon,  and  there  is  a  specimen  in  the  British 
Museum  from  the  Philippine  Islands.  A  long  series  was  collected 
by  Mr.  Andrews,  showing  that  the  species  varies  considerably,  and 
little  importance  need  therefore  be  attached  to  its  failure  to 
correspond  in  every  respect  with  the  description.  Motschulsky 
mentions  an  impressed  median  line  on  the  thorax,  of  which  I  can 
find  no  truce ;  and  Reitter,  in  a  table  of  the  Oriental  species  of 
this  genus,  characterizes  P.  quadrimaculata  as  having  the  basal  spot 
of  the  elytron  "  peu  developpee  transversalement,"  whereas  the 
development  of  this  spot  diifers  greatly  in  different  specimens, 
sometimes  extending  transversely  to  the  suture  and  sometimes 
upwards  to  the  base  of  the  elytron. 

14.   Stelidota  orientalis,  Arrow,  sp.n. 

Elongato  -  ovalis,  convexa,  fusco  -  niger  ;  capite  prothoraceque 
punctato-rugosis,  fulvo-.setosis,  prothoracis  lateribus  arciiatis,  rufo- 
llavis,  angulis  anticis  obtusis,  posticis  acutis,  disco  prope  basin 
leviter  bifoveolato ;  elytris  costatis,  costis  setosis,  interstitiis  grosse 
seriato-punctatis,punctis  setiferis,  marginibus  maculisque  rufo-liavis. 

Long.  3  mm. 

The  colour  is  a  deep  brownish-black,  with  the  margins  of  thorax 
and  elytra  and  markings  on  the  latter  reddish  yellow.  The  pattern 
on  each  elytron  consists  of  a  spot  bordering  the  scutellum,  another 
beneath  near  the  suture,  a  wavy  fascia  beyond  this  extending 
nearly  across  the  elytron,  and  another  between  the  first  and  second 
spots  reaching  the  external  but  not  the  internal  margin.  There 
are  two  large  but  not  deep  impressions  near  the  base  of  the 
pi'othorax. 

The  British  Museum  collection  contains  a  specimen  of  this  species 
from  Macassar.  Another,  from  Mr.  Andrew  Murray's  collection, 
bears  the  unpublished  name  of  Stelidota  orientalis,  Motsch. 


Family  TROGOSITID^. 

15.    Shoguna  polita,  Arrow,  sp.n. 

Cylindrica,  nitida,  castanea ;  capite  prothoraceque  subtiliter  parce 
punctatis,  illo  antice  ustulato,  arcuatim  emarginato,  oculis  promi- 
nulis;  antennae  clava  3-articulata ;  prothorace  convexo,  medio  postice 


Coleoptera.  93 

subsulcato,  lateribus  concavis ;  elytris  indistincte  seriato-punctatis, 
prope  suturam  linea  impressa,  apicis  subtruncatis. 

].ong.  5  mm. 

Tliis  closely  resembles  the  typical  species  S.  rufotestaaa,  Lewis 
(Ann.  &  Mag.  JNTat.  Hist.,  iv,  1889,  p.  274),  but  is  darker  in  colour, 
with  the  emargination  of  the  head  arcuate  and  not  angular.  The 
head  and  thorax  are  sparsely  punctured,  and  the  latter  furrowed 
along  its  posterior  half.  The  elytra  have  indistinct  rows  of 
punctures  and  a  single  pair  of  striae  bordering  the  suture.  The 
pygidium  is  furnished  with  long,  erect  fulvous  setae. 

A  single  specimen  was  obtained  on  the  north  coast  of  the  island. 


16.    Shoguna  striata,  Arrow,  sp.n. 

Cylindrica,  subdepressa,  nitida,  rufo-castanea  ;  capite  prothorace- 
quo  parcissime  sat  distincte  punctatis,  capitis  f route  arcuatim 
emarginato,  oculis  minutis,  antennae  clava  2-articulata,  articulo 
nono  vix  precedentibus  majore  ;  prothoracis  dorso  subplano,  medio 
postice  subsulcato,  lateribus  concavis ;  elytris  fortiter  strigatis, 
utrisque  ad  apicem  rotundatis. 

Long.  4  mm. 

Rather  smaller  and  more  depressed  than  the  preceding  species ; 
the  head  and  thorax  with  large  scattered  punctures,  the  latter 
longitudinally  furrowed  posteriorly.  The  eyes  are  very  small, 
and  the  ninth  joint  of  the  antennae  is  hardly  larger  than  those 
preceding  it.  The  elytra  are  deeply  striated,  and  the  pygidium  is 
fringed  with  yellow  hairs. 

Only  a  single  specimen  was  found. 

The  previously  described  species  of  the  genus  Shoguna  inhabit 
Madagascar,  Burma,  Japan,  and  New  Britain  respectively. 
Mr.  Lewis  mentions  species  from  the  New  World,  which  he  does 
not  think  can  be  generically  separated,  but  an  examination  of 
these  convinces  me  that  they  constitute  a  closely  allied  but 
distinct  genus. 


ONISCOMORPHA,  Arrow,  gen.  nov. 

Caput  elongatum,  exsertum,  emarginatum,  oculi  integri,  ovales 
remoti,  antennae  ll-articulatae,  clava  elongata  triarticulata ;  pro- 
thorax  transversus,  antice  non  capitis  ad  marginem  attingens, 
angulis  anticis  valde  rotundatis,  posticis  emarginatis;  scutellum 
transversum ;  elytra  parallela,  postice  parum  attenuata,  sub- 
acuminata. 

Allied  to  JVarcisa,  and  of  similar  appearance,  but  the  head  is 
not  sunk  into  the  prothorax,  and  the  eyes  are  entire,  and  situated 
on  the  sides  of  the  head,  the  upper  and  lower  divisions  being  equal, 
but  without  constriction  or  emargination.  The  facets  are  very 
large.     The  antennal  club  is  compact,  and  twice  as  long  as  broad, 


94  Christmas  Island. 

with  the  last  joint  sphferoidal.  The  pro  thorax  is  deeply  emarginated 
for  the  head,  but  the  lateral  lobes  do  not  extend  beyond  the  front 
of  tlie  eyes ;  the  hind  margin  is  lobed  in  the  middle,  and  has  a 
blunt  right-angled  tooth  on  each  side  fitting  into  a  corresponding 
notch  in  the  elytron.  The  elytra  are  parallel- sided,  slightly 
acuminate  towards  the  apex,  Avith  the  margins  entire,  and,  together 
with  the  rest  of  the  upper  surface  of  the  body,  are  clothed  with 
flat  oval  scales. 


17.  Oniscomorpha  marmorata,  Arrow,  sp.n.     (PI.  X,  Tig.  2.) 

Oblonga,  subdepressa,  fusca,  squamis  albidis  supra  tecta,  ore 
antennis  pedibusque  f errugineis ;  clypeo  late  emarginato-truncato  ; 
prothorace  elytrorum  latitudine,  lateribus  valde  rotundiitis,  crenatis, 
subtus  squamulis  albis  parce  vestito ;  elytris  costatis,  lateribus 
parallelis,  integris,  costis  tuberculiferis,  interstitiis  albo-equamosis, 
fusco-marmoratis. 

Long.  6  mm. 


Family  COLYDIIDJE. 

18.   Xuthia  maura,  Pascoe:   Joum.  Ent.,  ii  (1863),  p.  128. 

A  single  example  from  rotting  wood.  The  specimen  is,  perhaps, 
a  trifle  narrower  than  the  type  from  Morty,  but  this  is  probably 
a  sexual  difference. 


19.   Bothrideres  strigatus,  Arrow,  sp.n.     (PI.  X,  Fig.  3.) 

Angustatus,  piceus,  subnitidus,  capite  prothoraceque  dense  et 
profunde  strigoso-punctatis,  hujus  medio  Knea  Isevi,  ante  medium 
impressione  baud  pi'of unda,  post  medium  spatio  impunctato  circular! 
fossa  profunda  postice  incluso,  striis  duabus  ad  basin  connexa ; 
marginibus  leviter  sinuatis,  postice  valde  contractis,  angulis 
posticis  rectis  ;  elytris  disco  striatis,  partibus  exterioribus  carinatis, 
intervallis  ]  et  3  paullo  punctatis. 

Long.  8  mm. 

The  colour  is  black,  with  the  antennae  and  legs  a  very  dark  red. 
The  head  and  thorax  are  coarsely  punctured,  and  there  are  a  few 
scattered  punctures  on  the  first  and  third  interstices  of  each  elytron. 
The  third  interstice  is  also  angularly  elevated,  and  beyond  it  the 
striae  are  replaced  by  three  sharp  costae.  Near  the  base  of  the 
thorax  is  a  U-shaped  impressed  line  enclosing  a  smooth  area,  and 
in  front  of  this  is  a  shallow  depression. 

The  species  is  represented  only  by  a  single  specimen. 


Coleoptera.  95 


Family  CUCTJJIDiE. 

20.   Psammoecus  concinnula,  Walker. 

There  are  two  specimens  of  this  species,  originally  described 
from  Ceylon.  Others  in  the  Museum  collection  are  from  Java  and 
China,  and  a  single  example  from  Sierra  Leone. 

Family  DERMESTID^. 

21.   Dermestes  felinus,  Fabr. 

This  species,  like  many  others  of  its  genus,  occurs  in  all  parts  of 
the  world.      Several  specimens  were  taken. 

B.  subcostatus,  Murr.,  the  type  of  which  is  now  in  the  British 
Museum,  belongs  to  this  species. 

Family  CRYPTOPHAGID^. 

A  single  example  of  a  minute  species,  taken  on  the  east  coast 
in  September,  apparently  allied  to  Paramecosoma,  and  closely 
resembling  P.  serrata  in  general  form  and  colour,  but  with 
differently  formed  tarsi. 

Family  COCCmELLTD^. 

22.    Epilachna  indica,  Muls.  :    Spec.  Col.  Trim.,  p.  776. 

Numerous  specimens  of  this  widely  distributed  Asiatic  species 
were  taken,  together  with  their  larvae,  near  Flying  Fish  Cove. 

23.   Epilachna  nativitatis,  Arrow,  sp.n.     (PL  X,  Fig.  6.) 

Lata,  subdepressa,  flava,  parce  pubescens,  oculis  magnis,  pro- 
thoraceque  angusto,  basi  fortiter  arcuato,  immaculate ;  elytrorum 
marginibus  late  explanatis,  ad  humeros  valde  rotundatis,  deinde 
fere  ad  apicem  recte  angustatis,  singulo  grosse  sex-punctato, 
punctis  tribus  prope  suturam,  uno  ad  callum  humeralem  et  duobus 
prope  mai'ginem,  punctis  quatuor  basalibus  linea  recta,  quatuor 
intermediis  equidistantibus  linea  arcuata  ordinatis. 

Long.  7 '5  mm 

This  species  is  of  a  pale  tawny  colour,  and  is  not  very  thickly 
clothed  with  hair.  The  prothorax  is  much  narrower  than  in  tlie 
preceding  species,  and  is  strongly  arcuate  at  the  base,  so  that  its 
length  in  the  middle  is  almost  equal  to  half  its  breadth.  The 
elytra  are  broadly  margined,  and  the  size  and  position  of  the  spots 


96  Christmas  Island. 

recall  the  common  European  E.  chrysomelina  rather  than  any  of 
the  Oriental  species.  The  four  hasal  spots  are  arranged  in 
a  straight  line,  and  the  inner  spots  of  the  middle  row  are  scarcely 
farther  removed  from  the  suture  than  those  ahove  and  below  them. 
Three  specimens  were  brought  by  Mr.  Andrews  from  the  north 
coast  of  the  island.  This  species  was  also  found  both  by  Mr.  Lister 
and  the  officers  of  the  "  Flying  Eish." 

24.   Scymnus,  sp. 
A  single  specimen  of  a  small  species,  probably  new. 

Family  PSETJDOCORYLOPHID^. 

25.   Aphanocephalus,  sp.n. 
A  single  specimen,  which  it  seems  inadvisable  to  describe. 

Family  EROTYLID^. 

26.   Euxestus  parki,  Woll.  :  Ann.  &  Mag.  IS'at.  Hist., 
iii  (1858),  p.  411. 

Of  this  insect,  originally  described  from  Madeira,  three  examples 
were  found  in  the  north  part  of  the  Island  in  January.  It  has 
been  recorded  from  Rodriguez  Island  and  Damma  Island. 


Family  LUCANID^. 

27.   Parsegus  listeri,  Gahan:  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  539. 
(PI.  XI,  Figs.  1,2.) 

A  good  series  of  examples,  including  both  sexes,  of  this  species 
was  obtained  by  Mr.  Andrews.  Mr.  Lister's  collection,  on  which 
my  previous  paper  was  based,  contained  only  male  specimens, 
though  I  was  able  to  describe  the  female  from  a  single  specimen  of 
this  sex  previously  obtained  by  the  officers  of  H.M.S.  "  Flying- 
Fish." 

28.   Figulus  rossi,  Gahan,  sp.n. 

Niger  nitidus ;  capite  supra  paullo  concavo,  sparse  minuteque 
punctato,  utrinque  prope  oculos  tuberculato,  clypeo  inviso,  canthis 
oculorum  late  rotundatis  ;  mandibulis  bidentatis,  mento  sat  profunrle 
concavo,  valde  punctato ;  pronoto  antice  in  medio  leviter  tubercu- 
lato, disco  fovea  media  punctis  15  ad  20  impressa,  versus  latera 
subtilissime  vel  baud  punctato  ;  elytris  regulariter  punctato-striatis, 


Coleoptera.  .  . '')  07 

punctis  magnis  rotundatis  in  latitudine  interstitiis  Isevibus  costatis 
fere  aequalibus,  utroqiie  elytro  prope  angiiluin  apicalem  reticulato- 
punctato  ;  lateribus  prosterni,  metasternique,  et  abclominis  processu 
intercoxale  fortiter  punctatis,  ceteris  abdominis  fere  impunctatis. 

Long,  (mandib.  exclusis)  9-11-5  ;    lat.  3-4  mm.  5 

Head  sparsely  and  very  feebly  punctured,  slightly  concave  in  tb© 
tbe  middle  above,  and  having  on  each  side  an  obtuse  tubercle, 
which  is  separated  from  the  eye  by  a  short  longitudinal  ridge ; 
anterior  margin  straight  in  the  middle,  and  very  slightly  projecting 
forwards  in  a  short  obtusely  rounded  process  at  each  side ;  ocular 
canthi  regularly  rounded  both  in  front  and  at  the  sides,  slightly 
oblique  behind;  mandibles  each  with  two  teeth  on  the  inner  side, 
those  of  the  right  mandible  being  placed,  one  just  in  front  of  the 
middle,  the  other  near  the  base,  those  of  the  left,  which  are  shorter; 
between  the  middle  and  the  apex.  Prothorax  very  minutely  or 
not  at  all  punctured  above,  except  in  the  median  fovea  (which  is- 
impressed  with  from  about  15  to  20  strong  punctures)  and  also  at 
the  anterior  margin  close  to  the  lateral  angles,  where  there  are 
a  few  irregular  rows  of  moderate -sized  punctures.  Elytra  strongly 
punctate-striate,  the  punctures  being  large,  broadly  elliptical,  or 
nearly  circular  in  outline,  and  almost  equal  in  width  to  the  smooth 
subcostate  intervals  between  the  rows ;  near  the  apical  angle  each 
elytron  is  somewhat  reticulately  punctured.  Sides  of  the  pro- 
sternum  and  metastemum,  and  the  intercoxal  process  of  the 
abdomen  strongly  punctured ;  sides  of  the  first  segment  with  a  few 
large  punctures,  and  the  rest  of  the  abdomen  with  some  minute 
sparsely  scattered  punctures.  Antei'ior  tibiae  with  four  or  five,  the 
middle  and  hind  tibiae  with  two  or  three  teeth  on  the  outer  border. 

Five  specimens  collected  in  the  north  part  of  the  island. 

In  general  form  and  structure  this  species  approaches  F.  stilcicoUis, 
Hope,  from  which  it  is  chiefly  to  be  distinguished  by  its  smaller 
size,  less  punctured  prothorax,  and  the  relatively  much  larger  size 
of  the  punctures  of  the  elytra. 

Family  PASSALID^. 

29.  Leptaulax,  sp. 

Mr.  Andrews  obtained  a  number  of  specimens  of  this  genus  at 
Flying  Fish  Cove  in  October.  They  closely  resemble  Z.  tmoriensis, 
but  will  probably  prove  to  be  one  of  the  many  allied  species  recently 
described  by  Herr  Kuwert. 

Family  APHODIID^. 

30.  Rhyssemus  inscitus,  Wlk. 

One  example,  taken  in  the  north  part  of  the  island,  which  does 
not  seem  to  be  specifically  distinct  from  Walker's  type  from  Ceylon. 


98  Christmas  Island. 


31.   Trichyorhiysseiiiiis  (gen.  nov,)  hirsutus,  C.  de  P.,  sp.n. 

A  specimen  sent  to  M.  L.  Clouet  des  Pesruches  was  kindly 
examined  by  him  and  returned  with  this  name,  which  will  he 
published  in  his  forthcoming  monograph. 


CETOmiD^. 
32.   Protsetia  andrewsi,  Gahan,  sp.n.     (PL  X,  Fig.  5.) 

Nigra,  nitida,  interdum  viride  vel  purpureo  tincta,  supra  sparse 
setosa,  thorace  subtus  pedibusque  sparse  sat  longeque  A^llosis  ; 
clypeo  transverso,  margine  antico  late  rotundato  (fere  truncate)  et 
fortiter  elevato :  capite  pronotoque  sat  dense  fortiterque  punctatis, 
longitxidinaliter  in  medio  obtuse  leviterque  carinatis ;  elytris  dense 
punctatis,  squamis  luteis  sparse  guttatis,  depressionibus  posticis 
baud  vel  obsolete  striatis,  marginibus  suturalibus  postice  elevatis 
et  ad  angulos  apicales  paullo  productis. 

Long.  12-15,  lat.  6-5-8-.5mm. 

Colour  black,  but  in  some  specimens  tinged  with  metallic  green 
or  purple.  Head  strongly  and  rather  thickly  punctured,  clypeus 
transverse,  broadly  rounded  or  almost  truncate  in  front,  with  the 
margin  strongly  raised.  Pronotum  with  an  obtuse  and  very  feebly 
raised  carina  along  the  middle  ;  this  carina,  a  median  space  at  the 
base  in  front  of  the  scutellum,  and  one  or  two  smaller  areas  towards 
the  sides,  smooth,  the  rest  of  the  surface  strongly  and  rather  thickly 
punctured.  Elytra  somewhat  strongly  punctured,  the  punctures 
being  less  thickly  placed  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  scutellum 
than  over  the  rest  of  the  surface ;  the  broad  depression  on  each 
side  of  the  sutural  carina  on  the  posterior  half  of  the  elytra  is 
rather  thickly  punctured  and  usually  destitute  of  striae  (in  one  or 
two  specimens  among  those  examined  traces  of  striae  in  the  form  of 
one  or  two  broken  lines  are  to  be  seen).  Antennae  varying  in  colour 
from  light  mahogany -brown  to  dark  chestnut-brown ;  the  inner 
lamella  of  club  almost  as  long  as  the  whole  of  the  proximal  part 
of  the  antenna.  Legs  and  under-side  of  the  body  with  a  long 
sparse  pubescence ;  metastemum  with  an  impressed  line  along 
the  middle. 

This  species  seems  to  come  nearest  to  P.  acuminata,  Fab.,  from 
which,  however,  it  is  very  distinct.  It  differs  not  only  in  colour 
and  sculpture,  but  in  being  more  pubescent  above  and  below  and  in 
having  the  anterior  margin  of  the  clypeus  more  strongly  raised, 
the  apices  of  the  elytra  less  produced  at  the  sutural  angles,  the 
metasternum  impressed  with  a  median  line,  and  the  hair-fringe  of 
the  intermediate  and  hind  tibiae  much  longer  and  more  sparse. 


Coleoptera.  99 

Family  BUPRESTIDJ*]. 

33.   Chrysodema  simplex,  Waterli.  :    P.Z.S.,  1881,  p.  520. 

Mr.  Andrews  met  "with,  this  species  in  abundance  at  Flying  Fish 
€ove  in  October. 

34.  Chrysobothris  andrewsi,  Waterh.,  sp.n.     (PI.  X,  Fig.  8.) 

Obscure  brunneo-cuprea,  parum  nitida,  creberrime  sat  fortiter 
punctata  ;  elytris  maculis  sex  marginibusque  aureo-viridibus. 

Long.  10  mm. 

Head  in  front  green,  circularly  impressed,  closely  and  rather 
coarsely  punctured  ;  the  forehead  more  finely  and  very  closely 
punctured.  Thorax  transverse,  rather  strongly  punctured,  the 
punctures  on  the  disk  widely  separated  from  each  other,  becoming 
gradually  closer  together,  till  they  are  crowded  at  the  sides,  the 
intervals  on  each  side  of  the  disk  forming  transverse  shining  rugae. 
The  sides  are  nearly  parallel  posteriorly,  strongly  sinuate  in  front 
of  the  middle,  so  that  there  is  a  well-marked  rectangular  projection 
Tiefore  the  anterior  angle.  Elytra  gently  convex,  without  costae, 
brownish  coppery,  with  a  slight  purple  tint  in  some  lights,  rather 
strongly,  evenly,  and  very  thickly  punctured,  the  punctures  green. 
The  base  and  margins  are  tinted  with  golden  green ;  and  each 
elytron  has  a  transverse,  oval,  golden-green  impression  on  the  disk, 
before  the  middle,  and  two  contiguous  impressions  behind  the 
middle,  the  inner  one  oblique.  The  margins  are  denticulate  from 
behind  the  middle.  The  anterior  femora  are  much  thickened  in 
the  middle,  and  furnished  with  a  rather  small  acute  tooth.  The 
under-side  of  the  body  is  green,  tinted  with  coppery,  especially 
on  the  abdomen,  the  terminal  segment  of  which  has  a  well-marked 
median  carina,  and  is  deeply  emarginate  at  the  apex. 

This  species  is  quite  isolated.  I  know  of  no  species  at  all 
resembling  it  either  in  colour  or  markings.  The  thorax  has  not 
the  posterior  angles  turned  in,  as  is  generally  the  case,  and  the 
angular  projection  at  the  sides  is  very  marked. 

Family  EUCI^EMID^. 
35.   Fornax,  sp.  (?). 

A  single  example,  apparently  referable  to  this  genus,  taken  at 
Flying  Fish  Cove  in  October. 


100  Christmas  Island. 

Family  ELATERID^. 

36.   Tetrigus  murrayi,  Waterli.,  sp.n. 

Elongatus,  parallelus,  brunneus,  f  ulvo  -  pubescens.  Thorace 
creberrime  pimctato ;  elytris  striatis,  striis  sut  fortiter  punctatis, 
interstitiis  crebre  punctatis. 

Long.  22  mm.  ^ .  " 

The  thorax  has  the  punctuation  very  close,  and  considerably 
stronger  than  in  T.  parryi  or  flahellakis,  and  the  pubescence  is 
rather  coarser.  The  elytra  are  striated,  the  punctures  in  the  striae 
are  much  stronger  than  in  T.  flaheUatus  about  the  same  as  in 
-T.  lewisi,  but  closer  together  ;  the  dorsal  striae  are  nearly  as 
strongly  marked  as  the  lateral  ones.  The  interstices  are  closely 
and  more  strongly  punctured  than  in  T.  flaheUatus,  and  there  is 
a  slight  tendency  of  the  punctures  to  be  asperate.  The  apex  of 
each  elytron  is  angular,  the  angle  nearly  a  right  angle,  not  at  the 
suture  (as  in  T.  parryi)  but  between  the  second  and  third  striae. 
The  prostemum  is  rather  closely  and  very  strongly  punctured,  but 
there  is  a  smooth  median  line  posteriorly.  The  apex  of  the  abdomen 
is  arcuately  rounded,  not  emarginate. 

37.   Anchastus  discoidalis,  Waterh.,  sp.n. 

Sordide  testaceus  ;  capitis  vertice,  thoracis  disco,  elytrisque 
(basi  excepto)  fuscis. 

Long.  6-6  "5  mm. 

This  insect  has  much  the  appearance  of  Dolopius  marginattis,  but 
it  is  rather  more  elongate,  the  thorax  is  rather  longer  and  more 
narrowed  in  front,  and  the  elytra  are  a  little  narrower  and  more 
acuminate.  The  clypeal  carina  is  very  sharp  and  prominent.  The 
antennae  have  the  third  joint  distinctly  longer  than  the  second, 
a  little  shorter  that  the  fourth.  The  thorax  is  shining,  moderately 
strongly  punctured,  the  punctures  distinctly  separated  on  the  disk, 
close  together  at  the  sides ;  the  posterior  angles  arc  prolonged  and 
very  acute,  the  inner  carina  is  fine,  and  not  very  sharply  defined, 
.  so  that  it  is  only  visible  in  certain  positions.  The  base  is 
testaceous,  the  sides  and  anterior  angles  light  brownish-testaceous, 
the  disk  dark  brown,  with  a  trace  of  a  lighter  median  line. 
The  elytra  are  strongly  striated,  the  striae  closely  and  strongly 
punctured,  the  interstices  slightly  convex,  rather  closely,  finely, 
but  distinctly  asperate-punctate  ;  the  dorsal  surface  is  dark  brown, 
the  extreme  base  testaceous,  the  sides  light  brown,  the  presternum 
is  very  dark  brown,  shining ;  the  under  flanks  of  the  pronotum 
testaceous,  with  a  broad  dark-brown  stripe.  The  rest  of  the  under- 
side is  rather  dark,  the  segments  bordered  with  lighter  colour. 

Two  examples  in  rotting  wood.  A  single  specimen  was  also 
taken  by  Mr.  J.  J.  Lister. 


Coleoptera.  101 

This  species  is  very  like  A.  infumatus,  Cdz.,  from  Ceylon,  but  is 
larger,  the  thorax  is  much  less  closely  and  more  strongly  punctured, 
and  the  brown  on  the  elytra  is  much  more  extended. 


38.  Megapenthes  andrewsi,  Waterh.,  sp.n.     (PI.  X,  Fig.  7.)  . 

Piceo-flarus,  parum  nitidus ;  capitis  vertice  thoraceque  inf uscatis, 
elytris  fortiter  striatis,  f usco  variegatis,  striis  confertim  sat  fortiter 
punctatis,  interstitiis  parum  convexis,  crebre  asperato-punctatis. 

Long.  14-17  mm. 

This  species  is  one  of  those  that  resemble  Agrotis  in  general 
form,  and  must  be  placed  near  31.  agrotus,  Cdz. 

Head  convex,  very  closely  and  rather  coarsely  punctured ;  dark 
fuscous,  the  anterior  margin  obscure  yellow,  this  colour  ascending 
a  little  on  each  side.  Thorax  a  little  longer  than  broad,  convex, 
rather  straight  at  the  sides,  very  slightly  narrowed  before  the 
posterior  angles,  which  are  very  slightly  diverging,  acute,  with  the 
inner  carina  so  near  to  the  outer  one  that  it  is  scarcely  distinguish- 
able viewed  from  above.  The  punctuation  is  densely  and  moderately 
line.  There  is  an  impressed  line  at  the  posterior  part  of  the  disk. 
The  fully-coloured  specimen  has  the  thorax  entirely  dark  fuscous, 
except  the  posterior  angles.  Scutellum  fuscous.  Elytra  deeply 
striated,  the  striae  strongly  and  very  closely  punctured  ;  the  inter- 
stices moderately  closely  and  rather  strongly  asperate-punctate, 
giving  the  surface  an  uneven  appearance.  The  colour  is  sordid 
yellow,  with  a  spot  on  the  shoulder,  and  the  sutiu-e  fuscous, 
the  fuscous  colour  dilating  behind  the  middle.  The  under-side 
fuscous,  except  the  margins  of  the  segments  and  the  prosternum. 

Varieties. — ( 1 )  Elytra  with  the  dark  colour  extended  at  the  base, 
and  the  dilated  portion  behind  the  middle  joined  to  the  humeral  spot 
on  the  seventh  interstice.  (2)  Thorax  with  the  margins  and 
a  median  line  light  brown.  (3)  Almost  entirely  pitchy  yellow, 
with  a  spot  on  the  forehead,  two  discoidal  spots  on  the  thorax, 
the  shoulders  and  suture  of  the  elytra  rather  darker. 

Taken  in  September  and  October,  December  and  January,  at 
Flying  Fish  Cove. 


39.  Melanoxanthus  dolosus,  Cdz. 

Candeze,  Elaterides  Nouv. :  Mem.  Ac.  Sci.  Bruxelles,  xvii,  1865. 

Two  specimens  which  seem  to  be  referable  to  the  species  from 
Ceylon,  found  on  the  north  coast  in  December,  1897,  and  March, 
1898. 

40.   Melanoxanthus  litura,  Cdz.  (?). 

Candeze,  Elat.  Nouv.  :  Mem.  Ac.  Sci.  Bruxelles,  xvii  (1865), 
p.  34. 


102  Christmas  Island. 

Three  examples.  One  taken  by  Mr.  Lister.  Two  by  Mr,  Andrew* 
in  the  central  part  of  the  island  in  February,  and  near  Flying  Fish 
Cove. 

The  specimens  vary  in  colour,  two  having  the  thorax  black,  with 
the  hind  angles  only  yellow ;  the  third  has  the  whole  of  the  sides 
yellow.  The  extent  of  the  yellow  markings  on  the  elytra  also 
varies  considerably.  Of  the  numerous  allied  described  species,  thi& 
seems  to  be  nearest  to  M.  litura,  Cdz.,  from  Ceylon,  but  it  may  be 
distinct.  The  material  at  disposal  is  not  suificient  to  determine  the 
question. 

Family  MELYEIDJE. 
41.   Laius  tibialis,  Gahan,  sp.n.     (PI.  X,  Fig.  4.) 

Cyaneus  aut  viridi-cyaneus,  ore  et  antennarum  articulis  duobus 
primis  flavo-testaceis. 

(J.  Articulo  1°  antennarum  curvato  et  compresso,  secundo  crasso 
parum  oblongo,  hand  excavato ;  tibiis  anticis  intus  ad  basim  rufo- 
callosis. 

Long.  5,  lat.  2  mm. 

Dark  bhie  or  greenish  blue,  with  the  first  two  joints  of  the 
antennae,  the  epistome,  labium,  and  maxillae  (last  joints  of  palpi 
excepted)  yellowish  testaceous.  In  the  male  the  first  two  joint* 
of  the  antennae  are  enlarged ;  the  first  joint  is  curved,  and  is 
compressed  from  side  to  side,  so  that  it  appears  narrow  looked  at 
from  above,  but  is  as  broad  as  the  second  when  seen  from  the 
front ;  the  second  joint  is  thick,  somewhat  oblong  in  form,  and 
is  not  compressed  nor  excavated.  Each  of  the  anterior  tibiae  of 
the  male  has  a  small  reddish  callosity  close  to  the  base  on  the 
anterior  (inner)  side,  with  a  small  pit  placed  just  below  the  cal- 
losity. In  some  of  the  allied  species  there  is  a  deep  oblique  groove 
occupying  the  same  position. 


Family  PTINID^. 

42.  Lasioderma  testacea,  Duft. 

A  single  example  of  this  species,  which  is  found  almost 
eveiy  where. 

NEOPTINUS,  Gahan,  gen.  nov. 

(9  ?)  Antennae  inserted  on  the  front,  nine-jointed,  with  the 
ninth  joint  as  long  as  the  two  preceding  joints  taken  together. 
Prothorax  with  distinct  lateral  margins.  Middle  coxae  moderately 
distant  from  one  another ;  hind  coxae  widely  separated,  the  intercoxal 


.  Coleoptera.  103 

process  of  the  abdomen  being  broad,  and  obtusely  rounded  in  front. 
First  three  abdominal  sternites  more  or  less  fused  together,  the 
sutures  between  them  being  apparent  only  towards  the  sides ; 
fourth  stemite  very  narrow,  with  its  hind  margin,  like  that  of  the 
third,  arcuate  behind.  Tarsi  five-jointed,  of  equal  width  throughout 
their  whole  length,  ciliated  on  each  side  below,  even  on  the  claw- 
joint. 

This  genus  seems  best  placed  in  the  group  Ptinides  of  the  family 
Ptinidae,  although  it  does  not  agree  in  some  important  particulars 
with  Lacordaire's  definition  of  that  group. 


43.  Neoptinus  parvus,  Gahan,  sp.n.     (PI.  X,  Fig.  10.) 

Nigro-piceus,  supra  sub-erecte  setosis,  pedibus  et  antennarum 
apice  testaceis ;  antennis  basin  prothoracis  paullo  superantibus, 
articulis  2°  ad  9,^^^  inter  se  subaecjualibus,  articulo  9°  duobus 
precedentibus  unitis  sequilongo,  paullo  crassiore  ;  prothorace  trans- 
verso,  lateribus  marginatis,  postice  cum  basi  rotundatis ;  elytris 
late  ovatis,  humeris  nullis  j  striato-punctatis,  breviter  sub-erecte 
setosis. 

Long.  1-5,  lat.  1mm. 

Pitchy  black,  with  the  legs  and  the  last  joint  of  the  antennae 
testaceous.  Eyes  small ;  antennae  inserted  upon  the  front  at  a 
short  distance  in  advance  of  the  eyes,  nine- jointed,  with  the  first 
joint  thick,  and  nearly  twice  as  long  as  the  second,  joints  second  to 
eighth  sub-equal  in  length,  the  ninth  thicker  than  the  seventh  or 
eighth  and  a  little  longer  than  these  two  united.  Pronotum  trans- 
verse, convex  above,  deflexed  towards  the  sides,  basal  margin 
rounded,  and  forming  with  the  lateral  margins  a  continuous  curve  ; 
so  that,  looked  at  from  above,  the  pronotum  has  somewhat  the 
form  of  a  segment  of  a  circle,  the  anterior  margin  being,  however, 
not  straight,  but  slightly  bowed  forwards  in  the  middle ;  the 
surface  sparsely  setose.  Elytra  broadly  oval,  without  shoulders, 
convex  above,  and  the  surface  of  each  marked  with  eight  rows  of 
rather  large  and  closely  approximated  punctures,  each  of  which  is 
slightly  transverse  in  direction,  and  carries  a  greyish-white  seta 
springing  from  its  anterior  margin ;  on  the  deflexed  (and  slightly 
inflexed)  side  of  each  elytron  there  are  two  or  three  less  regular 
rows  of  punctures.  Prosternum  much  shorter  than  the  pronotum  ; 
narrow  in  the  middle,  and  scarcely  separating  the  anterior  coxae 
from  one  another  ;  metasternum  short,  its  sides,  as  well  as  the 
sides  of  the  abdomen,  thickly  impressed  with  large  shallow 
punctures ;  these-  punctures  extend  also  on  to  the  middle  of  the 
intermediate  sternites,  but  are  absent  from  the  intercoxal  process 
and  from  the  fifth  stemite ;  the  latter  is  narrow,  and  is  rounded  at 
the  apex. 

Taken  on  the  east  coast  of  the  island,  September,  1897. 


104  Christmas  Island. 


44.   Paranobium  posticum,  Gahan,  gen.  et  sp.  n. 
(PI.  X,  Fig.  9.) 

(9)  Fuscum,  pube  fulvo-grisea  sat  dense  vestitum ;  antennis 
1 1 -articulatis,  fortiter  serratis,  articulis  4°  ad  10"™  inter  se  sub- 
sequalibus,  11°  quam  10°  paullo  longiore  ;  prothorace  dense 
punctulato,  ad  latera  sub-obliquiter  gibboso  sect  non  marginato, 
disco  postice  valde  gibboso,  fere  in  cristam  elevate ;  elytris  dense 
sat  fortiterqiie  punctatis,  f usco  -  brunneis,  utroque  elytro  lineis 
quatuor  pallidioribus,  paullo  elevatis,  instructo. 

Long.  7'5,  lat.  3  mm. 

Head  and  protborax  dark  brown,  witb  a  rather  dense  tawny-grey 
pubescence.  Antennae  reddisb  brown,  about  half  as  long  again  as 
the  head  and  protborax  together,  11 -jointed,  with  the  joints  from 
the  third  to  the  tenth  sub-equal  in  length,  the  third  feebly  angular 
a  little  before  its  apex,  the  fourth  to  tenth  each  produced  antero- 
distally  into  a  sharply  angular  process,  eleventh  a  little  longer  than 
the  tenth.  Protborax  with  an  oblique  projection,  passing  forwards 
from  the  basal  margin,  on  each  side  ;  the  disk  raised  in  the  middle, 
so  as  to  form  a  blunt  crest  or  tubercle  behind  ;  surface  closely 
punctulate,  but  with  the  punctures  more  or  less  concealed  by  the 
pubescence.  Elytra  nearly  half  as  broad  again  as  the  protborax, 
closely  and  somewhat  strongly  punctured,  reddish  brown  in  colour, 
and  clothed  with  a  fulvous  -  grey  pubescence,  which  is  somewhat 
paler  along  four  slightly  raised  lines  running  from  the  base  to  the 
posterior  declivous  part  of  each  elytron,  these  lines  being  connected 
together  behind  by  means  of  one  or  two  oblique  branches.  First 
joint  of  each  of  the  tarsi  as  long  as  the  three  succeeding  joints 
taken  together,  slightly  narrowed  towards  the  base ;  the  second 
joint  a  little  longer  than  either  the  third  or  fourth. 

One  example,  taken  near  Flying  Fish  Cove,  December,  1897. 

As  this  species  does  not  fit  well  into  any  of  the  described  genera 
of  Anobiides,  I  have  given  to  it  the  generic  name  of  Paranohitim. 
Two  very  closely  allied  species  are  represented  in  the  British 
Museum  collection,  one  by  a  single  unnamed  specimen  from  Natal, 
the  other  by  a  specimen  from  Siam.  In  the  Natal  specimen,  which 
probably  is  a  male,  the  antennae  are  longer  than  in  the  specimen 
described  above,  and  the  joints  from  the  fourth  to  the  tenth  are 
furnished  with  longer  processes. 


45.   Aspidiphorns  orbiculatus,  Gyll. 

Examples  of  this  species  have  been  obtained  with  a  fungus — 
Stemonitis  splendens,  Rost.,  collected  by  Mr.  Andrews  in  Christmas 
Island.  This  species  is  found  in  England,  though  rarely,  and  also 
on  the  Continent.  An  example  from  Java  in  the  British  Museum 
collection,  in  which  the  protborax  and  elytra  are  of  a  reddish-brown 


Coleoptera.  105 

colour,  appears  to  be  an  immature  specimen  of  the  same  species, 
which  hitherto  has  not  been  recorded  from  any  locality  outside  of 
Europe. 


Family  BOSTRICHID^. 

46.   Dinoderus  minutus,  Fabr. 

Of  this  species,  which  occurs  throughout  the  Malay  Archipelago 
4ind  in  many  other  parts  of  the  world,  three  specimens  were  found. 

Family  CIOID^. 
47.   Minthea  rugicoUis,  Walker. 

DitomanigicollU,  Walker:  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  ii  (18.58),  p.  206  (Geylou). 
Minthta  timilata,  Pascoe:  Journ.  Ent.,  ii  (1863),  p.  141  (Saylee). 

A  single  example  of  this  species,  taken  on  the  north  coast  in 
•October. 

Family  TENEBRIONID^. 
48.   Opatrum  dubium.  Arrow,  sp.n. 

Breve,  latum,  rufo-fuscum,  undique  breviter  erecte  setosum ; 
■capite  granulato-punctato,  clypeo  triangulariter  emarginato,  a  fronte 
sulca  obsoleta  separato ;  prothorace  elytrorum  latitudinis,  lateribus 
regulariter  arcuatis,  minutissime  ciliatis,  antice  paullo  contracto, 
disco  utrinque  oblique  sulcato  ;  elytris  brevibus,  convexis,  punctato- 
striatis,  interstitiis  convexis,  grauulatis  ;  antennis  brevibus, 
articulis  9°  et  10°  transversis,  8°  et  11°  giobosis;  tarsis  rufo-piceis. 

Long.  9-1 1  mm. 

This  species,  which  was  found  in  considerable  numbers,  exhibits 
a  wide  range  of  variation.  Small  specimens  are  narrow,  with  the 
thorax  hardly  margined,  and  the  foveae  on  each  side  of  its  disk 
•obsolete.  The  colour  varies  from  a  deep  reddish-chocolate  in  fresh 
specimens  to  a  dull  black,  the  whole  upper  surface,  with  the  legs, 
being  clothed  with  short,  nearly  erect  bristles.  The  clypeus  is  very 
deeply  emarginate,  and  meets  the  anteocular  lobes  in  a  deep  notch 
on  the  sides  of  the  head.  The  prothorax  is  strongly  curved,  and 
more  or  less  flattened  at  the  lateral  margins,  and  has  a  slightly 
oblique  longitudinal  groove  on  each  side  of  the  middle.  There  are 
eight  stria3  on  each  elytron,  and  the  interstices  are  studded  with 
somewhat  regularly  arranged  tubercles,  each  of  which  gives  rise  to 
a  stout  hair. 


106  Christmas  Island. 


49.   Bradymerus  seminitidus,  Arrow,  sp.n, 

Elongatus,  fuscus,  opacus,  palpis,  antennis  basi  tarsisque  rufis  ■;. 
capite,  cum  prothorace  punctato  rugoso,  clypeo  crebrius  punctato, 
trimcato,  antennis  clava  nigra  6-articulata  ;  protboracis  media 
fortiter  sulcato,  lateribus  integris  leviter  arcuatis,  basi  quam 
humeros  minus  lato,  antice  vix  contracto,  angulis  omnibus  acutis, 
elytris  pallidioribus,  nitidis,  punctato-striatis,  interstitiis  carinatis ; 
corpore  subtus  dense  punctato. 

Long.  7-9  mm. 

Allied  to  B.  clathratus,  Schauf.,  and  semiasperatns,  Fairm.,  but 
differing  from  all  closely  related  species  by  tbe  almost  metallic  gloss 
of  tbe  elytra. 

Tbis  species  was  found  in  large  numbers  all  over  tbe  island, 
altbougb  it  did  not  occur  in  eitber  of  tbe  two  previous  collections. 


50.   Alphitobius  piceus,  Oliv. :  Ent.,  iii,  'Eo.  58,  p.  17. 

A  single  specimen  was  obtained  of   tbis   species,  wbicb   is  of 
world-wide  distribution. 


51.   Palorus  depressus,  Fab. :  Ent.  Syst.,  i,  2,  p.  501. 

Tbis  insect  is  also  very  generally  distributed.     Two  specimens 
were  found. 


52.   Toxicum  antilope,  Arrow,  sp.n. 

Parvum,  angustum,  $  capite  cornubus  4  retro -curvatis  armato, 
postei'ioribus  fere  parallelis  sed  paullo  bisinuatis  apice  divergentibus 
antice  crinitis,  antennte  clava  4-articulata,  articulis  vix  transversis; 
protborace  subtiliter  punctato,  $  valde  transverso,  9  subquadrato ; 
elytris  striato-punctatis  ;  pedibus  fuscis. 

Long.  12  mm. 

Allied  to  T.  qtiadricorne,  Eab.,  but  ratber  smaller,  and  readily 
distinguisbable  from  tbis  and  all  otber  species  bitberto  described  by 
tbe  curvature  of  tbe  posterior  borns,  wbicb  converge  from  tbe  base,, 
and  sligbtly  diverge  towards  tbe  tip. 

Several  specimens  of  botb  sexes  were  collected. 


53.  Nyctobates  carbonaria,  Arrow,  sp.n. 

Parva,  nigra,  nitida ;  capite  subtiliter  inter  oculos  minus  dense 
punctato,  sutura  clypeali  distincta,  semicirculari ;  protborace  parvo 
transverso,  crebre  punctato,  margine  anteriore  quam  posteriorem 
angustiore,  angulis  anticis  valde  rotundatis,  posticis  acutis,  disco 


Coleoptera.  107 

leviter  sulcato  ;  elytrls  sulcatis,  siilcis  grosse  interstitiis  subtilissime 
punctatis ;  pedibus  sat  brevibus,  ^  tibiis  anterioribus  quam  inter- 
medias  non  longioribus. 

Long.  18  mm. 

The  thorax  is  small,  with  the  median  groove  lightly  impressed, 
and  the  anterior  angles  rounded.  The  anterior  tibiae  show  no  trace 
of  the  usual  elongation. 

A  single  female  specimen  was  brought  by  Mr.  Andrews.  The 
British  Museum  contains  a  second  specimen,  also  a  female,  captured 
by  Mr.  Lister  in  1888. 


54.   Amarygmus  funebris,  Arrow,  sp.n. 

Elongato-ovalis,  indigaceo-niger,  antennis  tarsisqiie  ferrugineis ; 
capite  prothoraceque  obscure  purpureo  vel  viridi,  clypeo  crebre 
punctato,  sutura  clypeali  distincta,  anguste  ab  oculis  separata, 
antennis  brevibus  paullo  ultra  humeros  attingentibus ;  prothorace 
brevi,  subtiliter  punctato  ;  elytris  striatis,  striis  minutissime 
punctatis. 

Long.  9  mm. 

This  species  apparently  resembles  A.  inornatus,  Macl.  The  colour 
is  black,  tinged  with  a  deep  purplish  or  greenish  hue,  especially 
upon  the  head,  thorax,  and  anterior  part  of  the  elytra.  Some 
specimens  present  a  slightly  sericeous  bloom  upon  the  upper 
surface.  Underneath  it  is  a  shining  black,  with  the  abdominal 
segments  striated  longitudinally. 

Mne  specimens  from  various  parts  of  the  island. 


Family  (EDEMERID^. 

55.    Sessinia  andrewsi.  Arrow,  sp.n. 

riavo-testacea  vel  fusco-testacea,  sericea,  immaculata,  distincte 
punctata ;  prothorace  elongato  flavo,  margine  basali  vix  reflexo ; 
elytris  flavis  vel  fusco-testaceis,  margine  laterali  pallidiore,  margine 
suturali  elevato  et  costis  duabus  disco  tertiaque  ab  callo  humerali 
incipiente  prope  marginem  lateralem. 

Long.  8-12  mm. 

The  colour  of  the  elytra  and  imder-side  varies  from  a  pale 
testaceous  to  a  smoky  brown,  that  of  the  prothorax  being  fairly 
constant.  The  average  size  of  the  males  is  larger  than  that  of  the 
females,  and  the  antennoe  are  shorter,  with  the  rudimentary  12th 
joint  very  apparent. 

This  species  was  also  obtained  by  Mr.  Lister.  It  is  stated  by 
Mr.  Andrews,  who  found  it  exceedingly  abundant,  to  exude  an 
oily  liquid,  which  is  considered  by  residents  to  have  most  injurious 
properties,  and  which  no  doubt  serves  as  a  protection  from  insecti- 
vorous animals. 


1-08  Christmas  Island. 

The  following  species  was  obtained  by  Mr.  Lister,  and  is 
represented  only  by  a  single  female : — 

56.   Sessinia  listeri,  Arrow,  sp.n. 

Flavo-testacea,  nitida,  sericea,  sat  grosse  punctata ;  palpis 
maxillaribus  gracilibus  latere  apicali  articuli  ultimi  latere  interiori 
•snbequali,  ut  lato  quani  longi,  parum  dense  punctate,  margine 
basali  valde  reflexo ;  elytris  nitidis,  distincte  punctatis,  ecostatis, 
j)arce  sericeis. 

Long.  13mm. 

This  species  closely  resembles  the  typical  species  S.  Uvida,  Pab., 
but  the  silky  covering  is  less  fine  and  dense,  and  the  punctuation 
coarser.  The  pro  thorax  is  shorter,  and  the  terminal  joint  of  the 
maxillary  palpus,  which  in  S.  Uvida  is  almost  cylindrical,  is 
distinctly  triangular. 


Family  CURCULIONID^. 
Sub-Family  OTIORRHYXCHIN^E. 

RHYNCHOLOBUS,   Gahan,  gen.  nov. 

Apterous ;  corbels  of  posterior  tibiae  open ;  claws  of  tarsi  connate 
at  the  base.  Rostrum  rather  broad,  strongly  dilated  at  the  apex 
in  the  male,  so  as  to  have  a  very  distinct  lateral  process  on  each 
side  just  below,  and  in  front  of,  the  insertion  of  the  antennae  ; 
gradually  and  slightly  dilated  towards  the  apex  in  the  female,  and 
without  distinct  lateral  processes  ;  marked  off  from  the  head  by 
a  slight  transverse  impression  ;  scrobes  deep,  extending  to  the  eyes 
and  almost  as  wide  as  them  behind,  narrowed  in  front.  Scape  of 
the  antennae  reaching  to,  or  a  little  beyond,  the  anterior  margin 
of  the  pro  thorax  ;  funiculus  of  seven  joints,  the  second  joint 
longer  than  the  first  and  almost  or  quite  equal  to  the  third  and 
fourth  united;  club  short,  ovate,  three- jointed.  Prothorax  broadest 
in  front  of  the  middle,  slightly  narrowed  towards  the  base,  more 
strongly  towards  the  apex.  Elytra  somewhat  oval  in  shape ; 
broader  and  less  convex  above  in  the  male  ;  very  little  or  not  at  all 
broader  than  the  prothorax  at  the  base.  Second  sternite  of  the 
abdomen  almost  as  long  as  the  post-coxal  part  of  the  first,  and 
marked  off  from  it  by  a  straight  suture;  much  longer  than  the 
third  sternite,  but  not  quite  equal  to  the  third  and  fourth  taken 
together.  Femora  stout,  thick  in  the  middle ;  the  hinder  pair 
flattened,  or  sometimes  even  slightly  concave,  on  the  posterior 
(or  inner)  face ;  hind  tibiae  obliquely  truncate  at  the  extremity. 


Coleoptem.  109 


57.   Rhyncholobus  rossi,  Gahan,  sp.n.      (PL  XI,  Figs.  7,  8.) 

Niger,  squamis  viriclibus  (interdum  coerulescentibus)  dense 
vestitiis  ;  prothorace  supra  granulis,  nigris,  nitidis,  setigeris 
instructo ;  elytris  punctato-striatis,  interstitiis  nigro-graniilatis, 
granulis  setigeris ;  sutura  interdum  fere  omnino  nigra ;  articulo 
'd°  funiculi  quam  4°  vix  longiore ;  tibiis  posticis  ad  apicem.  sat  late 
truncatis. 

(J .  Eostro  ad  apicem  late  sat  abrupteque  dilatato  (vel  lobato) ; 
elytris  supra  minus  convexis  ;  inter  discum  lateraque  anguste 
convexis  ;  femoribus  crassioribus,  tibiis  intus  denticulatis. 

5.  Rostro  versus  apicem  gradatim  leviterque  dilatato;  elytris 
supra  valde  convexis. 

Long.  7-12,  lat.  3-6  mm. 

Black ;  closely  covered  with  scales,  which  are  mostly  of  a  bright 
green  colour  (sometimes  bluish)  mixed  with  a  few  of  a  golden  or 
coppery  tint.  On  the  sides  of  the  thorax  and  elytra,  as  well  as  on 
the  legs  and  under-side  of  the  body,  the  scales  are  often  of  a  paler 
and  more  silvery  colour.  The  setae  or  hairs,  which  are  present  on 
nearly  all  parts  of  the  body,  are  somewhat  longer  and  denser  on  the 
legs  and  the  posterior  part  of  the  elytra  ;  those  on  the  prothorax 
and  elytra  mostly  arise  from  punctures  situated  each  at  the  summit 
or  on  the  hinder  face  of  a  little  black  granule.  Head  and  rostrum 
together  about  equal  in  length  to  the  pronotum.  Eostrum  flattened 
above,  with  a  feeble  carina  along  the  middle,  ending  in  front  at 
the  apex  of  a  triangular  space,  of  which  the  base,  forming  part  of 
the  anterior  margin  of  the  rostrum,  has  a  small  angular  notch 
in  the  middle.  Prothorax  almost  equal  in  length  to  its  greatest 
width,  which  lies  a  little  in  front  of  the  middle  ;  distinctly  narrower 
at  the  apex  than  at  the  base ;  disk  with  scattered  and  very  slightly 
raised,  shining  -  black  setigerous  granules.  Exposed  part  of  the 
scutellum  triangular  and  very  small.  Elytra  punctate-striate  ;  the 
interstices  in  no  wise  costiform,  furnished  with  feebly  raised,  shining- 
black  setigerous  granules ;  the  punctures  along  the  striae  rather 
deep  and  oblong,  but  those  at  the  sides  much  smaller  and  less 
conspicuous.  (In  a  few  examples,  not  otherwise  distinct,  the 
punctures  on  the  disk  are  narrower  and  less  conspicuous,  and 
the  setigerous  granules  a  little  more  raised.) 

Scape  of  the  antennae  only  just  reaching  to  the  anterior  margin 
of  the  prothorax ;  second  joint  of  the  funiculus  equal  in  length  to 
the  third  and  fourth  united,  the  third  joint  very  little  longer  than 
broad,  and  scarcely  longer  than  the  fourth  joint.  Posterior  (or 
inner)  face  of  hind  femora  flat  and  smooth ;  hind  tibite  rather 
broadly  truncated  at  the  end.  In  the  male  there  is  a  row  of  small 
teeth  along  the  lower  margin  of  all  the  tibise ;  in  the  female  these 
teeth  are  obsolete  or  wanting. 


110  Christmas  Island. 

58.   Rhyncholobus  discoidalis,  Waterh. 

Fiezonotut  diseoiclalis,  Waterh.  :  P.Z.S.,  1887,  p.  521,  fig.  3. 

This  species,  to  whicli  a  female  example  obtained  by  Mr.  Andrews 
may  possibly  belong,  was  described  from  a  single  male  specimen 
from  Christmas  Island.  It  differs  from  the  preceding  species  in 
having  a  somewhat  broader  prothorax,  which  is  more  densely  and 
sharply  granulate  above,  and  marked  with  a  broad  black  band 
along  the  middle ;  the  elytra  also  are  somewhat  more  granulate, 
and  the  punctures  along  the  striae  less  distinct ;  the  third  joint  of 
the  funiculus  is  distinctly  longer  than  the  fourth.  The  female 
specimen  referred  to  differs  from  the  male  type  in  having  a  line 
of  green  scales  along  the  middle  of  the  pronotum,  dividing  the 
longitudinal  black  band  into  two ;  as  well  as  by  those  characters 
which,  in  the  generic  description,  I  have  indicated  as  being  sexual. 

59.   Rhyncholobus  vittatus,  Gahan,  sp.n.     (PL  XI,  Fig.  6.) 

(J.  Viridi-squamosus  ;  vitta  lata  longitudinali  prothoracis,  vitta 
suturali  et  vitta  utrinque  medio  disco  elytrorum,  nigris ;  prothorace 
quam  longiore  sat  distincte  latiore  ;  antice  posticeque  sat  fortiter 
angustato,  basi  quam  apice  paullo  latiore ;  elytris  punctato-striatis, 
interstitiis  disco  elevatis,  seriatim  regulariterque  granulatis ;  scapo 
antennarum  apicem  prothoracis  paullo  superante,  articulis  3°  4°  que 
funiculi  unitis  quam  articulo  2°  distincte  longioribus  ;  rostro  ad 
apicem  lobato. 

Long.  9,  lat.  4  mm. 

"With  a  broad  black  band  along  the  middle  of  the  pronotum  ; 
with  a  sutural  vitta  and  a  broad  band  along  the  middle  of  each 
elytron,  also  black ;  the  rest  of  the  upper  surface  covered  with 
green  scales.  Antennae  a  little  longer  and  more  slender  than  in 
the  other  species  of  the  genus  ;  third  and  fourth  joints  of  the 
funiculus  each  much  longer  than  broad,  and  taken  together 
distinctly  longer  than  the  second  joint.  Prothorax  somewhat 
hexagonal  in  form,  being  obtusely  angular  on  each  side  just  in 
front  of  the  middle,  with  the  sides  converging  strongly  both  before 
and  behind;  a  little  broader  across  the  base  than  at  the  apex; 
upper  side  distinctly  and  rather  densely  granulate,  especially  along 
the  black  band.  Elytra  slightly  convex  above;  punctate -striate, 
with  the  interstices  between  the  striae  on  the  disk  sub-costate  and 
carrying  each  a  single  row  of  granules ;  those  between  the  striae 
on  the  sides  being  flattened,  and  less  strongly  and  less  regularly 
granulate.  Inner  margins  of  the  tibite  obsoletely  denticulate. 
Posterior  (or  inside)  face  of  the  hind  femora  flat  and  smooth, 
shining  black.     Truncated  end  of  hind  tibiae  moderately  broad. 


ColeojJtera.  Ill 

One  male  example  of  this  very  distinct  species  was  taken  near 
Flying  Fish  Cove.     The  female  sex  is  still  unknown. 


60.  Rhyncholobus  andrewsi,  Gahan,  sp.n. 

(^ .  Piceus,  viridi  -  squamosus  (interdum  coeruleo  -  squamosus)  ; 
prothorace  quam  longiore  evidenter  latiore,  sat  dense  nigro- 
granulato  ;  supra  in  medio  minus  dense  squamoso  ;  elytris 
punctato-striatis,  interstitiis  convexis,  sat  dense  irregulariterque 
granulatis ;  disco  pauUo  convexo,  lateribus  abrupte  deilexis ;  facie 
postica  f emorum  posticorum  planata  vel  leviter  concava,  sat  fortiter 
transversim  rugosa ;  tibiis  omnibus  subtus  denticulatis. 

Long.  9-11,  lat.  4-5  mm. 

9-  Piceo-fuscus  (interdum  brunneus) ;  prothorace  supra  versus 
latera  luteo-viridi-squamoso ;  elytris  punctato-sulcatis,  interstitiis 
subcostiformibus,  disco  sat  fortiter  convexo,  versus  latera  et  apicem 
luteo-viridi-squamoso. 

Long.  8-10,  lat.  4-5  mm. 

Male. — Pitchy-black,  covered  with  bright  green  or  with  bluish 
scales,  which  are  more  thinly  placed  or  entirely  wanting  along  the 
middle  of  the  pronotum.  Pro  thorax  distinctly  broader  than  long, 
its  greatest  width  being  in  front  of  the  middle,  where  the  sides  also 
are  most  rounded.  Disk  of  the  elytra  only  slightly  convex,  and 
the  sides  abruptly  deflexed,  so  as  to  form  with  the  disk  a  rather 
ncute  angle  ;  the  interstices  between  the  punctured  striae  are  slightly 
convex,  and  rather  thickly  and  irregularly  granulate.  Posterior 
(or  inner)  face  of  the  hind  tibise  flattened,  or  perhaps  slightly 
•concave,  and  distinctly  wrinkled  in  a  transverse  direction.  Lower 
margin  of  all  the  tibiae  denticulate. 

Female. — Dark  brown,  varying  to  reddish  brown,  in  colour.  The 
scales  are  almost  entirely  confined  to  the  sides  of  the  pronotum  and 
to  the  lateral  and  apical  parts  of  the  disk  of  the  elji;ra,  and  are, 
moreover,  of  a  yellowish-  or  greenish  -  grey  colour.  Pronotum 
relatively  shorter  than  in  the  male.  Elytra  strongly  enough 
convex  above,  pimctatc-striate,  with  the  interstices  raised,  convex, 
and  somewhat  costiform.  Posterior  flattened  face  of  hind  femora 
feebly  wrinkled  towards  the  margins,  but  not  in  the  middle.  Tibiae 
very  faintly  denticulate  along  the  lower  margin. 

Although  the  sexes  here  described  are  so  remarkably  different  in 
many  characters,  there  can  be  little  or  no  doubt  that  they  belong 
to  the  same  species.  Mr.  Andrews  collected  a  fair  series  of  each 
sex  on  the  same  day  and  at  the  same  place  on  the  island — viz., 
North-East  Point,  December  23,  1897. 

Mr.  J.  Faust,  who  has  kindly  examined  some  specimens  sent 
to  him,  points  out  that  while  this  new  genus  has  a  general 
resemblance  to  Mytrogonus,  Guer.,  it  agrees  in  the  connate  claws 
of  the  tarsi  with  Lacordaire's  group  Oosomides,  and  might  be  placed 
near  Emlrithes,  Sch.,  and  Dicasticus,  Paso. 


112  Christmas  Island. 


61.   Acicnemis  andrewsi,  Gahan,  sp.n. 

Minor,  angustior,  nigro  -  picea,  ocliraceo  -  bninneo  -  squamosa  et 
sparse  albo-setosa,  supra  albido  fuscoque  variegata ;  rostro  arcuato, 
piceo,  quam  femoribus  anticis  vix  longiore,  basi  confertim  punctate  ; 
antennis  ferrugineis,  ad  medium  rostri  insertis,  articulo  2°  quam  1° 
sesqui-longiore,  clava  fusiforme,  sub-solida ;  protborace  confertim 
punctate,  antice  constricto,  supra  sparse  iiTegulariterque  nigro- 
granulato,  disco  medio  squamis  brunnascentibus,  lateribus  squamis^ 
albidis  vestito  ;  elytris  quam  protborace  latioribus,  punctato-striatis, 
interstitiis  antice  remote  nigro  -  granulatis,  ocbraceo  -  brunneo  - 
squamosis,  fascia  parva  transversa  ad  medium  albida,  fasciis  duabus 
obliquis  nigris  literam  V  formantibus  paullo  pone  banc  fasciam  -, 
maculis  parvis  nigris  et  albidis  inter  banc  fasciam  et  basin,  dispersis  ; 
tibiis  omnibus  annulo  bxto  fusco  supra  medium  notatis. 

Long.  3-5-5-5,  lat.  1  "5-2  mm. 

Densely  covered  witb  scales,  wbicb  are  mostly  of  an  ocbreous- 
brown  colour,  but  mixed  witb  others  forming  small  bands  and 
spots  of  a  whitish  and  dark-brown  colour  ;  the  most  distinct  of 
these  being  a  short  sinuately  transverse  white  band  at  the  middle 
of  the  elytra,  and  a  V-shaped  f  ascous  band  placed  a  little  posterior 
to  it.  Rostrum  scarcely  longer  than  the  anterior  femora,  dark 
brown,  closely  punctured,  and  more  or  less  squamous  at  the  base. 
Antennae  inserted  at  the  middle  of  the  rostrum,  reddish  brown, 
second  joint  of  the  funiculus  very  little  more  than  half  the  length 
of  the  third,  club  fusiform,  with  two  articular  sutures  faintlj 
visible  ;  prothorax  constricted  at  the  apex,  very  closely  punctured 
and  densely  squamose,  ochreous-brown  on  the  middle  of  the  disk, 
dirty-white,  with  brownish  patches  on  the  sides  ;  with  sparsely 
scattered  black  granules  on  the  disk.  Elytra  punctate-striate, 
interstices  with  rather  widely  separated  black  granules.  Proximal 
half  of  each  tibia  almost  entirely  dark  brown  in  colour,  distal  half 
whitish ;  femora  covered  with  luteous  scales,  sparsely  mixed  with 
short  flattened  white  setce  like  those  present  also  on  the  prothorax 
and  elytra. 


62.   Camptorhinus  crinipes,  Gahan,  sp.n. 

Squamis  ocbraceo  -  brunneis  et  griseis  dense  vestitus,  capite 
rostrique  basi  confertim  punctulatis  ;  protborace  confertim  sat 
fortiterque  punctate,  antice  in  medio  leviter  carinato ;  dense 
squamose,  squamis  ad  latera  et  in  medio  disco  (pra^sertim  prope 
basin)  pallidioribus  ;  elytris  seriatim  fortiterque  punctatis,  inter- 
stitiis alternis  magis  elevatis  et  breviter  setosis  ;  pedibus  elongatis, 
femoribus  anticis  intermediisque  subtus.  dente  parva,  femoribus 
pesticis  dente  validiore,  armatis  ;  tibiis  omnibus  intus  longe 
fulvo-pilesis,  articulis  duobus  primis  tarserum  quoque  pilis  fulvis 
longis  fimbriatis.  ...^  .,.:•. 


Coleoptera.  113 

Long.  9"5,  lat.  2*2  mm. 

This  species  is  some-svhat  stouter  than  C.  dorm,  Pasc,  to  which 
it  has  a  pretty  close  resemblance  in  colour  and  sculpture.  The 
scales  with  which  it  is  covered  are,  however,  darker  in  colour,  being 
mostly  of  an  ochreous-brown  tint,  with  grey  patches  on  the  sides  of 
the  prothorax,  on  the  middle  of  the  disk  close  to  the  base,  along  the 
median  third  of  the  elytral  suture,  and  behind  the  middle  of  each 
elytron.  The  species  differs  further  from  C.  dor  ice  in  having  longer 
and  straighter  posterior  tibiae,  the  inner  face  of  which  is  furnished 
along  the  distal  half  with  long  tawny -brown  hairs,  similar  to  but 
less  dense  than  those  which  are  present  also  along  nearly  the  whole 
length  of  the  inner  (or  lower)  face  of  the  anterior  and  middle  tibiae  ; 
the  first  two  joints  of  the  anterior  and  middle  tarsi  are  thickly, 
those  of  the  posterior  tarsi  sparsely,  fringed  on  each  side  with 
similar  long  hairs. 

One  male  example,  taken  on  the  north  coast;  March,  1898. 


63.   Mecopus  bispinosus,  Web.,  var. 

This  is  a  variable  species,  and  widely  distributed  throughout  the 
Eastern  Archipelago. 

64.  Trochorliopalus  strangulatus,  Gyll. 

Sphenophorut  itranffulatur,  Gyll.  :  in  Schoen.  Gen.  CurcuHon.,  iv,  p.  963. 

The  examples  from  Christmas  Island,  while  agreeing  in  most 
respects  with  others  which  I  have  seen,  are  somewhat  narrower 
in  form,  and  may  possibly  be  distinct.  Mr.  J.  Faust,  who  has  been 
good  enough  to  examine  some  specimens  I  sent  to  him,  considers 
them  to  belong  to  this  species,  which  is  a  widely  distributed  one, 
having  been  recorded  fi'om  Siam,  Malacca,  the  Philippines,  Java, 
Borneo,  and  other  islands  of  the  Malay  Archipelago  as  far  as  New 
Guinea. 

65.  Rhabdocnemis  fausti,  Gahan,  sp.n. 

H.  ohsGuro  (Boisd.)  sat  similis  sed  prothorace  angustiore,  elytris 
plus  oblongis,  densius  tomentosis  et  fortius  punctatis. 

Long.  12-13,  lat.  42-45  mm, 

Eostrum  not  very  strongly  curved,  tubcrculate  underneath  in 
the  male,  unarmed  in  the  female.  Prothorax  almost  one-half 
longer  than  broad,  scarcely  nari'owed  towards  the  base,  the  sides 
converging  from  the  middle  up  to  the  tubulate  apex;  disk  naked 
along  the  middle,  but  marked  with  sericeous  grey  punctures. 
Elytra  covered  with  a  dense  silky  tomentum  ;  punctate-striate,  the 
punctures  being  large  and  distinct,  and  wider  than  the  strige  along 
which  they  are  placed. 


114  Christmm  Island. 

This  species  has  a  somewhat  close  resemblance  to  R.  ohscurus, 
Boisd.,  but  is  relatively  longer  and  narrower ;  the  elytra  are  more 
oblong  and  more  densely  tomentose,  and  the  punctures  along  the 
striae  are  very  much  larger  and  more  distinct. 

Family  COSSOMD^. 

66.   Cossonus  variipennis,  Gahan,  sp.n. 

Niger,  nitidus,  elytris  medio  plus  minusve  testaceis,  lateribus 
sutura  et  apice  nigris ;  prothorace  antice  constricto  et  transversim 
sulcato,  lateribus  punctatis  a  basi  versus  apiceni  curvatim  paullo 
convergentibus,  disco  Isevi,  utrinque  medio  seriebus  duobus  irregu- 
laribus  punctorum  impresso  ;  elytris  punctato-striatis,  interstitiis 
paullo  convexis. 

Long.  4-4-25,  lat.  1-1-25  mm. 

Black  and  glossy,  with  the  elytra  testaceous  to  a  greater  or  less 
extent  along  the  middle  of  each,  the  sides,  suture,  and  apex  being 
black.  Head  impressed  in  the  middle  between  the  eyes  with  a 
small  round  pit,  from  which  a  shallow  groove  extends  forwards 
along  the  rostrum  as  far  as  to  a  point  in  a  line  with  the  insertion 
of  the  antennae.  Prothorax  constricted,  and  marked  with  a  deep 
transverse  groove  a  little  behind  the  apex ;  its  sides  punctured,  and 
converging  slightly  from  the  base  up  to  the  anterior  constriction  ; 
the  disk  smooth,  with  two  irregular  rows  of  well-marked  punctures 
along  each  side  of  the  middle  from  the  base  to  the  anterior  groove  ; 
the  space  on  each  side  between  these  rows  of  punctures  and  the 
side  of  the  prothorax  is  sparsely  and  very  minutely  punctate,  the 
narrow  space  along  the  middle  between  the  rows  of  punctures  being 
wholly  impunctate.  Elytra  punctate-striate,  five  equidistant  rows 
of  punctures  being  visible  from  above  on  each  elytron,  while  four 
closely  approximated  rows,  in  addition  to  a  short  marginal  row 
along  the  anterior  third,  are  present  on  each  side ;  the  interspaces 
between  the  rows  of  the  punctures  on  the  disk  are  slightly  convex. 
The  colour  of  the  elytra  is  variable ;  in  some  specimens  the  middle 
of  the  disk  of  each  elytron  from  the  base  up  to  the  posterior  fourth 
or  fifth  is  testaceous;  in  others  there  is  but  a  narrow  testaceous 
strip  extending  a  short  distance  from  the  base ;  while  in  one 
example  the  elytra  are  wholly  black. 

This  species  resembles  C.  stituralis,  Boh.,  but  is  flatter  on  the 
disk  of  the  prothorax  and  elytra,  and  much  less  strongly  punctured 
on  the  sides  of  the  prothorax  and  on  the  middle  of  the  breast  and 
abdomen. 

67.   Phlceophagosoma  dubium,  Gahan,  sp.n. 

Sub-fusiforme,  nigro-piceum  aut  fuscum ;  rostro  longiusculo, 
sub-parallelo,  antice  vix  latiore,  minute  punctulato :  oculis 
prominentibus ;   antennis  ante  medium  rostri  insertis ;    prothorace 


Coleoptem.  115 

8ub-ovato,  quani  latitudine  maxima  (paullo  ante  basin)  vix  longiore, 
prope  apiceni  nee  constricto  nee  sulcato,  disco  (linea  media  brevi 
excepta)  dense  sat  fortiterque  punctato;  scutello  sat  conspicuo, 
sub-semicirculare,  nitido ;  elytris  quam  pronoto  duplo  longioribus 
et  paullulo  latioribus,  fortiter  punctato  -  striatis,  interstitiis 
xninutissime  uniseriatim  punctulatis. 

Long.  4,  lat.  1-35  mm. 

Kostrum  and  front  of  head  finely  punctured ;  the  rostrum  longer 
than  the  head,  slightly  curved,  with  its  sides  sub-parallel  or  very 
slightly  and  scarcely  perceptibly  diverging  anteriorly;  with  the 
untennse  inserted  a  little  in  front  of  the  middle  of  its  length. 
Eyes  strongly  convex  and  prominent,  but  not  large.  Prothorax 
scarcely  longer  than  its  greatest  width,  which  is  about  midway 
between  the  base  and  the  middle  ;  sides  curved,  slightly  constricted 
at  the  base,  converging  gradually  towards  the  apex,  where  there  is 
neither  a  constriction  nor  transverse  groove ;  disk  slightly  convex, 
thickly  and  rather  strongly  punctured,  except  on  a  short  linear 
iipace  along  the  middle.  Scutellum  distinct,  smooth  and  glossy, 
somewhat  semicircular  in  form.  Elytra  about  twice  as  long  as  the 
pronotum,  and  a  little  wider  than  the  latter  at  its  widest  part, 
strongly  punctate-striate,  with  the  intervals  between  the  rows 
slightly  convex,  and  marked  each  with  a  single  series  of  rather 
distant  and  very  minute  punctures.  Intercoxal  part  of  the 
presternum  about  half  as  broad  as  one  of  the  anterior  coxae ;  that 
of  the  mesosternum  equal  in  width  to  one  of  the  middle  coxae. 
Third  joint  of  the  tarsi  broader  than  the  other  joints. 

In  its  relatively  short  form  this  species  resembles  the  true 
Rhjncoli  rather  than  the  species  placed  by  Wollaston  in 
Phlceophagosoma ;  but  it  differs  essentially  from  the  former  by  its 
broader  sternal  processes,  its  more  conspicuous  scutellum,  and  less 
convex  prothorax. 


68.   Pachyops  (?)  incertus,  Gahan,  sp.n. 

Augustus,  parallelus,  convexiusculus,  cylindricua,  piceo-niger, 
nitidus ;  capite  rostroque  sat  dense  minute  punctulatis,  prothorace 
conico-cylindrico,  dense  punctulato ;  elytris  sat  fortiter  punctato- 
striatis,  interstitiis  paullulo  convexis,  uniseriatim  minutissime 
punctulatis  ;  coxis  anticis  sat  late  distantibus  ;  scapo  clavoque 
antennarum  piceo-rufescentibus,  clavo  anguste  ovato,  baud  com- 
presso. 

Long.  4,  lat.  1  mm. 

This  species  resembles  Pachyops  cylindricus,  "Woll.,  in  general 
form,  but  is  smaller,  and  differs  in  the  following  points  of  sti'ucture  : 
The  space  between  the  anterior  coxa3  is  as  wide  as  one  of  the  coxae  ; 
the  club  of  the  antennae  is  narrowly  ovate,  and  not  compressed ; 
the  elytra  are  less  strongly  punctured  than  in  cylindricus,  Woll., 
and  the  intervals  between  the  rows  of  punctures  are  wider,  very 


116  Christmas  Island. 

slightly  convex,  and  not  in  the  least  costiform,  with  the  exception, 
however,  of  the  interval  between  the  two  outermost  rows  of 
punctures  on  the  posterior  half  of  the  side  of  each  elytron,  thi* 
interval  being  narrow  and  somewhat  cariniform  ;  the  antennae  are 
inserted  a  little  behind  the  middle  of  rostrum,  and  nearer  to  the 
eyes  than  in  P.  cylindriciis.  In  Pachyops  cylindricus  the  space 
between  the  anterior  coxse  is  scarcely  half  the  width  of  one  of 
the  coxa3 ;  and  the  club  of  the  antennaj  is  compressed,  and  i* 
broadly  oval  or  almost  rounded  in  outline. 

The  differences  between  the  two  species  are  therefore  pretty 
considerable,  and  such  as  might  perhaps  be  regarded  as  of  generic 
importance.  But  unless  a  new  genus  be  formed  for  its  reception, 
the  present  species  cannot  be  better  placed  than  in  the  genus^ 
Paohyops. 


69.   Dryophthorus  assimilis,  Gahan,  sp.n. 

D.  lymexyloni  similis  sed  minor,  elytris  brevioribus,  utrinque  ad 
apieem  minus  fortiter  carinatis. 

Long,  (rostro  excl.)  3,  lat.  1  mm. 

Resembling  the  European  B.  hjmexxjlon,  Fab,,  in  colour  and 
sculpture,  but  smaller  in  size,  with  the  elytra  relatively  shorter, 
being  rather  less  than,  instead  of  more  than,  twice  as  long  as  the 
prothorax,  and  with  the  sub-apical  carina,  which  is  continuous 
with  the  sixth  interstice  of  each  elytron,  much  less  prominent. 

It  also  presents  a  somewhat  close  resemblance  to  D.  modesttts, 
Sharp,  a  species  from  the  Sandwich  Islands,  but  differs  by  its 
proportionately  narrower  prothorax,  and  the  narrower  and  more 
acutely  raised  intervals  between  the  roAvs  of  punctures  on  the 
elytra. 


Family  SCOLYTID^. 
70.   Platypus  solidus,  Walk. 

Flatypus  solidus,  "Walker:  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  (3),  ii,  p.  286  (1858). 

Specimens  found  in  "  rotting  wood."     They  agree  well  with  the 
type  from  Ceylon. 

71.  Xyleborus  perforans,  Well. 

Tomicus perforam,  "Woll.  :  Cat.  Col.  Mad.,  p.  96  (1857). 

Bostrichus  testaceus,  "Walker:  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  (3),  iii,  p.  260  (1859). 

Xyleborus  perforans,  Blandf.  :  Kew  Bull.,  67,  68,  1892,  p.  157;  Report  on  the 

Destruction  of   Beer  Casks  in  India  by  the  attacks  of  a  Boring 

Beetle,  1893. 

Found  in  "  rotting  wood." 


Coleoptera.  117 


72.  Xyleborus  parvulus,  Eichhoff:  Berl.  Ent.  Zeit.,  1868,  p.  152; 
Mem.  de  la  Soc.  Roy.  de  Liege  (2),  viii,  p.  392  (1878). 

Found  in  "rotting  "wood." 

This  species  was  described  from  specimens  from  Siam  and  Ceylon. 
It  probably  is  widely  distributed  throughout  the  Oriental  region. 
There  are  in  the  British  Museum  collection  examples  from  China 
and  !N^ew  Guinea  which  agree  with  those  found  in  Chi'istmas 
Island. 


Family  BREls^THID^. 
73.   Orychodes  andrewsi,  Gahan,  sp.n. 

(^.  Eostro  supra  basi  sulcato  ;  capite  postice  bi tuber culato, 
iitrinque  vix  pone  oculum  dentato,  dente  sat  recte  transversa,  ultra 
oculum  paullo  projiciente ;  prothorace  rufo-castaneo,  polito,  quam 
latitudine  maximo  fere  duplo  longiore,  apice  quam  basi  latiore, 
ad  basin  transversim  bisulcato,  et  ante  sulcos  linea  mediana  leviter 
impresso ;  elytris  quam  pronoto  quarta  parte  longioribus,  rufo- 
brunneis,  Kneis  flavis  interruptis,  ornatis,  longitudinaliter  striatis, 
striis  intermediis  versus  medium  plus  minusve  obsoletis. 

9.  Capite  breviore,  postice  hand  tuberculato,  rostro  simplice, 
iiec  dentato  nee  ad  apicem  dilatato ;  prothorace  quam  latiore 
dimidio  parte  longiore. 

Long,  (rostro  inch)  13-21  mm. 

(J .  Kostrum  grooved  above  at  the  base  ;  anterior  part  with  two 
rows  of  teeth;  head  with  two  backwardly  projecting  and  slightly 
iliverging  tubercles  behind,  and  at  each  of  the  post-ocular  angles 
with  a  rather  sharp  tooth  which  projects  outwards  to  a  level  with 
or  even  a  little  beyond  the  outermost  portion  of  the  eye.  Antennae, 
when  turned  forwards,  reaching  beyond  the  apex  of  the  rostrum  by 
less  than  half  their  length.  "When  they  are  pressed  close  to  the 
rostrum  it  will  be  seen  that  the  sixth  joint  does  not  extend  beyond 
the  apex  of  the  rostrum.  Prothorax  about  three-quarters  of  the 
length  of  the  elytra,  and  nearly  twice  as  long  as  its  own  greatest 
breadth  ;  it  is  a  little  broader  across  the  apex  than  at  the  base  ;  at 
the  base  it  is  constricted  and  marked  with  two  transverse  grooves, 
fi'om  the  anterior  of  which  a  faintly  impressed  median  line 
extends  as  far  as  the  middle.  Elytra  reddish-brown,  marked  with 
interrupted  yellow  lines,  these  lines,  which  do  not  offer  so  strong 
a  contrast  with  the  general  colour  of  the  elytra  as  in  allied  species, 
being  arranged  as  follows : — One  on  the  second  interstice,  which  is 
yellow  at  the  base  and  on  the  posterior  declivity ;  one  on  the  third 
interstice,  which  is  yellow  at  the  base  and  in  front  of  and  behind 
the  middle,  as  well  as  on  the  posterior  declivity ;  fourth  interstice 
similar  to  the  third,  but  with  the  yellow  parts  shorter  and  less 
distinct  ;    fifth  yellow  at   base,  behind  the  middle,  and  near  the 


118  Christmas  Island. 

apex  ;  ninth  interstice  yellow  from  the  base  almost  up  to  the  apex  ; 
the  anterior  part  of  this  interstice  is  common  to  it  with  the  tenth, 
and  the  latter  is  yellow  for  a  short  distance  back  from  the  point  of 
junction  with  the  ninth. 

9 .  Head  obsoletely  or  not  at  all  tuberculate  behind ;  prothorax 
scarcely  longer  by  one-half  than  its  greatest  breadth,  and  rather 
less  than  two-thirds  of  the  length  of  the  elytra.  Differs  also  from 
the  male  in  the  shape  of  the  head,  the  unarmed  anterior  tibiae,  etc. 

Dr.  Angelo  Senna,  who  has  a  considerable  acquaintance  with  the 
beetles  of  this  family,  has  very  kindly  examined  some  specimens 
of  this  species,  and  has  told  me  that  they  are  quite  new  to  him, 
and  the  species  distinct  from  any  other  described.  I  have  to 
thank  him  also  for  pointing  out  some  of  the  most  important 
characters  detailed  above.  The  new  species  must  be  placed  in  the 
group  of  0.  semrostrts,  Pab. 

Family  ANTHRIBID^. 

74.  Xenocerus  nativitatis,  Gahan,  sp.n. 

X  flagellato  affinis  sed  differt  capite  supra  inter  oculos,  pygidio, 
et  utriusque  elytri  interstitio  nono  fulvescentibus,  elytris  magis 
fortiter  punctatis,  antcnnis  omnino  nigris. 

Long.  13,  lat.  4  mm. 

This  species  comes  nearest  to  X.  flagellatus,  Fahr.,  and  X.  en- 
ganensis,  Jordan,  from  both  of  which  it  differs  in  having  the  upper 
part  of  the  head  between  the  eyes,  the  pygidium,  and  the  ninth 
interstice  of  each  elytron  of  a  tawny  colour ;  the  two  lateral  vittae 
on  the  pronotum  also  have  a  tendency  to  be  of  the  same  tawny 
colour;  the  elytra  are  a  little  more  strongly  punctured,  and  the 
white  markings  somewhat  different.  The  latter  consist  of  (1)  a 
narrow  sutural  band  reaching  from  the  base  to  the  middle,  behind 
which  it  joins  two  short  diverging  bands  placed  one  on  each  elytron 
between  the  suture  and  the  third  row  of  punctures;  (2)  a  basal 
spot  just  within  the  shoulder,  and  continued  behind  as  a  narrow 
vitta,  which  runs  slightly  inwards  to  end  in  the  fourth  interspace 
a  short  distance  before  the  middle  ;  (3)  a  spot  on  the  seventh 
interspace  and  a  narrow  spot  on  the  tenth  at  about  one-third  of  the 
length  of  each  elytron  from  the  apex;  and  (4)  a  spot  close  to 
the  apex. 

Xe?ioceriis  flagellatus,  Fahr.,  to  which  X..  enganensis,  Jord.,  is 
very  closely  allied,  is,  according  to  Dr.  Jordan,  very  widely 
distributed  in  the  Indo- Australian  Archipelago. 

75.   Litocerus  jordani,  Gahan,  sp.n. 

Z.  plagiato  (Jordan)  affinis  sed  differt :  prothorace  breviore,  vitta 
mediana  pronoti  in  medio  angustata,  area  luteo-ochraceo-tomentosa 
elytrorum  minus  extensa,  sed  striis  elytrorum  etiam  luteis. 


Coleoptera.  119 

Black.  Head  with  a  dull  ochraceous  tomentum,  which  extends 
between  the  eyes  on  to  the  vertex  as  far  as  in  a  line  with  the 
posterior  border  of  the  eyes ;  behind  this,  the  head  is  dark  brown. 
Prothorax  dark  brown,  with  a  broad  median  vitta,  three  small  spots 
on  each  side  between  this  vitta  and  the  lateral  margin,  and  a  larger 
spot  on  each  side  just  within  the  lateral  margin,  luteous,  the  part 
of  the  median  vitta  which  lies  between  the  transverse  sulcus  and 
carina  is  narrower  than  either  the  part  in  front  of  the  groove  or 
the  part  between  the  carina  and  the  base.  Elytra  dark  brown, 
with  the  striae  and  a  large  common  plaga,  reaching  from  the  base 
to  a  little  beyond  the  middle,  luteous ;  the  plaga  is  broad  at  the 
base,  constricted  as  it  approaches  the  middle  of  the  elytra,  and 
again  widened  out  just  behind  the  middle.  Under- side  and  femora 
with  a  greyish  tomentum ;  tibiae  and  tarsi  dark  brown,  with  the 
base  of  the  first  joint,  a  spot  at  the  base  of  the  second,  and  the 
whole  of  the  third  joint  of  each  tarsus,  as  well  as  a  ring  above 
the  middle  of  each  tibia,  fulvo-testaceous. 

One  female  specimen,  taken  in  April,  1898. 

I  am  indebted  to  Dr.  Jordan  for  his  kindness  in  pointing  out  the 
chief  differences  between  this  species  and  L.  plagiatus,  Jordan, 
which,  among  those  described,  is  the  species  most  nearly  allied  to 
it.  L.  plagiatus  was  described  from  JN^orth  Luzon,  Philippine 
Islands. 

76.   Apatenia  apicalis,  Gahan,  sp.n. 

(^ .  Capite  f ulvo-pubescente,  in  vertice  fusco-plagiato ;  rostro 
quam  spatio  interoculare  plus  duplo  latiore ;  prothorace  supra  pube 
luteo-grisea  obtecto,  macula  ante  scutellum  fulva,  disco  medio 
utrinque  leviter  tuberculato  et  antice  fusco-notato,  angulo  inter 
carinam  ante-basalem  et  carinam  lateralem  acuto,  reti'orsum  leviter 
producto ;  elytris  griseo-fumosis,  ad  apicem  fulvo-albido-plagiatis, 
utroque  elytro  tuberculis  9  vel  10  instructo  ;  corpore  subtus  griseo, 
pedibus  testaceis,  femoribus  tibiisque  medio  fuscis ;  segmento  primo 
abdominis  tuberculis  duobus  prope  medium  instructo. 

Long.  8,  lat.  3-^  mm. 

Head  clothed  with  a  somewhat  sparse  tawny  pubescence,  which 
is  interrupted  on  the  vertex  by  two  dark-brown  plagae  or  vittae ; 
eyes  somewhat  approximate  in  front,  the  space  between  them  being 
rather  less  tban  half  the  width  of  the  rostrum.  Prothorax  with 
a  luteous- grey  pubescence ;  with  a  distinct  pale  tawny  spot  in  front 
of  the  scutellum;  the  disk  with  a  small,  feebly  raised  tubercle 
on  each  side  of  the  middle,  and  two  fuscous  spots  between  the 
middle  and  the  anterior  border ;  ante-basal  carina  forming  with  the 
lateral  carina  of  each  side  a  rather  acute  angle,  which  is  slightly 
produced  backwards.  Elytra  with  a  dingy  grey  pubescence, 
but  with  a  pale  fulvous  patch  on  the  declivous  apical  portion, 
similar  in  colour  to  the  pygidium ;  each  with  about  nine  or  ten 
unequal-sized  tubercles,  the  three  largest  of  which  are  placed — 


120  Christmas  Island. 

one  a  little  behind  the  middle  of  the  base,  the  second  behind  the 
middle  of  the  disk,  and  the  third  at  the  beginning  of  the  posterior 
declivity.  Under-side  with  a  greyish  pubescence;  legs  reddish 
testaceous,  with  the  thickened  part  of  the  femora  and  the  lower 
half  of  the  tibiae  more  or  less  fuscous.  First  abdominal  segment 
of  the  male  with  a  tubercle  on  each  side  of  the  middle. 
One  male  example,  taken  April,  1898. 

77.  Araeocerus,  sp. 
This  is  one  of  the  forms  closely  allied  to  Araocenis  coffea,  Fab. 

Family  PRIONID^. 

78.   Prinobius  coxalis,  Gahan,  sp.n.     (PI.  XI,  Fig.  3.) 

Brunneo-testacea,  elytris  plus  minusve  fulvescentibus,  coriaceis, 
basi  prope  suturam  sub-asperatis,  utrisque  lineis  quatuor  pauUo 
elevatis,  instructis. 

(J.  Prothorace  transverse,  supra  subtusque  confertissime  pnnc 
tulato,  disco  antice  plagis  duabus  triangularibus,  sub -nitidis, 
impresso ;  lateribus  breviter  dentatis  postice  subparallelis,  antice 
rotundatim  paullo  convergentibus  ;  antennis  apicem  elytrorum 
paullo  superantibus,  articulo  3°  quam  1°  plus  duplo  longiori,  et 
articulis  4°,  5°,  6°  que  conjunctis  fere  sequali;  articulis  3°  4°  que 
subtus  breviter  spinosis,  articulis  1°  ad  4"^"^  supra  fortiter  sat  dense 
punctatis,  articulis  5°  ad  9^^™  sparsius  punctatis,  10°  11°  et  apice 
noni  longitudinaliter  striatis  et  opacis  ;  mesostemo,  metasternique 
lateribus  et  coxis  posterioribus  nudis,  confertissime  punctulatis  et 
opacis  ;  plaga  triangulari  mediana  metasterni  nitida  sparse  punc- 
tulata  et  hirsuta,  fortiter  depressa, 

9.  Antennis  quam  corpore  multo  brevioribus  ;  prothoracis 
lateribus  a  basi  antice  convergentibus,  sat  fortiter  dentatis  vel 
spinosis  ;  disco  medio  sparse,  versus  latera  dense  et  rugose,  punctato. 

Long.  35-50,  lat.  10-14  mm. 

The  females  of  this  species  offer  no  very  prominent  characters 
by  which  they  may  be  distinguished  from  those  of  several  other 
species  of  the  genus.  The  third  joint  of  the  antennae  is  relatively 
long,  being  nearly  equal  in  length  to  the  three  following  joints 
taken  together,  and  is  also  comparatively  slender,  as  it  is  not  so 
distinctly  thicker  than  the  fourth  joint  as  it  is  in  nearly  all  the 
other  species. 

The  male  is  readily  distinguished  by  the  following  characters : — 
Prothorax  transverse,  furnished  at  the  sides  with  very  short  teeth, 
and  very  closely  punctured  and  opaque  over  almost  the  whole 
surface  excepting  two  small  triangular  sub-nitid  and  impressed 
areas  placed  between  the  middle  and  anterior  part  of  the_  disk. 
Hind  coxae,  as  well  as  the  presternum,  mesosternum,  and  sides  of 


Coleoptera.  121 

the  metasternum,  very  closely  punctured,  opaque,  and  destitute  of 
pubescence.  Median  triangular  area  of  the  metasternum.  deeply 
depressed  and  yery  sharply  marked  off  from  the  closely  punctured 
lateral  areas.  Antennas  reaching  a  little  beyond  the  apex  of  the 
elytron,  with  the  third  joint  almost  equal  in  length  to  the  three 
following  joints  taken  together,  and  distinctly  thicker  than  any  of 
those  joints.  Anterior  tibiae  nearly  straight,  scarcely  curved 
towards  the  apex;  first  joint  of  anterior  tarsi  not  quite  so  long  as 
the  two  succeeding  joints  taken  together. 

Prinohius  ceranieyisis,  Lansb.  (jSTotes  Leyden  Mus.,  vol.  vi,  p.  148), 
seems  to  have  many  characters  in  common  with  the  present  species, 
but  as  the  author  in  his  description  states  that  the  antennae  are 
shorter  than  the  body,  and  has  not  called  attention  to  the  relative 
proportions  of  the  joints,  nor  has  pointed  to  any  unusual  character 
in  the  hind  coxae,  it  is  safe  to  assume  that  the  species  is  quite 
distinct. 

Zoohlax  elateroides,  Thorns.,  from  the  Andaman  Islands,  also  has 
■certain  affinities  with  the  present  species. 


Family  CEEAMBYCID^. 

79.   Ceresium  quadrimaculatum,  Gahan,  sp.n. 

Nigrum,  antennis  pedibusque  (clavis  femorum  nigris,  praetermissis) 
ferrugineis ;  pronoto  fortiter  subrugoso-punctato,  maculis  quatuor 
iulvis  ornato ;  elytris  sat  sparse  punctatis  et  albo-setosis. 

Long.  11-13,  lat.  3-4  mm. 

Black,  with  the  antennte,  tibiae,  tarsi,  and  the  bases  of  the 
femora  reddish  brown.  Head  coarsely  punctured ;  antennae  more 
than  half  as  long  again  as  the  body,  with  the  third  joint  a  little 
longer  than  the  first  or  fourth,  but  distinctly  shorter  than  the  fifth  ; 
fifth  and  following  joints  as  far  as  the  tenth  sub-equal  in  length  to 
one  another,  the  eleventh  longer  than  the  tenth.  Pro  thorax  nearly 
one-third  longer  than  broad,  strongly  and  thickly  punctured,  and 
somewhat  rugose,  especially  towards  the  sides  ;  with  a  faint  patch 
of  fulvous  pubescence  on  each  side,  and  with  four  distinct  fulvous 
spots  above,  two  of  which  are  near  the  anterior,  two  near  the 
posterior,  margin.  Elytra  black,  glossy,  not  very  closely  punctured, 
with  the  punctures  diminishing  in  size  towards  the  apex,  and  each 
bearing  a  short,  decumbent  yellowish-white  seta. 

Taken  in  the  central  part  of  the  island,  and  also  near  Flying 
Fish  Cove. 

In  colour  this  species  resembles  C.  nigrum,  Gah.,  though 
difi^ering  in  having  the  thickened  portion  of  the  femora  black, 
and  in  having  four  distinct  tawny  spots  on  the  pronotum.  It  is, 
however,  easily  to  be  distinguished  by  structural  differences.  In 
C.  nigrum  the  pronotum  is  as  broad  as  it  is  long,  and  is  scarcely 
punctured  towards  the  sides ;  the  femora,  especially  those  of  the 


122  Christmas  Island. 

anterior  and  middle  pairs,  are  mucli  stouter  than  in  the  present 
species ;  and  the  antennae  are  only  a  little  longer  than  the  body,, 
with  the  eleventh  joint  distinctly  shorter  than  the  tenth. 

80.   Ceresium  nigrum,  Gahan. 
P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  540. 

81.   Examnes  afiinis,  Gahan,  sp.n. 

Brunneo-testaceus,  setis  albo-fulvescentibus  sat  dense  obtectus ; 
abdomine  piceo-nigro  ;  scutello,  capitis  fronte  verticeque  et  pro- 
thoracis  maculis  quatuor  f ulvo  -  pubescentibus,  prothorace  quant 
longiore  pauUo  latiore,  fortiter  sub-rugosoque  punctato  ;  elytris 
sat  dense  punctatis,  punctis  setigeris  et  versus  apicem  gradatim 
decrescentibus  ;  antennis  (J')  quam  corporc  duplo  longioribus, 
(9)  quam  corpore  baud  sesqui-longioribus. 

Long.  9-20,  lat.  2-5-o-omm. 

Several  examples  of  this  species  were  captured,  exhibiting  almost 
every  gradation  in  size  within  the  limits  of  the  measurements  given 
above. 

The  species  is  closely  allied  to  Examnes  philippensis,  Newm., 
from  which  it  differs  chiefly  in  having  the  prothorax  broader,  more 
rounded  at  the  sides,  and  marked  above  with  four  distinct  tawny- 
coloured  pubescent  spots,  placed  two  on  each  side,  one  near  the 
base,  the  other  close  to  the  apex. 

In  the  Munich  Catalogue,  Examnes  fliilippensis,  Newm.,  is 
placed  as  a  synonym  of  Ceresium  simplex,  Gyll.  It  is,  however, 
quite  distinct  from  that  species,  and  appears  to  me  to  be  identical 
with  Examnes  longicornis,  Pasc,  a  species  which,  in  its  turn,  is  not 
to  be  distinguished  from  Examnes  idoneus,  Pasc. 


Family  LAMIIDJ2. 

82.   Monohammus  nativitatis,  Gahan. 
P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  540. 

83.   Olenecamptus  basalis,  Gahan,  sp.n. 

0.  hiloho  (Fab.)  afiinis,  sed  differt,  capite  supra  usque  ad  occiput 
sparse  fusco-punctato,  elytris  basi  albo-cinereo-pubescentibus  delude 
luteo-pubescentibus,  utrisque  macula  oblonga  irrcgulari  nivea  infra 
humerum,  et  macula  parva  nivea  limbo  piceo  glabro  circumcincta,. 
ultra  medium,  ornatis,  apicibus  paullo  nigrescentibus. 

Long.  19,  lat.  4-5  mm. 

Allied  to  0.  hilohus,  Fab.  (a  widely  distributed  species,  ranging 
fi'om  China  to  North  Australia),  but  differing  from  it  by  the  following: 


Coleojdem.  123 

characters  : — Head  speckled  above  with  a  number  of  small  glabrous 
brown  spots,  each  of  which  surrounds  a  puncture.  Pubescence  of 
elytra  ashy  white  in  colour  at  base,  yellowish  grey  over  the  rest  of 
their  surface  ;  each  elytron  with  two  snow-white  spots — one  under 
the  shoulder,  similar  to  that  in  bilohis,  the  other,  which  is  very 
small,  and  surrounded  with  a  naked  brownish-testaceous  border, 
being  placed  on  the  disk  beyond  the  middle.  The  two  snow-white 
spots,  which  in  0.  hilohus  are  present  on  the  disk  near  the  base, 
are  in  the  new  sjjecies  wanting,  their  place  being  taken  by  two 
glabrous  spots,  not  very  regular  in  outline,  and  therefore,  possibly, 
due  to  accidental  rubbing. 

One  male  specimen,  taken  in  the  north  part  of  the  island. 


84.   Pterolophia  perplexa,  Gahau.     (PI.  XI,  Fig.  5.) 

Praonetha perplexa,  Gahau:   P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  (J41. 

85.   Prosoplus  banksi,  Eab. 

Two  specimens  of  this  species  were  taken  at  Flying  Fish  Cove. 
I  have  already  recorded  the  species  from  Christmas  Island  under 
the  name  of  Micracantha. 

86.   Apomecyna  nigritarsis,  Gahan,  sp.n. 

Pube  fulvescente  sat  dense  obtccta  ;  tarsis  et  antcnuarum 
articulis  septem  ultimis  nigris  ;  prothorace  immaculate  ;  elytris^ 
albo-maculatis,  maeulis  in  seriebus  obliquis  tribus  vel  quatuor 
ordinatis,  spatiis  inter  series  macularum  plus  minusve  f usco-variis ; 
apicibus  elytrorum  fortiter  obliquis  et  pauUo  emarginatis. 

Long.  8-9-5,  lat.  2-25-2-5mm. 

Covered  with  a  dense  yellowish-tawny  pubescence.  Head  and 
prothorax  without  spots,  and  rather  thickly  punctured ;  antenna) 
with  the  last  seven  joints  and  the  apex  of  the  fourth  joint  black  ; 
these  seven  joints  together  not  longer  than  the  third  and  fourth 
taken  together.  Elytra  with  white  spots  arranged  in  three  or  four 
oblique  rows  on  each  side,  the  first  row  consisting  of  two  or  three 
spots,  the  second  of  four,  the  third  of  three,  and  the  fourth,  which 
is  sometimes  wanting,  made  up  of  two  or  three  distinct  spots ; 
between  the  third  and  fourth  rows  is  a  single  white  spot  placed 
near  the  lateral  margin ;  the  interspaces  on  the  elytra  between  the 
rows  of  spots  are  rather  strongly  punctured,  and  more  or  less- 
mottled  with  dark  brown ;  the  apices  of  the  elytra  are  strongly 
oblique  and  slightly  emarginate.  Tarsi  and  extreme  tip  of  the 
tibiae  black,  with  a  faint  grey  pubescence  ;  the  rest  of  the  legs 
covered  like  the  under-side  of  the  body  with  a  yellowish-tawny 
pubescence. 


124  Christmas  Island. 


87.   iEgocidnus  exiguus,  Gahan,  sp.n.     (PL  XI,  Fig.  4.) 

Parvus,  capite  testaceo  vel  f  usco  piibe  grisea  tenuiter  vestito ; 
protliorace  griseo  -  piibescente,  fusco  -  maculato,  lateraliter  pauUo 
pone  medium  spina  brevi  antice  obliqua  armato ;  elytris  sat  fortiter 
punctatis,  rufo  -  brunneis,  pube  grisea,  plagis  f  uscis  interrupta, 
vestitis ;  antennis  testaceis,  quam  corpore  sesqui-longioribus,  articulo 
4°  quam  3°  vel  5°  distincte  longiori,  articulo  3°  quam  1°  vix 
longiori,  articulis  6°  et  sequentibus  gradatim  brevioribus. 

Long.  3  5-4,  lat.  1  •25- 1 '5  mm. 

Head  dark  brown  or  reddish  brown  in  colour,  covered  with  a 
thin  greyish  pubescence.  Antennae  about  half  as  long  again  as  the 
body,  with  the  fourth  joint,  which  is  the  longest,  distinctly  longer 
than  the  third  or  fifth,  and  the  third  joint  scarcely  longer  than  the 
first,  Prothorax  armed  a  little  behind  the  middle  of  each  side  with 
a,  short  spine,  the  posterior  face  of  which  stands  out  almost  at  right 
angles,  while  the  anterior  face  is  oblique  and  continuous  with 
the  side  of  the  prothorax  in  front  of  it.  Elytra  rather  strongly 
punctured,  with  the  punctures  for  the  most  part  irregularly  placed, 
but  towards  the  sides  of  the  disk,  having  a  tendency  to  be  arranged 
in  longitudinal  rows ;  reddish  brown  in  colour,  with  a  covering  of 
grey  pubescence,  which  is  interrupted  by  a  number  of  dark -brown 
patches.  (In  one  of  two  specimens  there  is  a  large  and  conspicuous 
dark-brown  patch  placed  towards  the  side  on  the  middle  of  each 
elytron).  Legs  pale  testaceous,  with  the  thickened  part  of  the 
femora  more  or  less  infuscate. 

Two  examples  taken  on  the  north  coast  of  the  island ;  one  in 
March,  the  other  in  December. 

This  species  resembles  ^gocidmis  ignarus,  Pasc,  in  colour,  but 
it  is  smaller  in  size,  and  differs  from  it  also  in  the  shape  of  the 
lateral  spine  of  its  prothorax,  and  in  the  relative  proportions  of  the 
first,  third,  and  fifth  joints  of  the  antenna). 


Family  EUMOLPID^. 

88.   Rhyparida  rossi,  Gahan,  sp.n. 

Tcstacea,  elytris  antennis  pedibus  et  abdomine  pallidioribus ; 
<?apite  subtilissime  granuloso  et  opaco,  sparse  minutissime  punc- 
tulato ;  prothorace  transverse,  lateraliter  rotundato,  angulis  anticis 
posticisque  minute  dentato,  disco  sub  -  opaco  sparse  minuteque 
punctulato ;  elytris  nitidis  fortiter  seriatimque  punctatis ;  antennis 
articulo  3°  quam  2°  fere  triple  longiore,  articulo  4°  quam  3°  pauUo 
breviore,  ceteris  gradatim  decrescentibus. 

Long.  7,  lat.  3'omm. 

Keddish  testaceous  in  colour,  with  the  elytra,  legs,  antennae, 
and  abdomen  somewhat  paler  or  more  fulvous.    Head  very  minutely 


Coleoptera.  125 

granular  and  opaque,  sparsely  and  very  finely  punctulate ;  clypeiis 
somewhat  in  the  form  of  a  triangle,  with  curvilinear  sides  and 
a  slightly  sinuate  base ;  vertex  impressed  between  the  eyes  with 
three  lines,  one  short  median,  and  one  on  each  side  passing  outwards 
from  the  apex  of  the  clypeus,  and  then  curved  round  the  inner  and 
posterior  border  of  the  eye.  Thorax  rounded  at  the  sides,  and 
broadest  across  the  middle ;  upper  surface  dull,  finely,  and  rather 
sparsely  punctured.  Elytra  glossy,  distinctly  punctured,  with  the 
punctures  arranged  in  definite  rows  which,  counted  across  the 
middle,  are  to  the  number  of  eleven  on  each  elytron ;  the  first  or 
sutural  row  becomes  double  at  the  base,  the  sixth,  seventh,  and 
tenth  stop  short  at  the  shoulder,  and  the  eighth  and  ninth  a  little 
further  back,  the  eleventh  or  marginal  row,  before  reaching  the 
base,  sends  off  a  short  inner  branch  as  far  as  to  the  shoulder; 
posteriorly  the  eleventh  row  also  becomes  double,  its  outer  branch 
joining  the  first  or  sutural  row  at  the  apex,  its  inner  branch  joining 
the  second  row,  the  tenth  row  and  the  third  being  similarly  united 
behind ;  the  punctures  of  the  remaining  rows  are  somewhat  closely 
crowded  and  confused  behind  ;  the  interstice  between  the  short 
eighth  and  ninth  rows  is  raised  and  sub-costate.     Femora  unarmed. 


89.   Rhyparida  modesta,  Gahan,  sp.n. 

Fusca,  violaceo-tincta,  corpore  subtus  fere  nigro,  antennis  pedi- 
busque  testaceis  ;  capite  dense  sat  fortiter  punctato  ;  prothorace 
transverse,  lateraliter  ante  medium,  rotundato,  deinde  versus  apicem 
basimque  angustato,  angulis  anticis  posticisque  leviter  dentatis ; 
elytris  sat  fortiter  seriatimque  punctatis;  antennis  articulo  1°  quam 
2°  duplo  longiore. 

Long.  8-9,  lat.  4'5mm. 

Colour  varying  from  brownish  testaceous  to  a  darker  brown, 
with  a  more  or  less  distinct  violaceous  tint  and  metallic  lustre  ;  the 
under-side,  except  at  the  apex  of  the  abdomen  and  the  sides  of  the 
prothorax,  almost  quite  black;  the  legs  and  antennas  testaceous. 
Head  distinctly  and  rather  thickly  punctured,  especially  on  the 
clypeus ;  the  latter  with  curvilinear  sides,  from  each  of  which  an 
impressed  line  passes  to  the  inner  and  posterior  border  of  the  eye,  its 
basal  margin  very  slightly  sinuate  in  the  middle.  Prothorax  nearly 
twice  as  broad  as  long ;  rounded  at  the  sides ;  broadest  a  little  in 
front  of  the  middle,  and  thence  narrowed  towards  the  base  and 
apex ;  distinctly  and  rather  thickly  punctured  above.  Elytra 
rather  strongly  punctured,  the  punctures  being  arranged  in  regular 
rows  on  the  disk  and  close  to  the  lateral  margins,  more  irregularly 
on  the  intervening  space  at  each  side  ;  interstices  between  the  rows 
of  punctures  very  minutely  and  sparsely  punctulate.  Antennte 
reaching  to  a  little  beyond  the  base  of  the  elytra ;  second  joint  less 
than  half  the  length  of  the  first  or  third  ;  fourth  joint  a  little 
longer  than  the  third;  fifth  and  following  joints  sub-equal  to  one 


126  Christmas  Island. 

another  in  length,  with  the  last  three  or  four  somewhat  thicker 
than  those  preceding  them.     Femora  imarmed. 

This  species  and  the  preceding  one  differ  from  nearly  all  the 
Australian  species  of  Rhyparida  in  having  the  second  joint  of 
the  antennae  less  than  half  as  long  as  the  third.  In  this  respect 
they  resemble  certain  Indo-Malayan  species,  and  agree  with  those 
of  the  genus  Lindinia,  Lefcv. 


o^ 


90.   Demotina  lateralis,  Gahan,  sp.n. 

Parva,  tostacea,  setis  decumbentibus  fulvis  sat  dense  vestita ; 
capite  supra  linea  media  glabra  a  clypeo  ad  occiput  extensa, 
clypeo  glabro  transverso  sub-semilunare ;  prothorace  transverse, 
lateribus  rotundatis,  margine  omnino  deleta ;  elytris  crebre  sat 
fortiter  punctatis,  disco  pauUo  convexo,  lateribus  valde  deflexis, 
costa  utrinque  inter  discum  latusque ;  antennis  basin  elytrorum 
vix  superantibus,  articulis  P,  2°  que  crassis,  subovalibus,  3° 
angusto,  cylindrico,  quam  2°  hand  longiore,  articulis  7°  ad  ll^^^ 
pauUo  dilatatis. 

Long.  2"5  mm. 

Colour  testaceous,  with  the  middle  of  thoracic  disk  and  spots 
on  the  elytra  dark  brown ;  the  whole  rather  thickly  covered  with 
decumbent  tawny  setae.  Prothorax  broader  than  long,  slightly 
rounded  at  the  sides,  which  are  wholly  without  a  sharp  carinate 
margin.  Elytra  thickly  and  rather  strongly  punctured,  abruptly 
deflexed  at  the  sides  ;  the  latter  being  vertical  and  marked  off  each 
from  the  disk  by  a  slightly  projecting  costa  or  line. 

In  the  abruptly  deflexed  and  vertical  sides  of  the  elytra  this 
species  differs  from  all  others  belonging  to  the  genus  Demotina. 

In  general  appearance  it  most  resembles  B.  loivringi,  Baly, 
a  species  occurring  in  Hongkong,  Formosa,  and  Chusan  ;  and  it  is, 
perhaps,  more  nearly  allied  to  this  than  to  any  other  described 
species.  The  genus  Demotina  has  a  distribution  ranging  from 
China  and  Japan  to  New  Guinea. 


91.   Scelodonta  nitidula,  Baly,  var.  ? 

One  example,  taken  on  Phosphate  Hill;  November ,_  1897. 

This  example  may  possibly  represent  a  distinct  species  ;  it  differs 
from  nitidida  in  having  the  elytra  of  a  uniform  dark  coppery- 
brown  colour,  slightly  tinged  with  metallic  green;  smoother  on 
the  middle  of  the  disk  ;  and  furnished  with  shorter  setae. 
S.  nitidida,  Baly,  occurs  in  Borneo,  Sumatra,  Java,  Malacca,  and 
in  North  and  South  India.  In  every  example  I  have  seen  there 
are  two  or  more  spots  of  a  purplish  or  steel-blue  colour  on  each 
elytron ;  but  these  spots  are  sometimes  very  small  and  faint. 


Semiptera.  127 

t 

Family  HALTICIDtE. 

92.   Psylliodes  tenuepunctata,  Gahan,  sp.n. 

Nigro-coerulea,  nitida,  antennis  pedibusque  (femoribus  posticis 
■exceptis)  testaceis  ;  pronoto  subtilissime  irregulariterque  punctu- 
lato ;  elytris  seriatim  subtilissime  punctulatis ;  articulo  secundo 
antennarum  primo  cequilongo,  quam  tertio  paullo  longiore. 

Long.  3  mm. 

Dark  blue  and  very  glossy,  with  the  antennae  and  the  legs 
(posterior  femora  excepted)  testaceous.  Prothorax  and  elytra  very 
finely  punctured,  with,  the  punctures  on  the  elytra  arranged  in 
regular  rows,  the  interspaces  between  the  rows  being  quite 
impunctate,  or  with  the  punctures  so  minute  as  not  to  be  visible 
under  a  strong  lens.  Antennae  with  the  first,  second,  and  fourth 
joints  sub-equal  in  length,  each  being  a  little  longer  than  the 
third,  with  the  joints  from  the  fifth  to  the  tenth  becoming 
gradually  and  slightly  thicker. 

This  species  is  distinguished  from  all  other  species  of  the  genus 
known  to  me  by  the  much  finer  punctuation  of  its  prothorax  and 
•elytra.  In  the  relative  proportion  of  the  basal  joints  of  the 
antennae  it  agrees  with  P.  gracilis,  Boh.,  halyi,  Jac,  and  other 
Oriental  species. 


Order   5.— HEMIPTERA. 

By  W.  F.  KiRBT,  F.L.S.,  F.E.S. 

(PLATE  XV.) 

Ix  the  following  Report,  I  have  only  included  the  more  easily 
determined  species  taken  by  Mr.  Andrews,  postponing  any  notice 
of  the  remainder  until  the  Museum  collection  of  the  families  to 
which  they  belong  has  been  rearranged.  There  are  about  twice 
as  many  species  represented  as  are  here  noticed. 

Family   CYDNID^. 
1.   Milam  nitens,  sp.n.     (PI.  XV,  Fig.  1.) 

Long.  corp.  4  mm. ;  lat.  3  mm. 

Black,  very  shining,  antennae  rufo-testaceous ;  pronotum  and  base 
of  scutellum  not  punctured ;  the  rest  of  the  scutelliim  (which 
is  rather  long,  and  narrowed  towards  the  extremity)  with  large 
punctures ;  tcgmina  with  the  punctures  arranged  in  regular  rows, 


128  Cliridmas  Island. 

converging  in  front ;    membrane   brownish,  hyaline.     Legs   Tvith 
a  slightly  femigiaous  shade. 

Three  specimens  (one  immature),  Xorth  Coast,  December,  1897, 
and  April,  1898.     On  plants. 


Family  PEXTATOiTID^. 
2.  Pentatoma  grosseprmctatum,  sp.n.     (PI.  XY,  Fig.  2.) 

Long.  Corp.  7-10  mm. ;  lat.  thor.  5  mm. 

Head  with  the  central  lobe  about  as  long  as  the  greatest  width 
of  the  head,  and  traversed  by  a  double  row  of  punctures ;  the 
lateral  lobes  slightly  waved  before  the  eyes,  but  curving  inwards, 
and  more  thickly  punctured  than  the  central  lobe ;  front  and  back 
of  head  obtusely  convex.  General  colour  of  the  upper  surface 
reddish  brown,  with  numerous  large  black  punctures  on  the  head, 
thorax,  scutellum,  and  tegmina  ;  they  are  largest  and  most 
niunerous  on  the  thorax,  where  they  run  in  irregular  transverse 
curves.  Thoracic  lobes  obtusely  prominent,  and  more  or  less 
blackish  ;  corium  black,  with  the  costal  border  broadly  testaceous  ; 
membrane  brownish  hyaline  ;  extremity  of  scutellum  rather  broad 
and  rounded,  nearly  smooth,  and  testaceous  ;  abdomen  and  under- 
surface  testaceous  ;  rostrum  (which  extends  a  little  beyond  the 
base  of  the  hind  femora),  tarsi,  and  tip  of  the  antennae  brown. 

Five  specimens,  from  Flying  Fish  Cove  (no  date),  and  Xorth 
Coast.  December.  1897.    Xot  common,  but  came  to  lamp  in  evening. 

Not  closely  allied  to  any  other  species  in  the  Museum. 

Family  LYG^ID^. 
3.  Lygseus  subrufescens.    (PI.  XY,  Fig.  3.) 

Lygtnu  ttihrufescent,  Kirb. ;  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  553. 

"Long.  Corp.  11-13  mm. 

"Pitchy  brown  above  ;  the  head,  pronotum,  and  base  of  the 
tegmina  bordered  with  dull  red ;  the  ocelli,  and  the  space  between 
each  eye,  brighter  red ;  antennae  and  legs  pitchy  brown  above  and 
below ;  head  and  body  dull  red  beneath  (in  the  female  the  abdomen 
is  shaded  with  brown  on  the  sides,  and  towards  the  extremity,  and 
the  legs  are  of  a  redder  brown  beneath  than  above).  Proboscis 
pitchy,  extending  to  the  middle  of  the  third  segment  of  the 
abdomen. 

"  Allied  to  Z.  longiuscidus,  "Wlk  ,  from  Celebes." 

Flying  Fish  Cove  ''Lister). 

Two  specimens,  Flying  Fish  Cove,  August,  1897,  and  "West 
Coast,  October  15th,  1897.  Also  ten  immature  specimens,  one 
from  East  Coast,  September  28th,  1897  ;  the  others  marked 
'•April,  1898." 


Hemiptera.  129 

Family  BRACHYRHYXCHID^. 

4.  Brachyrhynclius  lignicolus,  spn.     (PI.  XV,  Fig.  4.) 

Long.  Corp.  6inm. ;  lat.  2"5mm. 

Dull  red,  the  upper  part  of  the  head,  the  middle  of  the  pronotum, 
the  scutellum,  the  corium,  and  the  membrane  black  ;  the  clavus 
testaceous  ;  and  the  segments  of  the  connexicum  often  with  large 
dusky  markings.  Head  square,  obliquely  sloping  outvrards,  with 
a  projecting  point  laterally  behind  the  eyes,  and  another  projecting 
on  each  side  in  front  of  the  antennce,  between  which  it  is  tri- 
angularly narrowed  as  far  as  the  broad  frontal  process,  which 
extends  beyond  this  point  for  about  one-third  of  the  total  length 
of  the  head ;  it  is  slightly  denticulated  at  the  sides,  and  slightly 
bifid  at  the  extremity.  Antennae  with  the  four  joints  all  of  nearly 
equal  length.  Pronotum  slightly  contracted  in  front,  where  it  is 
rounded,  and  slightly  concave  in  the  middle,  with  slight  denticula- 
tions  on  the  sides  in  front ;  on  each  side  of  the  median  line  of  the 
front  half  is  a  black,  iiTegularly-shaped  space.  The  greater  part 
of  the  insect  is  moderately  coarsely  punctured  ;  the  spaces  between 
the  veins  of  the  membrane  look  like  large  depressed  pits.  Femora 
thickened  and,  as  well  as  the  tibiae,  very  finely  denticulated.  Under- 
surface  varied  with  black  and  red. 

A  large  number  of  specimens  found  under  bark  in  rotting  wood. 
ITearest  allied  to  some  specimens  of  B.  ruhrescens,  Walker  (which 
probably  includes  more  than  one  species),  but  with  the  markings 
more  clearly  defined. 

FamUy   HALOBATID^. 
5.  Halobates  princeps. 

Salobatet  princeps,  Buchanan  TVTiite :  Rep.  Pelagic  Heniipt.  (Challenger  Eep., 
xix),  p.  44,  pi.  i.  fig.  3  (1883). 

Three  specimens,  Flving  Fish  Cove,  August,  1897, 
The  type,  now  in  the  British  Museum  (2?^atural  History),  was 
brought  from  the  Celebes  Sea. 


'»' 


6.  Halobates  proavus. 

Halobates  proavus,  Buchanan  "Wliite :  Eep.  Pelagic  Heniipt.   (Challenger  Eep., 
lix),  p.  54,  pi.  ii,  fig.  1  (1883). 

Two  specimens,  Flying  Fish  Cove,  August,  1897. 
Originally  described  from  Gilolo. 


130  Christmas  Island. 

Order  6.— HOMOPTERA. 
By  W.  r.  KiEBT,  F.L.S.,  F.E.S.,  etc. 

(PLATE  XV.) 

Of  this  Order  eleven  species  are  enumerated  in  the  following  list, 
all  of  which,  so  far  as  is  known,  are  peculiar  to  the  island.  Of 
these,  seven  are  now  described  as  new,  one  being  considered  to 
represent  a  new  genus,  the  other  four  having  been  described  by 
me  in  1888  fi'om  Mr.  Lister's  collection;  of  these  the  descriptions 
are  here  reprinted.  It  is  curious  that  six  species  out  of  the  eleven 
belong  to  a  single  family,  the  Ricaniidae. 

ClCADIDJ5.  DeLPHACID^. 

Pcecilopsaltria,  Stal.  Bidis,  Walk. 

calypso,  Kirb.  aristella,  sp.n. 

RlCANIID^.  ApHEOPHOKID^. 

Ricania,  Germ.  Clovia,  Stal. 

flat  {frontalis,  sp.n.  eximia,  sp.n. 

Paurostauria,  g.n. 

delicata,  sp.n.  Issid^. 
Varcia,  Stal.  Issus,  Fabr. 

flavicostalis,  Kirb.  andreivsi,  sp.n. 

Nogodina,  Stal. 

affinis,  Kii'b.  Jassid^. 

hyalina,  Kirb.  Idiocenis,  Lewis. 

suhviridis,  sp.n.  ^jimc^fl^iw,  sp.n. 


Family   CICADID^. 
1.  Pcecilopsaltria  calypso. 

Oxy pleura  calypso,  Kirb.  :  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  553. 

Pcecilopsaltria  calypso,  Dist.  :  Mon.  Oriental  Cicadidse,  p.  6,  tab.  x,  figs.  3a,  b 
(1889). 

^^ Male. — Black,  with  testaceous  markings.  Head  black;  fi"ont 
of  vertex  with  a  wide  testaceous  stripe  on  each  side,  extending 
from  the  inside  of  the  eye  to  the  striated  portion  of  the  face. 
Longitudinal  sulcation  broad,  rather  deep  black,  surmounted  by 
a  trapezifoiTQ  ochreous  spot ;  the  transverse  striations,  except  the 
upper  ones,  are  marked  with  ochreous,  ending  in  a  continuous 
ochreous  stripe,  not  striated,  on  each  side  of  the  extremity  of  the 
longitudinal  sulcation.  Sides  of  face  clothed  with  thick  yellowish- 
grey  hair ;  labrum  with  a  longitudinal  testaceous  stripe,  expanded 
above  and  below,  proboscis  testaceous,  black  towards  the  extremity, 


Homoptera.  131 

and  reaching  as  far  as  the  hinder  trochanters  ;  antennae  black. 
Pronotum  testaceous,  entirel)'  so  behind ;  a  dumb-bell  shaped  black 
mark  in  front  of  this,  cxtentling  to  the  fi^ont  edge,  and  the  central 
sutures  blackish ;  sides  not  gi'eatly  expanded,  with  irregular  black 
markings,  and  dotted  with  grcj'  hair ;  mesonotum  black,  with  two 
short,  thick,  tawny  stripes  on  each  side,  not  reaching  the  fi'ont 
edge,  and  a  spear-headed,  tawny  mark,  filled  with  black  in  the 
middle,  directed  forwards ;  scutellum  with  the  hinder  half  and 
lateral  ridges  testaceous.  Abdomen  black,  sutures  narrowlj'  edged 
with  testaceous,  especially  on  the  sides  ;  segment  7  with  two 
testaceous  dots  in  the  middle,  and  a  larger  spot  on  each  side. 
Sternum  mostlj'  black,  clothed  with  grej-ish  hair ;  legs  testaceous ; 
C0X8D,  four  front  femora,  and  tarsi  streaked  with  black  above ; 
opercula  testaceous,  extending  nearly  to  the  end  of  the  first 
segment  of  the  abdomen.  Abdomen  beneath  testaceous  ;  basal 
segment  entirely  black,  the  following  segments  triangularly 
blackish  on  each  side  at  the  base,  the  last  two  lateral  lobes  spotted 
with  black.  Tegulse  and  wings  hj-aline,  with  brown  nervures ; 
costal  nervures  and  inner  marginal  nervure  testaceous. 

"  Allied  to  0.  hufo  and  0.  polita,  Walk.,  but  differently  marked. 

"An  extremely  hairy  piipa,  marked  'Dug  up,  earth,  October  8,' 
accompanied  the  specimen,  besides  an  empty  pupa  -  skin,  both 
probably  belonging  to  the  same  species." 

Three  males,  one  from  the  west  coast,  October,  1897,  and  another 
from  Flying  Fish  Cove,  August,  1897.  Also  three  pupae,  one 
darker  than  the  others,  found  in  April,  1898. 

Besides  these,  there  is  a  female  specimen  from  the  east  coast, 
October,  1897.  It  differs  little  from  the  male,  except  in  the  paler 
colour  of  the  light  markings. 


Family   EICANIID^. 

2.   Ricania  flavifrontalis,  sp.n.     (PI.  XV,  Fig.  5.) 

Long.  Corp.  3-25  mm.;   exp.  al.  11-13  mm. 

Head  brown  above ;  pronotum  blackish  on  the  back ;  abdomen 
blackish  in  the  middle,  otherwise  rufo-testaceous  ;  face  and  under- 
surface  dull  yellow,  clypeus  slightly  broader  than  long,  nearly 
square,  but  with  the  lower  angles  slightly  rounded  off  ;  a  slight 
vertical  carina.  Tegmina  brown,  costa  with  a  white  or  yellowish- 
white  basal  stripe,  sometimes  extending  to  two-fifths  of  the  length 
of  the  tegmen.  Beyond  this  the  costa  is  marked  with  pale  spots 
as  far  as  a  large  white  band  on  the  costa  at  about  two-thirds  of 
its  length  ;  this  band  is  subinterrupted  below,  and  then  turns 
obliquely  outwards.  This  lower  part  extends  for  about  half  the 
length  of  the  upper,  and  is  much  narrower,  and  rather  pointed 
at  the  end.  Within  this  is  a  broad  white  band,  outwardly  con- 
cave on  its  upper  portion,  and   extending  to  the   inner  margin. 


132  Christmas  Island. 

The  basal  portion  of  the  corium  is  much  mottled  with  white. 
The  lower  part  of  the  hind  margin  is  dotted  with  white,  and  the 
marginal  portion  of  the  tegmen  is  marked  off  on  the  inside  in  one 
specimen  by  a  row  of  hardly  indicated  white  dots.  "Wings 
hyaline,  with  broad  pale-brown  borders.  The  fringes  of  both 
the  tegmina  and  wings  consist  of  very  short,  straight,  isolated 
bristles,  only  visible  under  the  microscope.  Before  the  tip  of  the 
tegmina  is  a  slightly  oval  black  spot,  rather  large  for  the  size  of 
the  insect. 

Two  specimens,  North  Coast,  January,  1898. 

The  white  markings  and  well-marked  subapical  black  dots  will 
easily  distinguish  this  interesting  little  species. 


PAUEOSTAURIA,  Kirby,  gen.  nov. 

Front  quadrangular,  broader  than  long,  slightly  expanded  below, 
and  with  a  central  carina.  Vertex  transverse,  about  three  times 
as  broad  as  long,  and  gradually  concave  behind.  Pronotum  curved, 
transverse,  mesonotum  oval,  tricaiinate,  rather  long.  Tegmina 
hyaline,  very  broad  at  the  extremity,  the  costa  slightly  arched, 
much  longer  than  the  inner  margin,  which  is  a  little  shorter  than 
the  hind  margin.  Apex  much  rounded,  and  hind  margin  curving 
obliquely  to  the  hinder  angle,  which  is  obtusely  rounded ;  inner 
margin  convex.  Costal  cell  with  oblique  transverse  nervules  ; 
subcostal  cell  free  ;  basal  cell  oval,  broader  than  long.  Three 
longitudinal  nervures  running  fi'om  the  basal  cell,  the  upper  one 
forked  close  to  its  base,  and  the  branches  again  forking  at  about 
half  their  length,  and  ultimately  throwing  off  long  forks  to  the  hind 
margin.  The  middle  nervure  forks  a  little  further  from  the  base, 
and  once  or  twice  more  before  or  near  the  middle  of  its  length ; 
the  lower  nervure  forks  only  once,  at  about  half  its  length.  An 
obsolete  nervure  curves  round  inwards  from  the  costa  at  three- 
fourths  of  its  length  to  the  base  of  the  first  fork  of  the  lower 
branch  of  the  middle  longitudinal  nervure.  Before  the  apex  of 
the  tegmen  is  a  large  black  stigma,  and  the  marginal  area,  which 
is  rather  broad,  is  marked  off  by  a  row  of  pale  nervules  between 
the  nervures.  The  clavus  throws  off  a  vein  of  about  half  the  rest 
of  its  length  near  the  base,  which  curves  to  the  inner  margin ; 
between  and  beyond  are  several  transverse  nervules.  Wings 
hyaline,  much  shorter  than  the  tegmina,  the  three  upper 
longitudinal  nervures  variously  forked,  and  connected  by  two 
oblique  transverse  nervures.     Hind  tibiae  bispinose. 

Allied  to  Ricanoptera,  Melichar  ;  but  it  does  not  appear  to  be 
congeneric  with  the  species  of  that  genus  before  me.  Inter  alia, 
the  subapical  spot  seems  to  be  always  absent  in  Ricanoptera.  The 
name  Paurostauria  has  been  suggested  by  the  paucity  of  cross- 
nervures  in  this  insect. 


Homopteva.  133 


3.  Paurostauria  delicata,  sp.n.    (PI.  XV,  Fig.  6.) 

Long.  Corp.  3  mm. ;  exp.  tegm.  10  mm. ;  lat.  tegm.  3  mm. 

Male. — Testaceous  (probably  green  when  living,  as  the  abdomen 
is  still  green  in  one  of  the  specimens) ;  eyes  and  vertex  brown. 
Tegmina  hyaline,  with  most  of  the  nervures  yellow,  except  in  the 
dark  portions.  Marginal  area  brown,  broadest  at  the  apex.  An 
oval,  subapical  black  spot,  below  which  a  hyaline  curved  stripe 
runs  down  to  the  inner  margin ;  the  brown  band  within  this  is 
bisected  by  the  light  cross-nervules  marking  off  the  marginal  area. 
Costa  with  a  black  line,  commencing  at  about  half  the  length  of 
the  costal  cell,  and  curving  round  the  end  of  the  subcostal  cell ; 
it  also  throws  oil  an  expanding  pear-shaped  black  spot,  running 
downwards  to  half  the  width  of  the  tegmen,  beside  the  marginal 
markings.  Betweea  these  black  markings,  the  costa,  and  the  sub- 
apical  spot,  the  wing  is  brown,  with  hyaline  markings.  The 
subcostal  nervure  is  broadly  black  above,  narrowly  edged  with 
yellow  below,  and  the  upper  longitudinal  nervure  is  marked  with 
a  large  black  spot  in  the  middle.  The  curved  dividing-line  in  the 
middle  of  the  tegmen  is  edged  outside  with  black,  and  a  series  of 
irregular  black  markings  is  continued  to  the  inner  margin.  Nearer 
the  base  are  two  or  three  more  small  black  spots,  and  the  greater 
part  of  the  lower  vein  of  the  clavus  is  broadly  black. 

Described  from  three  specimens,  without  special  locality. 


4.   Varcia  flavicostalis.    (PI.  XV,  Fig.  7.) 

Eicania  flavicostaUs,  Kirb.:  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  554. 

Varcia JlavicostaUs,  Melichar  :  Ann.  Xat.  Hofmuseums,  xiii,  p.  319  (1899). 

"  Exp.  al.  20  mm. ;  long.  corp.  7  mm. 

'■^  Male.  —  Head  yellow,  with  four  keels;  vertex  depressed, 
brown,  except  at  the  sides  and  on  the  median  line ;  front  quadri- 
carinate,  the  angles  of  the  outer  carinse  very  prominent,  the  middle 
ones  hardly  projecting  on  the  frontal  edge ;  all  the  carinas  black, 
and  with  a  short  dark  line  on  the  clypeus  between  them,  the 
middle  ones  rather  wide  apart,  and  meeting  in  a  point  at  the 
extremit}'  of  the  clypeus.  Thorax  and  abdomen  blackish  brown 
above,  the  thorax  tricarinate,  varied  with  ferruginous  on  the  sides 
and  along  the  outer  edges  of  the  two  outer  carinae ;  abdomen  with 
the  second  segment  gTeenish,  and  the  base  of  the  three  following 
segments  ferruginous.  Undersurface  of  the  body  and  legs 
yellowish  ;  the  four  fi'ont  tibiae  brownish  above  ;  abdominal 
segments  edged  behind  with  a  green  line ;  the  last  two  segments 
reddish  brown.  Wings  hyaline ;  fore  wings  with  the  costal  space 
yellow  as  far  as  the  black  stigma,  beyond  which  is  a  hyaline  space ; 
hind  margin  broadly  purplish  brown,  intersected  by  a  curved  line 


134:  Christmas  Inland. 

nearly  parallel  to  the  hind  margin  ;  within  the  middle  of  this  runs 
a  narrow  vitreous  stripe  covering  the  outer  half  of  seven  cells ;  one 
or  two  very  irregular  series  of  transverse  cells  beyond  the  middle 
of  the  wing,  not  even  uniform  on  both  sides  ;  inner  marginal  region 
tinged  with  yellow,  but  less  strongly  than  the  costa ;  costal  cross- 
nervures  not  forked,  but  most  of  the  apical  nervures  beyond  the 
stigma  and  on  the  hind  margin  are  forked.  Hind  wings  hyaline, 
brown  along  the  hind  margin,  the  first  six  or  seven  marginal 
nervures  from  the  tip  furcate  or  bifurcate. 

"The  neuration  of  this  and  the  two  following  species  somewhat 
resembles  that  of  R.  panorpcBformIs,  Guer.  No  dates  of  capture 
are  attached  to  any  of  the  specimens." 

Two  specimens:  Flying  Fish  Cove,  August,  1897,  and  East 
Coast,  October,  1897. 


5.  Nogodina  affinis.    (PI.  XY,  Fig.  8.) 

Eicania  affinis,  Kirb.  :  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  554. 

Nogodina  affinis,  Melichar:  Ann.  Nat.  Hofmuseums,  xiii,  p.  309  (1899). 

"  Exp.  al.  22  mm.  ;  long.  corp.  9  mm. 

'■^  Male. — Very  similar  to  the  last  species,  but  darker  above,  the 
brown  bands  on  the  clypeus  beyond  the  inner  carina  darker ; 
undersurface  of  body  yellow,  with  irregular  black  markings 
beneath  the  wings,  and  a  large  spot  on  the  pectus  between  the 
two  first  pairs  of  legs  ;  abdomen  not  banded  with  green  above, 
but  with  a  row  of  j-ellow  spots  on  the  sides.  Wings  hyaline,  not 
tinged  with  yellow  on  the  costa  or  inner  margin,  but  with  a  yellow 
spot  on  the  costa  (likewise  edged  with  black  within)  before  the 
black  stigma ;  below  the  stigma  are  some  small  brown  blotches 
along  the  line  of  the  inner  row  of  transverse  cells  ;  there  are  also 
two  small  brown  spots  nearer  the  base  on  the  lower  hali  of  the 
wing  ;  hind  margin  brown  for  about  one -sixth  of  the  width  of 
the  wing,  and  marked  with  two  irregular  hyaline  spaces,  each 
covering  several  cells ;  close  to  the  hind  margin  runs  an  internipted 
row  of  small  hyaline  dots.  Hind  wings  hyaline,  edged  with 
brown,  except  towards  the  anal  angle.  Neuration  nearly  as  in 
the  last  species,  but  the  outer  row  of  transverse  cells  less 
numerous." 


6.  Nogodina  hyalina.    (PI.  XV,  Fig.  9.) 

Micania  hyalina,  Kirb.:    P.Z.S.,   1888,   p.   655;    Melichar,   Ann.  Nat.   Hof- 
museums, xiii,  p.  337  (1899). 

"  Exp.  al.  15  mm. ;  long.  corp.  5  mm. 

'^ Male. — Head  yellowish;  the  caiina5  black,  the  clj-peus  marked 
with  brown  lines  between  them;  the  middle  carinte  not  projecting 
on  the  vertex,  which  is  deeply  and  triangularly  depressed  in  the 


Homoptera.  135 

middle  ;  thorax  reddish  above,  the  middle  carlnae  j'ellow ;  abdomen 
brown  above,  the  sides  marked  with  yellow,  and  the  segments 
bordered  with  green  behind.  TJndersurface  of  the  body  yellow,  the 
femora,  the  extremities  of  the  five  first  segments  of  the  abdomen, 
and  a  large  spot  at  each  side  at  its  extremity  green  ;  the  base  of 
the  five  first  abdominal  segments  rich  cream-colour. 
"  Allied  to  R.  pellucida  and  R.  panorpceformis^  Guer." 
Twenty-eight  specimens,  all  those  specially  labelled  taken  in 
January,  1898,  on  the  North  Coast.  An  abundant  and  very 
variable  species,  both  in  colour  and  neuration  ;  but  without 
exhibiting  well-marked  differences  which  appear  to  be  of  specific 
or  even  varietal  importance.  Some  of  the  specimens  are  of  a  pale 
testaceous  yellow,  others  are  of  a  darker  yellowish  brown,  with 
the  abdomen  more  or  less  green,  with  a  black  dorsal  band,  and 
black  sutures.  The  number  of  nervures  in  the  costal  cell  before 
the  stigma  varies  from  8  to  11  ;  the  stigma  covers  about  five 
cross-nervures,  and  is  generally  but  slightly  browned,  but  in  the 
darker  specimens  (which  are  usually  those  with  most  cross- 
nervules  in  the  basal  cell  and  elsewhere)  it  is  blackish.  The 
subcostal  space  is  always  (?)  empty ;  but  the  two  following- 
longitudinal  spaces  are  sometimes  free,  almost  as  far  as  the  first 
fork  of  the  second  longitudinal  nervure,  which  is  usually  preceded 
by  a  cross-nervure  in  each  space ;  or  there  may  be  one,  two,  or 
three  cross-nervules  in  each  of  these  spaces,  preceding  the  fork. 
Sometimes  the  marginal  third  of  the  tegmen  is  mapped  out  into 
three  fairly  regular  areas ;  but  sometimes  the  neuration  of  this 
portion  is  much  more  irregular.  The  shape,  too,  of  the  various  cells 
diff'ers  considerably. 


7.   Nogodina  subviridis,  sp.n.     (PI.  XY,  Figs.  10,  11.) 

Long.  Corp.  7  mm. ;  exp.  al.  20  mm. 

Female. — Testaceous ;  abdomen,  except  at  tip,  green,  with  black 
sutures,  expanding  in  front,  and  connected ;  front  long,  with 
black  lateral  and  central  carinse,  the  latter  crossing,  and  between 
their  upper  part  is  a  brown  line.  Sutures  of  pronotum  more  or 
less  black.  Tegmina  yellowish  hyaliae,  with  yellowish-brown 
nervures;  costal  area  with  11  or  12  cross-nervures  before  the 
stigma,  which  is  very  large,  extending  between  six  or  seven  cross- 
nervures,  those  towards  its  base  being  more  or  less  yellow.  Sub- 
costal area  free.  The  three  upper  longitudinal  nervures  rising 
together  from  the  upper  angle  of  the  basal  cell ;  the  second  forking 
at  three-fifths  of  its  length,  the  third  at  one-fourth.  The  fourth 
is  widely  separated  from  the  others  at  its  base.  It  is  parallel 
with  and  closely  aj)proximating  to  the  upper  vein  of  the  cla^-us, 
and  it  throws  off  a  branch  upwards  at  two-fifths  of  its  length. 
The  middle  vein  of  the  clavus  unites  with  the  lower  one  at  haK  its 
length  ;    lower  branch  of  the  clavus  broadly  brown,  and   united 


136  Christinas  Islani. 

with  the  upper  by  from  four  to  six  cross-nervules.  Wings  hyaline, 
with  brown  nervures.     (Fig.  10.) 

Variety  (?).  Female. — DiflFers  in  the  body  being  mostly  black, 
except  the  front,  the  sides  of  the  thorax,  and  the  base  of  the 
abdomen,  which  are  testaceous.  The  black  central  carinas  are 
merely  indicated  in  brown,  below  the  point  where  they  cross ; 
the  stigma  on  the  tegmina  is  almost  wholly  black,  and  there  are 
one  or  two  cross-nervures  in  the  subcostal  area.  I  can  hardly 
consider  these  differences  specific,  having  only  single  specimens  to 
compare.     (Fig.  11.) 

The  type  is  from  the  East  Coast,  and  the  variety  from  the  North 
Coast,  January,  1898. 

Allied  to  N.  plena,  "Wlk.,  and  N.  affinia,  Kirb. 


Family  DELPHACID^. 

8.  Bidis  aristella,  sp.n.     (PI.  XV,  Figs.  12,  13.) 

Long.  Corp.  4  mm.  ;  exp.  al.  12  mm. 

Testaceous,  the  two  joints  of  the  antennae  long,  cylindrical,  of 
equal  length,  and  set  with  very  short  bro-wn  bristles ;  the  second 
joint  slightly  thicker  than  the  first,  subannulated,  and  with  two 
long  brown  bands,  not  extending  to  either  extremity ;  it  is  followed 
by  a  bulb  bearing  a  very  fine  bristle,  longer  than  the  two  joints 
together.  Vertex  and  front  quadricarinate,  the  carinse  brown,  and 
the  centre  of  the  front  and  the  narrowest  space  between  the  central 
carinse,  on  the  vertex,  brown.  Beyond  this  point,  the  central 
carinse  unite  with  the  outer  ones,  and  run  backwards  parallel  to  the 
eyes,  the  space  between  which  is  very  deeply  concave  behind ;  there 
is  also  a  brown  spot  between  the  carinse,  where  they  diverge. 

Pronotum  with  three  black  carinee,  one  central,  the  others 
starting  from  it  in  front,  curving  round  each  eye.  Mesonotum 
with  five  longitudinal  black  earinse,  the  two  outer  ones  slightly 
diverging,  and  followed  by  a  brown  line  on  the  sides  of  the 
pronotum.  Both  the  pronotum  and  mesonotum  have  very  prominent 
lateral  angles,  before  which  is  a  brown  line.  Abdomen  testaceous, 
with  red  central  and  terminal  carinse,  the  latter  preceded  by  broad 
brown  bands  ;  the  two  terminal  segments  are  blackish,  bordered 
behind  with  testaceous.  Ovipositor  of  the  female  blackish,  up- 
curved  ;  above  it  is  a  long,  broad,  blackish  process,  set  with  rather 
long  bristles,  and  bifid  at  the  extremity.  Tegmina  yellowish 
hyaline,  the  nervures  and  fringes  set  with  short  bristles,  and 
alternately  brown  and  yellow  for  rather  long  spaces.  There  is 
a  large  brown  spot  in  the  middle  of  the  clavus,  and  in  the  female 
the  space  between  this  and  the  base  is  also  brown.  There  is  also 
a  brown  curved  nervure  marking  the  apical  area,  and  the  space 
between  this  and  the  apex  is  much  clouded  with  brown,  especially 
in   the  female  ;    and   nearer  the   base   the   dark   portions  of  the 


Homoptera.  137 

nervures  are  more  or  less  clouded  with  brown.  Wings  hyaline, 
mostly  with  brown  nervures.  Legs  testaceous,  end  of  tibiae,  and 
the  tarsi  mostly  brown. 

Four  specimens:  East  Coast,  September,  1897,  and  Flying  Fish 
Cove,   1898. 

Allied  to  B.  pictula  and  B.  punctifro7is,  Wlk.,  but  with  the 
nervures  running  to  the  costa  yellow  and  unspotted ;  in  the  other 
species  they  are  brown,  and  terminate  in  brown  spots  on  the  costa. 

Stal  notes  Bidis,  Wlk.,  as  =  Ugyops,  Guer. ;  but  as  some  of 
the  characters  disagree,  I  retain  Walker's  name  for  the  present. 


Family   APHROPHOllID^. 

9.   Clovia  eximia,  sp.n.     (PI.  XV,  Fig.  14.) 

Exp.  al.  14  mm. ;  long.  corp.  5  mm. 

Head  and  thorax  black,  dull  above,  shining  beneath,  upper  part 
of  front  with  seven  transverse  testaceous  bands,  the  uppermost 
widely  interrupted,  and  those  below  the  second  more  or  less 
irregular  and  indented  in  the  middle ;  below  them  is  a  trace  of 
an  eighth  ;  proboscis  and  a  triangular  spot  just  above  its  base 
also  testaceous.  Vertex  and  thorax  hardly  separated,  front 
yellow,  narrowly  edged  with  black  from  eye  to  eye,  and  with 
a  short  waved  transverse  black  stripe  in  the  middle.  Behind  this 
is  another,  longer,  curving  from  eye  to  eye  in  front,  and  there  is 
again  a  broader  black  band  between  the  eyes,  followed  by  two 
yellow  ones.  The  thorax  may  be  described  as  black,  with  three 
broad  transverse  yellow  lines,  and  the  scutellum  is  marked  with 
three  yellow  lines,  converging  behind,  and  joined  by  a  yellow  curve 
in  front.  Sides  of  metathorax  and  extremity  of  the  rufous-brown 
abdomen  varied  with  testaceous.  Tegmina  rufous  brown,  with 
testaceous  yellow  markings,  those  towards  the  extremity  tinged 
with  golden.  An  oblique  long  oval  spot  at  one- third  of  the 
length  of  the  costa,  a  short  slightly  curved  spot  on  the  costa  at 
two-thirds  of  its  length,  and  three  pale  stripes  on  the  lower  part 
of  the  hind  margin.  The  outer  portion  of  these  is  brown,  but 
does  not  touch  the  hind  margin,  and  the  two  lower  ones  contain 
a.  longitudinal  brown  dash  on  the  outer  part.  There  is  a  bifid 
yellow  stripe,  traversing  the  clavus  parallel  with  the  inner  margin, 
fi'om  the  base  ;  the  outer  branch  is  narrow  ;  the  inner  one  is 
broader,  and  curves  up  to  meet  a  corresponding  spot  on  the  inner 
margin  of  the  corium.  Legs  testaceous,  longitudinally  striped 
with  brown,  the  hind  legs  darkest. 

Eleven  specimens :  from  East  Coast,  September  28,  and  October, 
1897  ;  and  iS'orth  Coast,  January,  1898. 

Not  closely  allied  to  any  other  species  at  present  in  the 
British  Museum  (]N"atural  History) ;  but  appears  to  approach 
C.  lemniscatus,  Stal,  described  from  Java. 


138  Christmas  Island. 

Family   ISSIDJE. 
10.   Issus  (?)  andrewsi,  sp.n.     (PI.  XV,  Fig.  15.) 

Long.  Corp.  cum  tegm.  6  mm. ;  long.  tegm.  5  mm. ;  lat.  tegm. 
2"5  mm. 

Testaceous,  front  black,  tricarinate  in  the  middle,  the  lateral 
carinas  meeting  above  in  an  acute  angle ;  the  sides  are  dotted  with 
testaceous,  and  the  summit  of  the  angle  is  of  the  same  colour. 
There  are  also  outer  carinse,  raised  at  the  summit  within  the  eyes  ; 
vertex  and  lower  mouth-parts  testaceous.  Legs  testaceous,  the 
femora  and  tibiae  more  or  less  black  in  the  middle.  Tegmina 
coriaceous,  greenish  grey,  a  little  mottled  with  brown  or  reddish 
brown,  especially  on  the  clavus  and  along  the  borders,  wings- 
brownish  hyaline. 

One  specimen,  without  special  locality.  Allied  to  some  unnamed 
Indian  species  in  the  collection  of  the  Museum. 

Family  JASSID^. 
11.   Idiocerus  (?)  punctatus,  sp.n.     (PI.  XV,  Fig.  16.) 

Long.  Corp.  cum  tegm.  5  mm. ;  long.  tegm.  3'5  mm. 

Almost  uniform  testaceous,  darkest  on  the  thorax,  which  is- 
sculptured  with  transverse  striae.  The  front  of  the  thorax  is  some- 
times speckled  with  brown,  and  the  hinder  part  and  base  of  the 
scutellum  are  marked  with  four  rather  indistinct  brownish  bands. 
Ocelli  in  the  middle  of  the  front,  about  twice  as  far  apart  as  each 
is  distant  from  the  margin  of  the  eye.  Tegmina  with  longitudinal 
rows  of  brown  setiferous  punctures,  and  with  a  brown  spot  on  the 
inner  margin  towards  the  end  of  the  vein  of  the  clavus.  Hind 
tibiae  long,  whitish,  strongly  ciliated. 

Five  specimens:  from  East  Coast,  August,  1897;  Flying  Fish 
Cove,  October,  1897  ;   and  JN'orth  Coast,  January,  1898. 

Somewhat  resembles  Bytlwscopus  testaceus,  Wlk.,  from  Sarawak, 
but  much  smaller,  paler,  and  with  the  ocelli  much  further  fi'om  the 
eyes.  It  is  still  nearer  B.  unicolor,  Wlk.,  from  Makian  (Celebes) ; 
but  the  latter  species  has  a  brown  spot  at  the  end  of  the  tegmina, 
and  the  front  is  less  rounded  above. 


Order  7.— MALLOPHAGA. 

By  W.  F.  KiEBY,  F.L.S.,  F.E.S.,  etc. 

A  SINGLE  specimen  (East  Coast,  September,  1897),  probably  from 
some  marine  bird,  but  closely  resembling,  except  in  its  much 
greater  size,  Nirmus  attenuatus,  Nitsch,  as  figured  by  Giebel 
(^Insecta  Epizoa,  Tab.  vi,  fig.  1).  The  latter  species  is  found  on 
the  corncrake. 


Neuroptera.  13i> 

Order   8.— NEUROPTERA. 
By  W.  F.  KiHBT,  F.L.S.,  F.E.S.,  etc. 

(PLATE  XIV.) 

In  this  Order,  Mr.  Andrews  collected  a  Termes,  two  Ant-lions, 
and  three  wide-ranging  species  of  Dragon -flies.  One  of  the 
latter  is  the  ubiquitous  I'antala  flavescens,  which  inhabits  almost 
all  the  warmer  parts  of  the  world,  from  Egypt  to  Natal,  from 
Kamtchatka  to  Ceylon  and  Australia  and  Tahiti,  and  from 
Georgia  to  Brazil;  it  is  even  said  to  hare  been  once  taken  many 
years  ago  in  the  English  Fens.  It  is  almost  certainly  a  migratory 
species,  and  Mr.  Andrews  informs  me  that  enormous  swarms  of 
dragon-flies  appear  suddenly  in  Christmas  Island  from  Java  when 
the  wind  is  in  the  north  and  north-east,  and  disappear  again  in 
a  few  days. 

ODONATA. 

.Family   LIBELLULIDJE. 
Sub-Family  LIBELLULINJE. 
1.   Pantala  flavescens. 

Libellula  Jiaveiceiis,  Fabricius :  Ent.  Syst.,  Suppl.,  p.  285  (1798). 

Nineteen  specimens :    from  Flying  Fish  Cove,   September  2  to 
October  20,  1897 ;  West  Coast,  October,  1897,  and  March  28,  1898. 

2.   Trithemis  trivialis. 

Libellula  irivialis,  Ramb. :  Ins.  Nevr.,  p.  115  (1842). 
Four  specimens.     North  Coast,  on  sea-cliffs. 

Family  ^SCHNID^. 
Sub-Family   ^SOHNINJE. 
3.  Anax  guttatus. 

^lehna  guttata,  Burmeister :  Haudb.  Ent.,  ii,  p.  840,  n.  14  (1839). 

Flying  Fish  Cove. 

One  male  specimen  only.     Bare  ;   only  two  or  three  specimens 
seen.     Called  '  Eajah '  by  the  natives. 


140  Christmas  Idand. 


PLANIPENNIA. 

Family  MYRMELEOMD^. 

4.  Formicabo  morpheus,  sp.n.     (PI.  XI Y,  Fig.  3.) 

Exp.  al.  55-60  mm. ;  long.  corp.  25-29  mm. 

Male  and  Female. — Dark  brown,  varied  with  testaceous  ;  antennae 
ringed  with  black  and  testaceous,  much  thickened  before  the  tip 
in  the  male  ;  face  testaceous,  the  tips  of  the  mandibles,  a  narrow 
transverse  band  below  the  antennse,  and  a  broad  band  above 
black,  the  latter  indented  in  the  middle  beneath.  Above  this 
is  a  testaceous  stripe,  followed  by  a  black  one,  and  then  by 
two  lateral  ones,  curving  backwards  in  the  middle ;  the  vertex 
is  black,  with  two  short  longitudinal  testaceous  lines,  with 
a  testaceous  spot  between  in  front,  and  three  large  testaceous 
spots  behind,  followed,  on  the  occiput,  by  two  lateral  testaceous 
spots  and  a  central  line.  Thorax  black,  pro-  and  mesothorax 
with  a  testaceous  middle  line,  and  a  broader  longitudinal  stripe 
on  each  side  ;  metathorax  with  a  Y-shaped  testaceous  mark  on  the 
sutures,  and  the  base  and  extremity  of  the  front  lobe  also  marked 
with  testaceous.  Abdomen  black,  with  about  two  longitudinal 
spots  on  the  back  of  each  segment,  and  two  oval  ones  on  the 
sides  of  several  segments  at  least.  Legs  testaceous,  fi-ont  femora 
thickened,  striped  longitudinally  with  black  ;  front  tibise  with 
two  black  rings,  hinder  ones  with  indications  of  the  same ;  joints 
of  the  tarsi  ringed  with  black;  all  the  legs  set  with  very  long, 
fine  bristles.  Wings  rather  long,  moderately  pointed,  most  of 
the  nervures  varied  alternately  with  fuscous  and  yellowish ; 
pterostigma  yellowish;  wings  towards  the  extremity  with  about 
four  irregular  rows  of  blackish  stippling,  most  distinct  on  the 
fore  wings,  and  the  innermost  row  largest. 

Pour  specimens :  Flying  Fish  Cove  (900  feet),  August  and 
November,  1897;  East  Coast,  September  2,  1897;  near  water,  in 
forest. 

Allied  to  Myrmeleon  insojmiis,  Wlk.,  from  an  unknown  locality, 
but  differently  marked.  The  specimens  are  not  in  first-rate  con- 
dition, but  it  is  hoped  that  the  description  will  be  sufficient  for 
identification. 

5.  Myrmeleon  iridescens,  sp.n.     (PL  XIV,  Fig.  4.) 

Long.  Corp.  25  mm. ;  exp.  al.  59  mm. 

Female  black,  head  with  the  lower  mouth-parts  testaceous,  a 
short  testaceous  line  below  the  base  of  each  antenna,  two 
testaceous  dots  on  the  middle  of  the  vertex,  and  the  upper  and 
hinder  orbits  very  narrowly  testaceous.  Thorax  narrowly  bordered 
in  front,  at  the  sides,  and  behind  with  testaceous  ;     base  of  the 


Orthoptera.  141 

•wings  with  testaceous  callosities  above  and  beneath.  Legs 
testaceous,  with  dark  rings  towards  the  end  of  the  femora,  and 
obsoletely  on  the  tibife  ;  tarsi  mostly  black.  Wings  very  iridescent 
hyaline,  without  markings ;  neuration  black,  except  the  subcostal 
nervures  and  those  of  the  pseudostigmatal  space  of  the  fore  wings, 
which  are  yollowish. 

Described  from  a  single  specimen,  without  special  locality. 

This  species  much  resembles  IT.  lethifer,  Wlk.,  from  Natal,  but 
has  somewhat  narrower  wings. 


ISOPTERA. 

Family  TERMITIDJE. 

6.  Termes,  Linn. 

Many  specimens  of  a  species  allied  to  T.  sarawahensis,  Haviland. 
Abundant  everywhere.      Nests  formed  of  a  dark-brown  papier- 
mache,  on  stumps,  or  plastered  against  trunks  of  trees. 


Order   9.— ORTHOPTERA. 

By  W.  F.  KiRBT,  F.L.S.,  F.E.S.,  etc. 

(PLATES   XII-XIV.) 

The  principal  feature  of  the  collection  of  Orthoptera  is  in  the 
comparatively  large  number  of  Forficulidoe  obtained.  This,  how- 
ever, is  probably  more  apparent  than  real,  for  although  in  a  few 
countries,  such  as  England  and,  still  more,  the  United  States,  the 
family  is  very  poorly  represented,  there  are  probably  a  very  large 
number  of  existing  species,  which  only  require  to  be  collected,  for, 
as  a  rule,  they  are  passed  over  entirely  by  collectors. 

As  regards  the  other  Orthoptera,  it  is  remarkable  how  many 
important  groups  appear  to  be  represented  in  Christmas  Island 
only  by  a  single  conspicuous  species,  generally  peculiar  to  the 
island,  as  far  as  is  at  present  known.  Most  of  the  species  in  the 
following  list  which  have  been  previously  described  from  other 
countries,  are  wide-ranging  species  of  Klattidse.  Want  of  sufficient 
material  renders  it  somewhat  doubtful  whether  other  specimens 
provisionally  referred  to  known  species  may  not  ultimately  prove 
to  be  distinct. 


142 


Christmas  Island. 


Twenty-three  species,  obtained  by  Mr.  Andrews,  are  enumerated 
in  the  following  list,  of  which  seven  are  described  as  new.  Of  the 
remaining  species,  at  least  seven  appear  to  be  peculiar  to  the  island. 
I  have  reprinted  the  descriptions  of  these  from  my  previous  paper. 


ORTHOPTEEA. 


PoEFlCULID^. 

Labidura.  Leach. 

nigricornis,  Kirb. 
Platylahia,  Dohrn. 

dimidiata,  Dohm. 
Anisolabts,  Fieb. 

stSli,  Dohm. 
Labia,  Leaoh. 

Murrayi,  sp.n. 

incerta,  sp.n. 

indisiincfa,  sp.n, 

subarmata,  sp.n. 
Anechura,  Scudd. 

sp. 

Blattid^. 

Temnopteryx,  Brunn. 

fulva,  Brunn. 
Phyllodromia,  Serv. 

supellectilium,  Serv. 
Periplanata,  Burm. 

americana,  L. 
LeucopJicea^  Brunn. 

sumiamensis,  L. 
Pattesthia,  Serv. 

javanica,  Serv. 

Mantid^. 

Mierodula,  Burm. 
dispar,  sp.n. 


PHASiriD^. 

Clitiimfms,  Stal. 
stilpnoides,  Kirb. 

Gryllid^. 

Edadoderus,  Guer. 
flavipalpis,  sp.n. 

Gbyllacrid^. 
Gryllacris,  Serv. 
rufovaria,  Kirb. 

CONOCEPHALID^. 

Pseudorhynchus,  Serv. 
lessonii,  Serv. 

LlSTROCELID^. 

Phisis,  Stal. 
listen,  Kirb. 

Phajsteropterid^. 
Psyra,  Stal. 
pomona,  sp.n. 

LoCTJSTIDiE. 

Oxya,  Serv. 

orientalis,  Kirb. 
Cyrtaca7ithacris,  Walk. 

disparilis,  Kirb. 
Epacromia,  Fisch. 

riifostriata,  Kirb. 


Family   FORFICULID^. 

1.   Labidura  nigricornis,  Kirb.  :  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  546. 
(PL  XII,  Fig.  2  S,  Fig.  3  9.) 

"Long.  corp.  18-20  mm. 

"Black,  head  smooth,  not  much  raised,  broad  behind,  and  narrowed 
and  enlarged  in  front ;  lower  mouth-parts  sometimes  testaceous ; 
antennae  seventeen -jointed,  sometimes  inclined  to  pitchy  beneath, 
but  with  none  of  the  joints  white  or  yellow  ;  pronotum  smooth  in 


Orthoptera.  143 

front  and  very  finely  reticulate  behind,  nearly  quadrate,  the  hinder 
edge  rounded ;  a  central  groove  on  the  front  half,  on  each  side  of 
which  is  a  slight  elevation ;  tegmina  nearly  smooth,  broader  than 
the  thorax,  and  1^  times  as  long  as  broad;  projecting  portion  of 
the  wings  rather  narrow,  sparingly  punctate,  about  one-third  as 
long  as  the  tegmina,  and  very  slightly  tipped  with  pale  testaceous ; 
femora  slightly  thickened;  tarsi,  and  sometimes  the  extreme  tips 
of  the  tibiae,  ferruginous ;  abdomen  thickly  and  finely  punctured, 
the  hinder  margins  of  the  segments  appearing  as  if  milled.  Under- 
surface  more  inclining  to  pitchy.  Forceps  nearly  as  long  as  the 
abdomen,  moderately  broad,  more  or  less  punctured,  and  incurved 
at  the  extremity ;  in  the  male  with  a  tooth  at  the  base,  and 
another,  preceded  by  two  or  three  small  denticulations,  at  two- 
thirds  of  the  length. 

"Several  specimens  obtained  October  ord,  1887  (Lister).  This 
species  appears  to  be  the  common  earwig  of  the  island.  It  has 
considerable  external  resemblance  to  CheUsoches  morio,  Fabr.,  from 
which  the  structure  of  its  legs  and  the  unicolorous  antennae  will 
at  once  distinguish  it." 

Three  males,  one  from  JTorth  Coast,  December,  1897,  and  one 
female,  April,  1898  (Andrews). 


2.  Platylabia  dimidiata  (?). 

Flatylahia  dimidiata,  Dohrn:   Stett.  ent.  Zeit.,  xxviii,  p.  348  (1867). 

A  single  damaged  specimen,  agreeing  approximately  with  the 
description  of  P.  dimidiata ;  but  in  the  absence  of  specimens  of  the 
latter  from  Luzon  (from  whence  the  types  were  received),  it  is 
impossible  to  be  sure  of  the  identification. 

3.   Anisolabis  stall. 

Forcinella  stall,  Dohrn:   Stett.  ent.  Zeit.,  ixv,  p.  286  (1864). 

Three  specimens  (from  "North  Coast,  Dec,  1897"),  apparently 
belonging  to  this  Javanese  species. 

4.  Labia  murrayi,  sp.n.    (PI.  XII,  Fig.  6,  ^;  PI.  XIII,  Fig.  5,  $.) 

Long.  Corp.  cum  forcip.  9  mm. ;  segm.  ult.  cum  forcip.  3  mm.  ; 
long.  tegm.  l^  mm. 

Male. — Kufo  -  testaceous,  very  shining,  head  convex,  shining 
black,  face  testaceous,  antennae  testaceous,  rather  darker  above 
than  below,  antennae  pubescent,  thirteen-] ointed  (?),  second  joint 
narrower  than  the  scape,  and  short,  the  rest  cylindrical,  abdomen 
finely  punctured,  terminal  segment  smooth,  but  coarsely  punctured 
towards  the   base   of   the  forceps  ;'    legs   pale   testaceous,  femora 


144  Christmas  Island. 

darker,  forceps  separated  at  the  base  by  a  space  about  equalling^ 
tbeir  breadth,  gradually  tapering,  and  curved  inwards  to  the  tips, 
which  are  crossed,  and  not  very  acute ;  a  large  tooth  on  the  inner 
edge  at  about  one-quarter  of  their  length,  followed  by  two  or  more 
smaller  ones  ;  tegmina  short,  obliquely  truncated  (no  wings),  and 
one  or  two  of  the  following  segments  of  the  abdomen  marked 
with  blackish  at  the  sides  ;  pygidium  short,  broad,  transversely 
oblong ;  pliciferous  tubercles  obsolete. 

Described  from  two  males.  An  hermaphrodite  specimen  is  paler, 
and  has  the  tegmen  on  the  left  side  longer  than  the  other,  and 
subacute,  and  the  right  branch  of  the  forceps  is  considerably  shorter 
and  slenderer  than  the  other ;  waved,  unarmed,  and  more  acute  at 
the  extremity. 

The  last  specimen  is  from  North  Coast,  March,  1898  ;  the  others 
are  without  special  locality. 

5.   Labia  incerta,  sp.n.     (PI.  XII,  Fig.  5.) 

Female. — Eesembles  the  last  species,  but  the  head,  pronotum,  and 
tegmina  are  purplish  brown.  Abdomen  fulvous,  with  purplish- 
brown  markings  at  the  base  and  sides.  Forceps  rather  slender,, 
waved,  with  the  tips  pointed  and  approximating ;  the  inner  edge 
finely  serrated. 

A  single  specimen. 

6.   Labia  indistincta,  sp.n.     (PI.  XII,  Fig.  4.) 

Male. — Rufo-castaneous,  antennae  thirteen-jointed,  head  above,, 
hinder  part  of  pronotum,  and  tegmina  varied  with  brownish  ;. 
tegmina  rather  narrow,  subtruncated  ;  abdomen  beneath  them,, 
with  a  transverse  blackish  band,  but  the  rest  of  its  upper  surface 
uniformly  reddish.  Forceps  nearly  straight,  incurved  at  the  tips, 
and  set  with  long,  fine,  grey  hairs ;  the  inner  edge  with  a  cultrate 
projection  at  the  base,  about  twice  as  broad  as  the  short  transverse 
pygidium,  which  is  rounded  off  towards  the  extremity ;  beneath 
this  is  a  quadrangular  projection. 

A  single  specimen  obtained. 

Much  resembles  the  two  last  species.  In  all  these  small  Labia 
the  pliciferous  tubercles  on  the  abdomen  are  almost,  if  not  quite, 
obsolete. 

7.  Labia  (?)  subarmata,  sp.n.     (PI.  XII,  Fig.  7.) 

Long.  corp.  cum  forcip.  circa  5  mm. 

Male. — Dark  chestnut-brown,  thickly  and  very  finely  punctured 
on  the  tegmina  and  abdomen,  and  covered  with  a  veiy  close  pile. 
Head  black  above,  nearly  quadrate,  but  with  the  hinder  angles 
obtusely  rounded  off.  Antennae  eight- jointed  (?),  pilose,  rufo- 
testaceous,  the  scape  oblong,  at  least  three  times  as  long  as  broad^ 


Orlhoptera.  145 

second  joint  small,  the  others  oval,  much  longer  than  broad.  Head 
below  the  antennae  pale  testaceous,  Pronotum  narrower  than  the 
head,  longer  than  broad,  subquadrate,  with  the  hinder  angles 
slightly  rounded  off,  and  the  front  angles  very  obtuse,  sides  slightly 
bordered  with  pale  testaceous.  Tegmina  and  exposed  part  of  wings 
long,  subacute,  thickly  dotted  with  grey  pile,  as  is  also  the  abdomen. 
Terminal  segment  red ;  forceps  red,  about  half  as  long  again  as  the 
terminal  segment,  unarmed,  widely  apart,  and  slightly  thickened 
at  the  base,  regularly  inciuwed,  and  crossing  at  the  extremity. 
Pygidium  short,  obtusely  angulated.  Legs  testaceous,  paler  at  the 
joints.  ]!^o  pliciferous  folds  visible  on  abdomen.  TJnder-surface 
brownish  testaceous,  abdomen  and  forceps  reddish. 

Female. — Similar  to  the  male,  but  with  the  pronotum  and 
abdomen  of  a  lighter  brown,  head  reddish.  Legs  testaceous, 
brownish  towards  the  base  of  the  femora.  Forceps  approximate, 
stout,  subcontiguous,  triquetral,  with  the  inner  ridges  very  strongly 
marked  ;  tips  incurved.  Antenna  ten-jointed.  XJnder-surface  of 
body  more  uniformly  reddish  in  the  male. 

The  apparent  absence  of  pliciferous  folds  makes  me  doubt 
■whether  this  species  is  a  true  Labia.  It  much  resembles  some 
American  species,  such  as  Z.  rotundata  and  L.  hnmnea,  Scudder. 


8.  Anechura,  sp. 

An  immature   female,    probably   belonging   to    an   undescribed 
species.     "IS^orth  Coast,  March,   1898." 


Family  BLATTID^. 
9.   Tenmopteryx  fulva  (?). 

Temnopieryx  fnlva,  Brunner:  Syst.  Blatt.,  p.  85  (I860). 

One   specimen,    considerably   smaller   than   the    Javanese    type 
described  by  Brunner,  but  possibly  belonging  to  the  same  species. 

10.   Phyllodromia  supellectilium  (?). 

JBIatta  supellectilium,  Serv. :  Ins.  Orth.,  p.  114  (1839). 
Fhyllodromia  iiipellectilium,  Brunn. :   Syst.  Blatt.,  p.  98  (1865). 

One  specimen,  north  part  of  island,  January,  1898,  belonging  to 
this  or  to  an  allied  species. 


11.  Periplaneta  americana. 

a.  :  Syst.  Nat.,  lOtli  ed., 
Brunn.:  Syst.  Blatt.,  p, 

One  specimen  only,  December,  1897. 


Blatta  amerieana,  Linn.  :  Syst.  Nat.,  lOtli  ed.,  i,  p.  424,  n.  4  (1768). 
Periplaneta  americana,  Brunn. :  Syst.  Blatt.,  p.  232,  Tab.  v,  fig.  24  (1865). 


146  Christmas  Island. 


12.  Leucophoea  surinamensis, 

Blatta  surinamensis,  Linu. :   Syst.  Nat.,  10th  ed.,  i,  p.  424,  n.  3  (1758). 
Panchlora  {Leucophoea)  surinamensis,    Brunn.  :     Syst.  Blatt.,  p.  278,  Tab.  vii, 
lig.  32  (1865). 

Flying  Fish  Cove,  August,  1897. 

A  single  specimen  of  this  cosmopolitan  species  was  found  in 
rotting  wood. 

13.   Panesthia  javanica. 

Panesthia  javanica,  Serv. :  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.,  xxii,  p.  38  (1832);  Brunn.,  Syst. 
Blatt,  p.  393,  Tab.  viii,  fig.  58  (1865)  ;  Kirb.,  P.Z.S.,  1888, 
p.  547. 

These  insects  abound  under  rotten  wood,  and  in  large  holes  in 
it,  which  they  seem  to  make.  In  various  stages  of  development. 
West  End,  Christmas  Island,  October  1,  4,  5,  1887  (Lister). 

Ten  specimens  in  various  stages.  Flying  Fish  Cove,  August, 
1897  ;  also  December,  1897.  They  appropriate  the  burrows  of 
wood-boring  beetles.     (Andrews.) 


Family   MANTIDJE. 

14.   Hierodula  dispar,  sp.n. 

Dimensions.  5 

Long,  corp 55-65  mm.         ...        63-74  mm. 


Long,  partis  anticse  pronoti      ...  6 

Long,  partis  posticse  pronoti    ...  14 

Long,  pronoti  toti  ...         ...  20 

Long,  tegminarum        ...         ...  45-55 

Lat.  pronoti       7 


7-9 
13-16 

20-27 

50-66 

9-11 


Male. — Body  probably  green  when  living ;  afterwards  yellowish 
or  brown ;  pronotum  often  with  some  brown  or  purplish  markings. 
Pronotum  broadest  in  front,  and  serrated  at  the  sides.  Front  coxee 
beneath,  with  a  dentated  ridge  at  the  base,  generally  rising  in  two 
large,  flat,  triangular  projections  (sometimes  three  larger  projections) 
followed  by  a  few  smaller  ones,  irregular  in  number  and  position. 
Front  tibiae  with  four  strong  teeth  on  the  outer  edge,  and  many  on 
the  inner,  mostly  tipped  with  black  ;  front  tarsi  black  on  the  inside. 
Wings  and  tegmina  vitreous,  with  green  nervures,  which  are  very 
numerous  towards  the  apex  ;  costal  area  of  tegmina  green  (or 
yellow,  as  well  as  the  nervures,  in  faded  (?)  specimens) ;  stigma 
large,  oval,  yellowish  white. 

Female. — Green,  or  purplish  grey  (rarely  olive  yellow) ;  tegmina 
nearly  opaque,  mottled  with  purplish  grey,  and  in  the  costal  area 
with  yellowish ;  front  coxae  and  femora  beneath  white ;  tibiae 
mostly  yellowish.     Coxae  with  two  large,  flat,  round  plates  on  the 


Ortlioptera.  147 

inside  at  the  base,  ending  in  triangular  dentated  points;  beyond 
and  above  these  are  numerous  small  teeth.  Femora  with  four 
white  spines  on  the  outer  edge,  ringed,  tipped,  and  lined  with 
black ;  a  row  of  alternately  large  and  small  black  spines,  streaked 
with  white  inside,  on  the  inner  carina,  and  four  large  median 
oblique  basal  spines,  black,  standing  in  black  rings,  and  white  only 
on  the  inside.  Tibial  spines  tipped  with  black;  tarsi  streaked 
with  black  on  the  inside.  Propectus  with  two  broad  black  bands ; 
mesopectus  with  one.  (In  the  males,  the  colours  beneath  are  not 
sufficiently  well  preserved  to  be  described.) 

A  very  distinct  species,  but  most  nearly  related  to  H.  patellifera, 
Serv, 

Described  from  four  males  (two  labelled  "Flying  Fish  Cove, 
Aug.,  1897,"  and  another,  "West  Coast,  Oct.,  1897"),  and  six 
females  (three  from  Flying  Fish  Cove  or  neighbourhood), 
September  20  to  October  20,  1897.  There  is  also  a  pupa  and  an 
•empty  pupa-skin  from  the  same  locality. 

Family   PHASMID^. 
15.  Clitumnus  stilpnoides.     (PL  Xir,  Fig.  1.) 

Clitumnus  stilpnoides,  Kirb.  :  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  547. 

"Long.  Corp.  100mm. 

"  Male. — Uniform  brown  ;  head  and  pronotum  somewhat  more 
grey;  antennae  about  two -thirds  as  long  as  the  mesonotum ; 
pronotum  hardly  longer  than  the  head  ;  mesonotum  one-fourth 
longer  than  the  metanotum ;  two  small  horns  between  the  eyes ; 
legs  long,  slender,  unarmed,  clothed  with  very  fine  oblique 
bristles ;  outer  anal  appendages  longer  and  less  incurved  than  in 
C.  stilpniis. 

"Taken  October,  1887  (Lister).  Also  two  immature  specimens, 
apparently  belonging  to  the  same  species.  Closely  allied  to 
C  stilp7ms,  Westwood." 

Four  specimens:  from  Flying  Fish  Cove,  August,  1897;  and 
East  Coast,  jN'ovember,  1897.     (Andrews.) 

There  are  two  other  Phasmidte  in  Mr.  Andrews'  collection, 
apparently  belonging  to  the  allied  genus  Entoria,  Stal,  but  hardly 
in  sufficiently  good  condition  to  describe,  though  probably  new. 

Family   GRYLLID^. 

16.  Ectadoderus  flavipalpis,  sp.n.    (PI.  XIII,  Fig.  3  ,^,  Fig.  49.) 

(J.  Long.  corp.  6-8  mm. ;  long.  pron.  2^-3  mm. ;  long,  elytr. 
2-21  mm. 

9-  Long.  corp.  8-9  mm.  ;  cum  ovip.  15  mm.;  long.  pron. 
2\  mm. 


148  Christmas  Island. 

J/«?5.-- Testaceous  or  rufo-testaceous,  in  tlie  darkest  specimens 
inclining  to  reddish  on  the  head,  pronotuni,  and  the  raised  border 
of  the  tegmina ;  mouth  bhickish,  palpi  and  femora  yellow,  abdomen 
black  above  and  below ;  knees,  tibia3,  and  tarsi  more  or  less  varied 
with  blackish. 

Female. — Apterous,  the  abdomen  more  or  less  testaceous  above. 

Four  specimens,  East  Coast,  August  and  September,  1897,  and 
Flying  Fish  Cove;  also  four  specimens  from  Mr.  Lister's  collection. 

Nearest  allied  to  E.  xantJiopterus,  Guer. 


Family   GKYLLACRIDtE. 
17.  Gryllacris  rufovaria.    (PI.  XIV,  Fig.  1.) 

Gryllaeris  riifovaria,  Kirb. :  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  548. 

"  Long.  Corp.  32  mm. ;   ovipositoris  9  12  mm. ;  exp.  al.  65  mm. ; 
long,  antennarum  circa  110  mm. 

"Yellowish  brown;  the  head,  especially  the  face,  red;  the  vertex, 
the  neighbourhood  of  the  eyes  and  of  the  antennoe,  the  space 
between  the  latter,  the  lower  mouth-parts,  and  the  palpi  more  or 
less  varied  with  yellowish,  prothorax  and  sides  of  abdomen  beneath 
varied  with  red  ;  spines  of  the  hind  legs  tipped  with  black  ;  tegmina 
yellowish,  with  yellowish  veins.  Wings  ample,  pale  grey;  the 
longitudinal  nervures  yellowish  brown ;  the  cross-nervures  blackish, 
bordered  with  dusky  on  each  side,  except  the  two  or  three  outer 
rows,  the  outermost  of  all  being  varied  with  yellowish. 

"Moderately  stout,  smooth  and  shining;  face  with  a  few  shallow 
punctures ;  head  and  thorax  of  equal  breadth  ;  antennaj,  legs,  and 
anal  appendages  (except  ovipositor)  sparingly  clothed  with  fine, 
short  Avoolly  hairs ;  hind  femora  with  from  nine  to  eleven  short 
spines,  hardly  arranged  in  pairs,  on  each  side ;  hind  tibice  with  six 
irregular  pairs,  without  counting  the  apical  ones.  In  the  male  the 
last  segment  of  the  abdomen  terminates  in  two  short,  stout, 
conical  projections;  the  iipper  anal  appendages  are  long,  tapering, 
divergent  in  the  middle,  and  slightly  incurved  at  the  tips ;  the 
lower  appendages  are  only  half  the  length  of  the  upper  ones,  and 
are  simply  divergent.  In  the  female  the  upper  appendages  are 
stouter  at  the  base  and  more  incurved  at  the  tips  than  in  the  male, 
but  are  of  nearly  equal  length. 

"Belongs  to  the  same  group  as  Gryllacris  tessellata,  Drury,  but 
readily  distinguished  by  the  total  absence  of  black  markings  on  the 
head  and  thorax,  and  by  the  colour  of  the  tegmina  and  wings.  It 
is  probably  more  closely  allied  to  G.  rariahilis,  Brunner  (Verb. 
Zool.  bot.  Ges.  "Wien.,  xxxviii,  p.  353,  fig.  40)  than  to  any  other 
described  species. 

"Appears  to  be  a  common  species  in  Christmas  Island,  as  one 
male  and  four  females  were  obtained."     (Lister.) 


Orthoptera,  149 

Taken  on  leaves  on  a  tall  tree-top,  October  9tli  (Lister)  ;  Forest, 
East  Coast,  September,  1897. 

Three  specimens,  a  male  and  two  females.  (Andrews.) 
Also  two  larval  forms,  from  Flying  Fish  Cove,  August,  1897. 
They  are  in  spirit,  and  the  present  colours  are  as  follows  : — The 
larger  specimen  has  the  head  and  thorax  light  rufo  -  testaceous 
above,  with  the  lower  mouth-parts,  and  three  spots  between  the 
eyes,  whitish  ;  of  these,  the  middle  spot  is  rather  long,  and  is 
deeply  concave  above,  ending  in  a  point  on  each  side ;  the  lateral 
spots  are  nearly  round,  and  each  contains  two  black  dots.  The 
short  wing-cases  are  black,  and  the  back  of  the  abdomen  dark 
reddish-brown ;  the  under-surface  of  the  body  and  legs  are  white, 
the  coxa)  and  trochanters  being  marked  with  pale  reddish ;  the 
knees  (except  for  a  white  spot  on  the  hind  tibife  just  in  the  joint) 
and  the  spines  are  black  ;  the  four  fi-ont  tibiae  and  their  spines  are 
reddish  bro^vn.  The  smaller  specimen  differs  in  being  black  above, 
except  the  three  spots  and  the  labnira  and  labium,  which  are 
white.  In  both  specimens  the  middle  of  the  abdomen  is  banded 
"with  black  beneath. 


Family  CONOCEPHALID^. 
18.  Pseudorhynchus  lessonii. 

Fseudorhytichus  lessonii,  Serv. :  Ins.  Ortli.,  p.  511  (1839). 
€onocephalns  alienus,  Wlk. :  Cat.  Derm.  Salt.,  ii,  p.  324,  u.  14  (1869). 

Flying  Fish  Cove,  August,  1897. 

Three  male  specimens.     Originally  described  from  Java. 

Family  LISTROCELID^. 
19.  Phisis  listeri.     (PL  XIII,  Fig.  6.) 

Fhitis  listeri,  Kirb. :  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  547. 

"Long.  Corp.  15mm. 

'' 3fale. — Pale  green;  head  and  pronotum  darker,  with  two 
conspicuous  yellow  lines,  slightly  convergent,  running  from  the 
back  of  the  eyes  to  the  base  of  the  pronotum  ;  suture  of  the 
tegmina  yellowish,  and  the  antennoe,  legs,  and  under-surface  of 
body  likewise  inclining  to  yellow;  four  front  femora  and  tibise 
armed  with  long  slender  spines  ;  hind  femora  considerably 
thickened  before  the  middle ;  hind  femora  and  tibiae  with  very 
mimerous  short  spines. 

"  Three  specimens,  two  immature  (Lister).  The  adult  specimen 
above  described  shows  only  three  spines  on  the  intermediate 
femora,  but  one  of  the  others  has  four,  showing  that  this  is  not 
a   constant   character.      One    of    the    immature    specimens    bears 


150  Christmas  Island. 

a  label :  '  Christmas  Island,  October  3.  Colour  grass-green.'  The 
colour  is  now  much  mixed  with  yellow. 

"  Allied  to  P.  jjectinata,  Guer.,  but  considerably  smaller  than  any 
of  our  specimens  of  that  species." 

One  specimen,  East  Coast,  September,  1897.     (Andrews.) 


Family  PHANEROPTERID^. 

20.  Psyra  pomona,  sp.n. 

Long.  Corp.  (absque  ovip.)  26  mm.  ;  cum  ovip.  35  mm.  ;  exp. 
tegm.  93  mm.  ;    lat.  tegm.  1 1  mm. 

Female. — Body  testaceous,  more  or  less  tinged  with  green  (doubt- 
less greener  when  alive) ;  head  whitish,  almost  ivory-white  under  the 
eyes  and  on  the  labrum  ;  last  joint  of  palpi  green  ;  antennte  green, 
becoming  brown  towards  the  extremity ;  scape  testaceous.  Thorax 
with  the  hinder  third  dark  green,  edged  behind  by  a  lighter  carina, 
and  in  front,  in  the  middle,  somewhat  blackish.  Ovipositor  green, 
about  twice  as  long  as  the  thorax,  upcurved,  and  reddish  brown 
on  the  upper  and  lower  edges,  towards  the  extremity,  which  are 
crenulated.  Legs  pubescent,  with  slender  green  spines,  tipped 
with  blackish.  Tegmina  unicolorous,  bright  apple -green;  wings 
greenish  hyaline,  with  green  nervures,  and  tipped  with  green. 

Two  females  came  to  lamp  at  night ;  Flying  Fish  Cove. 

Allied  to  P.  ensis,  De  Haan,  but  the  antennte  are  not  banded, 
the  tegmina  are  not  spotted,  and  there  are  no  dark  markings  on  the 
legs,  except  that  there  is  a  darker  green  spot  at  the  base  of  the 
front  tibite.  It  is  evident  that  Brunner's  descriptions  of  the  species 
of  this  genus  are  taken  from  more  or  less  discoloured  specimens. 

Family  LOCUSTID^. 

21.  Oxya  orientalis. 
(PI.  XIII,  Fig.  1,  dark  form ;  PI.  XIV,  Fig.  2,  typical  form.) 

Frimnia{?)  orientalis,  Kirb.  :  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  549. 

"  (J  Exp.  al.  44  mm. ;  long.  corp.  26  mm, 

"Grass-green;  antennae  about  twice  as  long  as  the  head  and 
pronotum,  yellowish  (faded?),  the  tips  brownish;  tips  of  mandibles 
and  palpi  dark  green ;  vertex  with  four  dusky  lines  approximating- 
in  front  ;  the  inner  ones  much  nearer  together  than  the  space 
between  these  and  the  others,  the  transverse  grooves  on  the  pro- 
notum black,  the  first  shorter  than  the  others,  and  ending  in  a  dusky 
spot  on  each  side,  behind  which  is  another  dusky  spot  (between 
the  second  and  third  grooves)  ;  the  second  groove  is  angulated 
forwards  at  its  extremities,  ending  in  blackish  spots ;  before  the 
first  groove  runs  a  transverse  reddish  line,  only  distinct  on  the 


OHhoptera.  151 

sides.  Abdomen  blackish  above,  green  on  the  sides  and  beneath ; 
a  large  dark-green  spot  beneath,  towards  the  extremity  of  the 
eighth  segment.  Tegmina  green,  with  many  of  the  longitudinal 
nervures  yellowish ;  the  intermediate  spaces  inclining  to  hyaline 
beyond  the  middle.  Wings  smoky  hyaline,  with  brown  nervures ; 
costal  nervure  yellow,  and  the  nervures  at  the  base  and  along  the 
inner  margin  grass-green.  Spines  short,  tipped  with  black,  as 
well  as  the  claws." 

"  Flew  into  light  in  tent  (October  9th)."     (Lister.) 
Seven  specimens:   from  Flying  Fish  Cove,  October,   1897,  and 
February,   1898  ;     and  East   Coast,  January,    1897.     Common  on 
herbage,  especially  near  coast.      The  same  remark  applies  to  the 
two  following  species.     (Andrews.) 

These  specimens  apparently  represent  a  duller  form  of  the  species 
than  the  type.  Mr.  Andrews  informs  me  that  they  were  brownish 
green  when  alive;  they  are  now  testaceous  brown,  with  only  the 
tips  of  the  spines  of  the  hind  tibite  black.  The  two  females  are 
larger  and  darker  than  the  males,  expanding  55-60  mm.  They 
have  some  obscure  brown  markings  on  the  back  of  the  thorax,  and 
the  middle  of  the  tegmina  is  longitxidinally  varied  with  light  brown 
and  yellowish  for  the  basal  third,  and  with  light  brown  and  pale 
testaceous  beyond.  The  abdomen  is  black  at  the  base  for  two- 
thirds  of  its  length,  and  the  hind  femora  are  marked  with  two 
large  brown  patches,  interrupted  by  the  striae  on  the  outside,  one 
near  the  middle,  and  the  other  towards  the  extremity. 


22.  Cyrtacanthacris  disparilis. 

Cyrtacanthacris  disparilis,  Kirb.  :  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  549. 
C.fusiiinea,  Kirb.  {jiec  AVlk.),  I.e.,  1888. 

"Exp.  al.  (J  90mm.,  9  115mm. ;  long.corp.  ^  54mm.,  9  80mm. 

^'' Male.  —  Head  and  body  yellow,  inclining  to  reddish  above; 
antennae  with  the  first  two  joints  yellow,  the  remainder  black 
above,  beneath  pitchy  or  yellowish ;  tegmina  longer  than  the 
abdomen,  yellow  ;  the  longitudinal  veins  darker ;  towards  the  tip 
the  membrane  becomes  nearly  hyaline,  and  many  of  the  nervures 
are  brown.  Wings  smoky  hyaline,  the  nervures  towards  the  base 
and  costa  yellow,  the  remainder  brown ;  the  nervures  immediately 
at  the  base  incline  to  reddish.  Legs  yellow,  darker  above ;  tarsi 
inclining  to  reddish,  the  joints  sometimes  marked  with  green; 
claws  black  at  the  tips ;  hind  femora  with  three  carinas  above, 
with  short  and  distant  serrations;  these  and  the  lower  lateral 
carina  are  irregularly  marked  with  black ;  the  intermediate  space 
above  is  slightly  reddish,  more  so  at  two  points  than  in  others, 
which  gives  the  appearance  of  two  interrupted  lines.  Sutures  of 
the  knee-joint  black.  Hind  tibiae  with  a  green  spot  at  the  base 
above,  otherwise  dull  green  ;  the  under-surface  yellow.  Spines 
yellow,  tipped  with  black ;  hind  tarsi  yellowish  or  reddish. 


152  .         Chridmas  Island.     • 

'^^  Female. — Reddisli  brown,  inclining  to  black  on  the  npper  part 
of  the  head  and  thorax ;  antennge  black  (including  the  two  basal 
joints),  and  pitchy  towards  the  extremity ;  face  reddish.  The 
frontal  concavity  is  black  on  the  sides,  but  is  filled  up  with 
yellow,  which  forms  the  front  of  a  broad  yellow  stripe  which 
runs  to  the  extremity  of  the  prothorax,  of  which  the  borders, 
and  especially  the  lower  hinder  angles,  are  more  or  less  yellow; 
the  borders  of  this  streak  above,  the  facial  carinse,  and  a  stripe 
under  each  eye  are  darker  than  the  surrounding  parts.  Four 
front  legs  dirty  green,  varied  with  yellow ;  the  arolia  reddish ; 
middle  femora  with  a  double  row  of  yellow  spots  on  the  outside. 
Hind  femora  brown  above  and  reddish  beneath,  with  two  blackish 
transverse  bands  above  ;  the  space  between  the  lateral  carinje  with 
oblique  or  oval  whitish  or  pale-yellow  marks,  and  a  continuous 
yellow  stripe  on  the  under- surface.  Hind  tibise  black  above,  with 
a  yellow  spot  at  the  base,  and  brownish  yellow  beneath  ;  spines 
yellow,  tipped  with  black.  Hind  tarsi  reddish,  with  a  black  carina 
above ;  tegmina  brown,  the  interspaces  more  hyaline  towards  the 
tips.     Wings  as  in  the  male. 

"Allied  to  C.  melanocerus,  Serv.  (niffricorne,  Burm.),  from  Java 
and  Malacca. 

"I  should  not  have  ventured  to  place  these  insects  together  but 
for  a  memorandum  which  accompanied  them,  stating  that  they 
were  found  in  coitu  by  Lieutenant  Eichardson  near  the  shore  of 
Christmas  Island  on  October  1,  1887.  Another  specimen  of  the 
male  was  met  with  on  October  2  at  Flying  Fish  Cove." 

Besides  the  above  specimens  contained  in  Mr.  Lister's  collection, 
I  am  now  inclined  to  refer  the  insect  which  I  formerly  regarded  as 
possibly  C.  fimlinea,  Wlk.,  to  C.  disparilis. 

Four  specimens,  one  marked  Flying  Fish  Cove,  August,  1897, 
and  another,  December,  1897,  were  in  Mr.  Andrews'  collection,  as 
well  as  two  dark  female  specimens,  with  the  pale  band  on  the 
pronotum  entirely  absent.  They  may  represent  a  variety  of  this 
species,  but  do  not  appear  to  be  specifically  distinct. 


23.  Epacromia  rufostriata.    (PI.  XIIl,  Fig.  2.) 

Epaeromia  rufostriata,  Kirb. :  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  550. 

"  Exp.  al.  $  43  mm.,  9  40  mm. ;  long.  corp.  $  20  mm.,  9  22  mm. 

'^ Male. — Testaceous,  speckled  with  reddish  and  black;  a  small 
black  spot  beneath  each  eye  ;  a  black  stripe  (bordered  above  by 
a  pale  line,  and  sufPused  below)  runs  behind  each  eye  to  the 
extremity  of  the  pronotum  ;  it  is  intersected  at  the  third  groove 
of  the  pronotum  by  the  pale  line  which  runs  below  instead  of 
above  the  hinder  part  of  the  black  stripe,  which  is  conical  and 
more  sharply  defined  than  the  rest ;  hind  femora  on  the  inside 
black  for  half  their  length,  followed  by  a  long  black  spot ;  the 
inside  sutures  of  the  knees  are  also  black,  hind  tibite  beneath  black 


Arachnida,  etc.  153 

fit  the  base  and  for  the  last  three-quarters  of  their  length  ;  spines 
whitish,  tipped  with  black.  Tegmina  testaceous,  sub-hyaline  beyond 
the  middle,  with  reddish  nervures  ;  the  basal  half  of  the  principal 
nervure  black  ;  wings  clear  hyaline,  with  pale  ner-snires ;  several  of 
the  longitudinal  nervures  before  the  middle  of  the  wing  black  for 
at  least  part  of  their  length. 

"  Female  similar  to  the  male,  but  much  redder,  and  hardly 
speckled ;  edges  of  the  frontal  concavity  blackish,  and  from  this 
fun  two  slightly  diverging  blackish  lines  between  the  eyes  and 
as  far  as  the  occiput.  Markings  of  the  head  and  pronotum  nearly 
as  in  the  male ;  sides  of  pronotum  varied  with  yellowish.  Hind 
femora  red  (very  bright  red  beneath),  and  marked  as  in  the  male ; 
hind  tibiae  black  at  the  base  on  the  inside  and  beneath ;  the  basal 
third  other^-ise  yellow,  the  middle  third  black,  and  the  apical 
third  red.  Spines  white,  tipped  with  black ;  extreme  tip  of  hind 
tibiae,  including  the  base  of  the  terminal  spines,  and  hind  tarsi, 
yellow.  Tegmina  and  wings  nearly  as  in  the  male,  but  the 
tegmina,  and  especially  most  of  the  longitudinal  nervures,  darker; 
many  of  the  cross  nervules,  a  short  stripe  before  the  middle  above 
the  principal  nervure,  and  most  of  the  nervures  on  the  inner 
marginal  region,  are  red. 

"In  both  sexes  the  costa  is  moderately  arched  at  one-fourth  of 
its  length. 

"  !Not  very  closely  related  to  any  species  previously  represented 
in  the  Eritish  Museum."     Captured  October  1st.     (Lister.) 

One  taken  at  Flying  Fish  Cove,  October,  1897.     (Andrews,) 


CHILOPODA,  DIPLOPODA,  AND  ARACHNIDA. 

By  R.  I.  PococK. 

(PLATE  XVI.) 

IXTEODUCTORT    REilARKS. 

Up  to  the  present  time  our  knowledge  of  the  Arachnid  and 
Myi-iopod  fauna  of  Christmas  Island  rested  upon  two  collections. 
The  first  was  made  in  January,  1887,  by  the  officers  of  H.M. 
survejdng  vessel  "  Flj-ing  Fish  "  ;  the  second  in  the  autumn  of  the 
same  year  by  Mr.  J.  J.  Lister,  when  acting  as  naturalist  on  board 
H.M.  surveying  vessel  "Egeria."  The  reports  upon  these 
collections,  published  in  the  Proceedings  of  the  Zoological  Society 
for  1887,  p.  520,  and  1888,  pp.  556-561,  contain  references  to  one 


154  Christmas  Island. 

species  of  Scorpion,  three  species  of  Spiders,  thj'ee  of  Centipedes^ 
and  two  of  Millipedes. 

With  the  exception  of  the  two  species  of  Cryptops  obtained  by 
Mr.  Lister,  Mr.  Andi-ews,  during  his  stay  on  the  island,  rediscovered 
all  the  species  that  had  been  collected  by  his  predecessors,  and, 
in  addition,  supplemented  the  list  by  procuriag  one  fresh  species  of 
Millipede,  three  species  of  Pseudoscorpions,  one  of  which  appears 
to  be  undescribed,  and  adult  and  identifiable  representatives  of  six 
species  of  Spiders,  as  well  as  several  other  examples  of  this  order 
unfortunately  too  immature  for  determination. 

Quite  sufficient  material,  however,  has  been  procured  to  show 
that  the  fauna  of  the  island  bears  unmistakable  signs  of  derivation 
from  that  of  the  area  of  the  Oriental  region,  represented  especially 
by  Burma  and  Java,  lying  to  the  north. 

There  is  no  evidence  that  any  of  the  species  have  been  intro- 
duced artificially.  Indeed,  the  absence  of  such  forms  as  the 
Spider  Heteropoda  venatoria,  the  Scorj)ion  Isometrus  europceus 
{=  maculattis,  De  Geer.),  and  the  Centipede  Scolopendra  morstcans, 
which  accompany  man  in  all  his  wanderings  and  establish  them- 
selves wherever  the  conditions  of  existence  are  favourable,  seems 
to  indicate  that  the  sj)ecies  or  their  ancestors  now  found  in  the 
island  crossed  the  sea  that  sej)arates  it  fi'om  Malaysia  by  purely 
natural  means — the  Scorpions  and  the  Myriopods  and  possibly  some 
of  the  Spiders  in  connection,  in  all  probability,  with  floating  tree 
trunks  or  other  vegetation;  the  majority  of  the  Spiders,  especially 
the  web-spinning,  bush-living  species,  on  their  so-called  gossamer 
webs  in  the  early  days  of  their  existence  ;  and  the  Pseudoscorpions 
by  clinging  to  the  legs  of  flies  or  bees,  or  lurking  beneath  the 
elytra  of  beetles. 

Class    CHILOPODA. 

Family  CRYPTOPIDiE. 

1.  Cryptops  hortensis,  Leach. 

One  specimen  apparently  identical  with  the  typically  Palaearctic 
species  C.  hortensis,  collected  by  Mr.  J.  J".  Lister.  Mr.  Andi'ews 
did  not  find  this  species. 

2.  Cryptops  inermipes,  Poc. 

Pocock:  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  556,  fig.  1  ;  Ann.  Mu3.  Geneva  (2),  x,  p.  422,  1891. 

This  species  was  based  upon  specimens  obtained  in  Christmas- 
Island  by  Mr.  J.  J.  Lister.  It  has  subsequently  been  found  by 
Sig.  L.  Pea  upon  Mount  Mooleyit,  in  Tenasserim. 

Mr.  Andi'ews  did  not  rediscover  this  species. 


Araclinida,  etc:  15^ 

Family  GEOPHILTD^. 
3.   Mecistocephalus  castaneiceps,  Haase. 

Abh.  Museum,  Dresden :  Chilopoden,  p,  102,  pi.  vi,  fig.  109. 

Specimens  taken  by  both  Mr.  Lister  and  Mr.  Andrews. 
Originally  recorded  from  Pulo  Edam,  off  the  north  coast  of  Java  ; 
also  occurring  in  Table  Island,  Andamans  (^.  ir.  Oates),  and  in 
Hotiima  {^S.  Gardiner). 

Class   DIPLOPODA. 

Family   STROIs^GYLOSOMID^. 

1.   Orthomorpha  coarctata  (Sauss.). 

P((radesmHs  coarctatus,  Sauss.  :  Mem.  Soc.  Phys.  Geneve,  1860,  p.  298. 
Paradcsmus  vicarius,  Karsch :  Anz.  f.  Xaturg.,  1881,  p.  38,  pi.  iii,  fig.  8. 
atrongylosoma  poeiji,  Bollman  :  Ent.  Amer.,  iii,  p.  81. 

]S"ot  previously  recorded  from  Christmas  Island. 
Universally  distributed,  and  of  common  occurrence  in  conserva- 
tories in  various  parts  of  Europe. 

Family   CYLINDRODESMID^. 
CYLINDRODESMUS,  Poc. 

Cylindvodesmus,  rocock :    P.Z.S.,    1888,    p.    558;    Ann.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  (7), 

1898,  i,  p.  328. 
Haplosoma ,  Verhoeii  :   Zool.  Anz.,  1894,  xvii,  p.  8  {)iom pra 
Haplodesmus,  Cook :  Ann.  N.  York  Acad.,  ix,  p.  4. 

2.   Cylindrodesmus  hirsutus,  Poc. 

P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  558,  fig.  2  ;  Ann.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  (7),  1898,  i,  p.  329. 

Taken  by  Mr.  Lister  and  bj'  Mr.  Andrews  in  various  parts  of  the 
island. 

The  specimens  of  this  Millipede  collected  hj  Mr.  Lister  were 
the  only  representatives  of  the  genus  known  at  that  time. 
"VVithia  the  last  six  years,  however,  two  fresh  species  have  been 
discovered.  One  of  these  was  met  with  in  Amboina,  and  w^as 
named  Haplosoma  driihelU  by  Verhoeff ;  the  other,  described  by 
myself  as  Cylindrodesmus  villosus,  was  obtained  by  Mr.  Stanley 
Gardiner  in  the  island  of  Potuma.  The  specific  features  of  the 
three  are  tabulated  in  my  above  cited  paper  in  the  "Annals"  for 
last  year. 


i56  Christmas  Island. 

Family  CAMBALID^. 
3.   lulomorpha  exocoeti  (Poc). 

Spirostreptus  {Xodopyge)  exocwti,  Poeock :  P.Z.S.,  18S8,  p.  560. 

Many  specimens  taken  in  and  above  Flying  Fish  Cove  by 
Mr.  Lister  and  Mr.  Andrews. 

The  anterior  legs  in  the  ^  of  this  species  are  five- jointed,  not 
fonr  jointed,  as  in  the  species  described  by  Porat. 

Class    ARACHNIDA. 

Order    SCORPIONES. 

Family  ISCHA^IJRID^. 

1.   Hormurus  australasias  (Fabr.). 

Scorpio  australasice,  Fabr.  :  Syst.  Ent.,  p.  o09. 

Collected  by  Captain  Maclear  and  Mr.  Andrews.  "Always 
found  under  the  bark  of  fallen  tree  tnmks." 

Abundantly  distributed  from  Eurma  and  Siam  to  the  Polynesian 
Islands. 

Order  PSEUDOSCORPIONES. 

Family  CHELIFEEID^. 
2.   Trachychernes  claviger  (Thor.). 

Chelifer  claviger,  Thorell :    Ann.  Mus.   Geneva,    1889,    xxvii,    p.    591,    pi.    v, 
figs,  ba,  h. 

A  single  example   of   this  or  of  a  closely  allied  species  taken 
under  the  bark  of  a  decaying  tree  above  Flying  Fish  Cove. 
C.  claviger  was  originally  recorded  from  Bhamo  in  Bunna. 

3.   Chelifer  javanus,  Thorell. 

Ann.  Mus.  Geuova,  18S2,  xviii,  p.  37,  pi.  v,  figs.  20-22. 

A  single  specimen,  apparently  identical  with  C.  javanus,  Thorell, 
taken  on  the  north  coast  of  the  island. 

4.   Chelifer  murrayi,  sp.n.     (PI.  XYI,  Figs.  1,  \a.) 

Colour  tolerably  uniform  chestnut-brown,  with  paler  legs. 

Carapace  entirely  covered  with  line  granulation  ;  sides  of  its 
posterior  portion  nearly  straight  and  parallel,  of  its  anterior  portion 
somewhat  abruptly  converging  in  front ;  cephalic  or  anterior  portion 
subglobose  posteriorly,  defined  by  a  deep  transverse  sulcus,  the 
external  edges  of  which  curve  forwards  above  the  lateral  margin ; 
ocelliform  spots  large  and  distinct,  a  row  of  six  simple  bristles  along 


Arachnida,  etc.  157 

the  anterior  border  between  them.  Tergal  plates  finely  and  closely 
covered  with  sqiiamiform  gi'anules,  each  half  transversely  oblong- 
and  about  four  times  as  wide  as  long,  a  row  of  setifcrous  tubercles 
along  the  posterior  margin,  and  two  close  together,  one  on  each 
side  of  the  middle  line,  and  a  few  smaller  scattered  about ;  the 
whole  abdomen  narrow,  nearly  parallel-sided,  posteriorly  rounded. 
Sterna  at  most  coriaceous ;  coxae  and  maxillcic  smooth. 

Chelce  with  humerus  and  brachium  finely  granvilar,  sparsely 
setose ;  humerus  subcylindrical,  about  three  times  as  long  as  wide  ; 
brachium  elliptical,  elongate,  also  about  three  times  as  long  as  wide, 
scarcely  longer  and  only  a  little  thicker  than  the  humerus ;  hand 
smooth,  much  wider  than  brachium,  an  elongate  oval,  nearly  twice 
as  long  as  broad,  and  about  as  long  on  the  brachium ;  considerably 
longer  than  the  movable  digit.  Process  on  tip  of  movable  digit  of 
mandille  straight  and  cylindrical  at  base,  curved  slightly  outwards 
towards  the  apex,  where  it  ends  in  three  short  finger-like  processes 
and  a  short  thumb  -  like  projection,  the  whole  structure  much 
resembling  a  four-fingered  human  hand. 

Total  length  of  body,  3  mm. 

Our  knowledge  of  the  Oriental  species  of  this  group  is  still  in  its 
infancy,  and  the  species  here  described  will  very  likely  be  redis- 
covered in  Burma,  Sumatra,  or  Java,  but  it  apparently  differs  from 
all  the  Indo- Malayan  species  described  by  Thorell  (Ann.  Mus. 
Geneva,  xxvii,  pp.  591-606).  For  example,  C.  hirmanicus  has  no 
trace  of  eyes  and  is  quite  smooth.  C.  orites,  also  from  Burma,  is 
allied  to  C.  javanus  in  being  smooth  and  in  having  the  carapace 
entire.  C.  sumatranus  has  a  different  flagellum  ;  and,  lastly,  both 
C.  hansenii  and  C.  Msidcus  from  Burma  have  the  eyes  veiy  distinct, 
and  not  mere  pale  intcgumental  patches,  hmdcus  in  addition  being- 
smooth.  C.  hansenii,  on  the  contrary,  except  so  far  as  the  eyes  are 
concerned,  is  certainly  nearly  allied  to  C.  murrayi,  but  differs  also 
in  the  structure  of  the  setfe  and  of  the  mandibular  flagellum  (see 
Thorell's  figures,  op.  cit.,  pi.  v,  fig.  8). 

The  three  species  of  Cheliferidse  obtained  in  Christmas  Island 
may  be  determined  as  follows  :  — 

a.  Carapace  without  eyes,  but  with  two  very  strong  transverse 
grooves ;  integument  of  dorsal  surface  coarsely  granular, 
the  bristles  short  and  thickly  clavate  ;  coxse  of  posterior 
legs  enlarged  ;  abdomen  very  broad     .     .     claviger,  Thor. 
h.  Carapace  with  a  pair  of  pale  ocelliform  patches,  and  at  most 
one  transverse  groove ;    integument  smooth,    or  at  most 
very  finel}'-  granular ;    bristles  simple ;    coxce   of   fourth 
leg  not  enlarged ;  abdomen  narrow. 
a}.  Integument  shining,   smooth  ;     carapace  without  trans- 
verse sulcus  ;  chelae  much  stouter     .    javamis,  Thor. 
h\  Integument  finely  and  closely  granular;  carapace  with 
a  strong  transverse  groove  defining  the  cephalic  area; 
chelae  much  thinner murrayi,  sp.n. 


158  Christmas  Island. 

Order  ARANE^. 
Family  DYSDERID.E. 

5.   Ariadna  natalis,  sp.n. 

Colour. — Carapace  castaneous,  becoming  gradually  blacker  in  the 
cephalic  region ;  mandibles  black ;  legs  and  palpi  clear  reddish- 
yellow,  with  the  protarsi  and  tarsi  of  the  first  and  second  legs 
and  the  tibia  and  tarsus  of  the  palpi  blackish ;  abdomen  a  pale 
greyish- olive  tint  throughout. 

Carapace  slightly  longer  than  patella  and  tibia  of  first  leg, 
smooth,  sparsely  hairy  ;  eyes  of  posterior  line  straight  when  \dewed 
from  above,  slightly  procurved  from  the  front. 

Legs. — Femur  of  first  amicd  apically  with  six  spines,  three  of 
which  are  longer  and  serially  arranged  on  the  inner  (anterior)  side  ; 
tibia  armed  below  with  seven  to  eight  anterior  and  nine  or  ten 
posterior  spines,  mostly  long,  but  a  few  quite  short ;  protarsi 
armed  with  eight  pairs  of  sti'ong  spines,  some  long,  some  short ; 
tibia  of  third  with  two  median  inferior,  j^rotarsus  with  two  median 
and  two  apical  inferior  spines.  Patellae  of  legs  unarmed ;  fourth 
leg  unarmed. 

Measurement  (in  millimetres). — Total  length,  8"5;  length  of  cara- 
pace 4,  of  first  and  second  leg  about  8,  of  third  6,  of  fourth  7 "5. 

"Above  Flying  Fish  Cove;  on  the  ground  under  decaying  tree 
trunks.  In  holes  in  limestone  blocks,  top  of  cliff,  jS'.E.  Point, 
about  600  feet." 


r  Eecognizable  from  its  nearest  geographical  allies,  the  Sumatran 
A.  snellema^iii,  Van  Hasselt  ("Midden  Sumatra,  etc.,  Araneae," 
1882,  p.  37;  see  also  Thorell,  Ann.  Mus.  Geneva  (2),  1889-90, 
viii,  p.  388),  and  from  the  Burmese  A.  monticola,  Thorell  (Ann. 
Mus.  Geneva  (2),  1897,  xvii,  p.  190),  in  the  following  particulars: — 

a.  Carapace  and  abdomen  black,   tibia  of   legs  of   first   pair 
armed  with  only  7-9  spines,  six  of  which  are  arranged 
in  three  inferior  pairs. 
a^.  Protarsus  of  first  with  seven  pairs,  of  second  with  five 

pairs  of  spines snellemanii,  V.  H. 

¥.  Protarsus  of  first  armed  beneath  with  only  four  spines, 

arranged  1,  1,  2,  of  second  with  five,  arranged  2,  1,  2 

beneath  and  1  in  front     ....     monticola,  Thor. 

h.  Carapace  ferruginous,  with  blackish  head ;  abdomen  olive 

grey,  with  silky  lustre ;    tibia  of  first  leg  armed  beneath 

with  from  fourteen  to  seventeen  spines,  biserially  arranged  ; 

protarsi  of  first  and  second  with  eight  paii's  of  inferior 

spines        natalis^  sp.n. 


Arachnida,  etc.  159 


Family  SCYTODID.E. 
6.   Scytodes  (Dictis)  venusta,  Thor. 

Bictis  venusta,  Thorell :  Arm.  Mus.  Geneva  (2),  1889-90,  viii,  p.  301. 

Several  specimens  apparently  identical  with  B.  venusta,  Thorell, 
which  has  hitherto  heen  recorded  only  from  Sumatra. 


Family  PHOLCID^. 

7.    Smeringopus  elongatus  (Vinson). 

Phohus    elongalus,    Vinson  :    Aran,    des   iles     .     .     .     Eeunion,  Maurice,   et 

Madagascar,  1863,  p.  135,  pi.  iii,  fig.  5. 
Pholcus  distinctus,  0.  P.  Cambr.  :    Joum.  Liun.  Soc,  1869,  x,  p.  380,  pi.  xi, 

figs.  28-30. 

"  Flying  Fish  Cove.     In  houses." 

Widely  distributed  in  the  tropics  of  both  hemispheres. 


Family    AEGIOPID^. 
8.   Argiope  reinwardti  (Dol.).    (PI.  XVI,  Fig.  2.) 

Epeira  trifasciata,  Doleschall :  Nat.  Tijdschrift  Nederland.  Indie,  1857,  xiii 
(ser.  Ill,  vol.  iii),  p.  416.  Verb.  Nat.  Vereen.  Nederland.  Indie, 
1858-9,  V,  pi.  i,  fig.  3  [noDi.  preocc). 

Epeira  reinwardti,  id.:  loc.  cit.,  p.  31,  pi.  xv,  fig.  5. 

Argiope  doleschalUi,  Thorell :  Remarks  on  Syn.,  1873,  p.  520  ;  Ann.  Mus. 
Genova,  1878,  xiii,  p.  38. 

"  Common  eveiy where  ;  geometrical  web  in  forest.  "Web 
furnished  with  narrow  vertical  white  band  of  thick  silk,  crossing 
centre.     Spider  rests  in  form  of  an  X-" 

Ranges  from  Java  to  Amboina. 

In  the  typical  Javan  form  of  this  species,  as  figured  by 
Doleschall,  the  two  anterior  abdominal  stripes  are  separated  by 
a  wider  dark  space  than  is  observable  in  any  of  the  Christmas  Island 
specimens.  Unfortunately  we  have  scarcely  any  material  from  Java 
wherewith  to  test  the  constancy  of  this  character  in  the  typical 
form.  Eut  since  in  the  Christmas  Island  form  the  two  yellow  stripes 
are  sometimes  in  contact  in  the  middle  line,  sometimes  separated 
by  a  narrow  space,  it  is  justifiable  to  assume  that  Javan  specimens 
will  be  found  to  vary  in  a  similar  way. 

A  figure  of  the  species  is  published  on  PI.  XVI,  as  being 
the  most  beautiful  and  one  of  the  most  plentiful  spiders  on  the 
island. 


160  Christmas  Island. 


9.   Cyrtophora  unicolor  (Dol.).     (PI.  XVI,  Fig.  3.) 

Epeira  unicolor,  Doleschall  :  Xat.  Tijilschrift  Xederlnud.  Indie,  1857,  xiiJ 
(ser.  Ill,  vol.  iii),  p.  149  ;  A'eih.  Nat.  Vereen.  Nederland.  Indie,. 
1858-9,  V,  1)1.  ii,  fig.  i.  Thorell :  Ann.  Miis.  Geneva,  1878, 
xiii,  p.  52. 

Abundant  on  the  island. 

Ranges  from  Cejlon  to  Amboina. 

A  full  figure  of  this  species  is  also  published  on  PL  XYI,  as 
forming  a  striking  feature  of  the  spider  fauna  of  the  island. 

"Geometrical  snare  surrounded  by  mass  of  irregularly  aiTanged 
threads ;  sometimes  a  number  of  spiders  found  together  in  large 
compound  web.  Spiders  always  found  in  curled  -  up  dead  leaf 
towards  outer  part  of  snare." 


10.   Kepliila  nigritarsis,  L.  Koch. 

Die  Arachnideu  Australiena,  i,  p.  152,  pi.  xii,  figs.  4,  ia. 

Subsp.  insulicola,  nov. 
=  X.  niffritarsis,  L.  Koch  :  Tocock,  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  560. 

Eecognizable  from  the  typical  form  which  occurs  in  Queensland,, 
at  least  in  having  the  anterior  portion  of  the  sternum  entirely  black 
instead  of  being  furnished  with  a  broad  yellow  border. 

Abundant  in  the  island.  ^lany  specimens  were  taken  by 
Mr.  Andrews  and  previously  by  Mr.  J.  J.  Lister.  "Makes 
geometrical  webs  of  yellow  silk  in  the  forest  among  trees  and 
bushes,  sometimes  at  considerable  heights  from  the  ground." 


11.   Cyclosa  mulmeinensis  (Thorell). 

J?peira.  mtthneinensis,  Thor.  :  Ann.  Miis.  Geneva,  1887,  xiv,  p.  221. 

Jipeira  [Cyclosn)  mulmeinensis.  id. :   Descriptive  Cat.  Spiders  of  Burma,  1896, 

p.  192. 
Cyclosa  mulmeinensis,  Simon :  Hist.  Xat.  Araiguees,  1894,  i,  pt.  3,  p.  784. 

"  East  coast.     Geometrical  web  on  face  of  limestone  cliffs." 

The  Christmas  Island  specimens  of  this  species  seem  to  be 
identical  with  those  obtained  by  Mr.  Gates  at  Tharrawaddy  in 
Bui-ma,  except  that  the  abdominal  tubercles  are  not  apparent.  The 
prominence  of  the  tubercle  is  probablj'  dej)endent  upon  the  degree 
of  distension  of  the  abdomen,  as  is  the  case  in  Ccerostris  and  some 
other  tuberculate  spiders.  "When  the  spider  is  full  fed  and  the 
abdominal  integument  at  its  utmost  stretch,  the  tubercles  become 
reduced  or  vanish  altogether ;  when  the  spider  is  killed  in  a  fasting 


Arachnida,  etc.  161 

state,  the  tubercles  project  more  or  less  above  the  general  level  of 
the  skin.  A  cluster  of  the  cocoons  of  this  species,  strung  together 
in  the  manner  characteristic  of  the  species  of  Cyclosa,  was  also 
l)rocured  by  Mr.  Andrews. 

According  to   Simon  this   species  occurs  in  India,    Arabia,   and 
South  Africa,  as  well  as  in  Malaysia. 


Family  SPARASSID^. 

12.   Heteropoda  listeri,  sp.n.     (PI.  XVI,  Figs.  4,  Aa-d.) 
Hetcropoda  venatoria  (Linn.),  Pocock:  P.Z.S.,  1888,  p.  561  [not  venatoria,  Linn.). 

Colour.  —  Carapace  castaneous,  with  pale  posterior  transverse 
band ;  thickly  clothed  with  haii's  of  almost  a  mustard-yellow  hue 
at  the  sides,  more  rust}"  red  above  ;  mandibles  black  or  ferruginous, 
the  upper  half  thickly  clothed  with  long  yellow  bi'istles  ;  legs 
ferruginous,  distally  infuscate,  clothed  with  yellowish- grey  hairs, 
paler  on  the  femora  than  on  the  tibia) ;  sternum  and  coxae  deep 
reddish-black ;  upper  side  of  abdomen  covered  with  yellowish  or 
reddish  hairs  in  front,  with  darker  hairs  intermixed  with  blackish 
patches  behind ;  lower  surface  darker  in  the  middle  than  at  the 
sides,  the  sides  yellow,  the  median  area  greyish  black  or  pale 
gTcy,  with  a  pair  of  narrow  darker  lines. 

Carapace  a  little  longer  than  broad,  low,  longitudinally  hori- 
zontal above,  the  ocular  region  lightly  depressed ;  eyes  of  posterior 
line  slightly  recurved,  their  anterior  edges  nearly  level,  the 
median  a  little  more  than  a  diameter  apart;  eyes  of  anterior  line 
nearly  straight,  their  upper  edges  in  a  straight  line,  the  laterals 
only  about  one-fourth  larger  than  the  medians,  the  laterals  only 
about  half  their  diameter  above  the  edge  of  the  clypcus ;  carapace 
about  as  long  as  tibia  of  first  leg,  slightly  longer  than  that  of 
fourth,  the  width  just  about  cqiud  to  tibia  of  third. 

Legs  2,  1,  4,  3  ;  the  second  o^•crlapping  first  by  more  than  the 
length  of  its  tarsus,  third  just  surpassing  middle  of  protarsus  of 
second,  fourth  sui-passing  third  by  about  half  the  length  of  its 
tarsus. 

Vulva  (as  in  Fig,  4a). 

cJ  closely  resembling  9  except  in  length  of  legs  ;  carapace 
about  equal  to  half  the  length  of  the  patella  and  tibia  of  first ; 
third  leg  not  reaching  middle  of  protarsus  of  second. 

Palpus  (as  in  Figs.  Ab,  c,  d). 

Measurements  (in  millimetres). — 9  Total  length,  19;  length  of 
carapace  8-o,  width  8,  length  of  first  leg  34,  of  "second  38,  of  third 
31,  of  fourth  32,  of  palpus  11.  S  Total  length,  16-5;  length  of 
carapace  8-5,  of  first  leg  44,  of  second  52,  of  third  39,  of  fourth 
38,  of  palpus  1 1 . 


162  Christmas  Island. 

"  Common  on  the  island.  Found  under  loose  bark  ;  also  in  tent 
at  night  and  in  roof  of  outbuildings,  etc." 

A  single  mutilated  female  example  of  this  species  was  brought 
by  Mr.  J.  J.  Lister  from  Christmas  Island  in  1888,  and  wrongly 
identified  by  me  as  H.  venatona,  L.  An  examination  of  well- 
preserved  material,  consisting  of  both  young  and  adults  of  both 
sexes,  proves  the  species  to  be  quite  distinct  from  venatoria.  It 
differs  fi'om  all  the  known  species  of  Heteropoda^  in  having  the 
upper  half  of  the  mandibles  thickly  clothed  with  long  hairs,  with 
the  apical  half  naked,  exactly  as  occurs  in  the  genus  Panaretiis. 
In  this  particular  it  constitutes  an  intermediate  link  between 
Panaretus  and  Reteropoda^  both  of  which  are  represented  by 
several  sjiecies  in  the  Malaysian  area.  From  the  known  species 
of  Fanaretus,  H.  listeri  differs  in  having  the  posterior  portion  of 
the  carapace  as  high  and  not  higher  than  the  anterior. 

In  addition  to  the  large  specimens  of  this  species  described  above 
and  figured,  Mr.  Andi'ews  procured  a  number  of  small  examples 
of  Heteropoda,  containing  both  adults  and  young,  which  at  first 
sight  appear  to  belong  to  a  distinct  species.  But  since  the  vulva 
and  palpi  arc  practically  identical  in  structiire  with  those  of  the 
larger  examples,  I  conclude  that  the  smaller  examples  are  merely 
dwarfed  representatives  of  the  same  species  as  the  larger. 

In  addition  to  the  spiders  above  recorded  Mr.  Andrews  brought 
back — 

1.  A   single  sub-adult  female  trapdoor  spider  belonging  to  the 

family  BarychelidaB  and  jiossibly  referable  to  the  genus 
Encyocrypta.  The  arrangement  of  the  eyes  is  less  specialized 
than  in  that  genus,  the  anterior  laterals  being  further  apart. 
But  this  primitiveness  in  the  eyes  in  the  Christmas  Island 
specimen  is  probably  to  be  attributed  to  immaturity. 

2.  Several  sub-aclult  specimens  of  what  is  probably  a  new  species 

of  X.ysUcus. 

3.  Immature    specimens    of    a    species    of    Araneus  —  perhaps 

A.  naufictis,  L.  K. 

4.  A  single  adult  female  referable  to  the  genus  Litkyphantes. 
.5.  A  few  immature  specimens  of  a  species  of  Oxyopes. 

6.  Several  small  Attidse  of  various  kinds,  which  I  refrain  from 
determining. 


,  Land  Critatacea.  163 

la:nd   crtjstacea. 

By  C.  W.  Andrews,  B.Sc,  F.G.S. 

The  land  Crustacea  are  a  very  important  factor  in  the  fauna  of 
the  island.  They  seem  to  act  as  the  chief  scaveng'crs,  destroying- 
both  animal  and  vegetable  refuse,  Avhile  the  little  red  crab 
{Gecarcinus  kcjostomnx)  to  some  extent  takes  the  place  of  earth- 
worms, in  loosening  the  surface  soil  and  incorporating  with  it  the 
decaying  vegetable  matter. 

I  am  indebted  to  Professor  Jeffrey  Bell  and  Mr.  11.  I.  Pocock 
for  the  determination  of  the  species  noticed  below. 

Family  GECAHCimD^E. 
1.   Gecarcinus  lagostomus,  M  -Edw. 

Gecarc'uiHs  lai/ostoiiiii,  M.-Edw.,  Hist.  nat.  Crust.,  vol.  ii  (1837),  p.  27. 
HyJceocarcinus  natalis,  Pocock,  P.Z.S.,  p.  561,  1888. 

In  his  account  of  the  Crustacea  of  Christmas  Island  collected 
by  Mr.  J.  J.  Lister,  Mr.  R.  1.  Pocoek  described  as  new  a  small 
crab,  to  which  he  gave  the  name  Hylceocarcinus  natalis.  At  the 
same  time  he  pointed  out  that  the  genera  Syl(Boearcmus  of 
Wood-Mason  and  Limnocarcinus  of  De  Man  are  probably  identical, 
and  suggested  that  the  differences  between  them  depend  on  age. 

In  the  present  collection  a  number  of  large  bright-red  crabs, 
here  referred  to  Gecarcinus  lagostomus^  are  undoubtedly  the  adult 
of  Hylceocarcinus  natalis. 

This  is  the  commonest  of  the  land-crabs  inhabiting  the  island, 
and  is  found  in  great  numbers  everywhere,  even  on  the  higher 
hills  and  the  more  central  portion  of  the  plateau.  In  many  places 
the  soil  is  honeycombed  by  its  burrows,  into  which  it  rapidly 
retreats  when  alarmed.  These  crabs  seem  to  feed  mainly  on  dead 
leaves,  which  they  carry  in  one  claw,  held  high  over  the  back, 
and  drag  down  into  the  burrows.  From  their  enormous  numbers 
they  must  play  a  great  part  in  the  destruction  of  decaying  vegetable 
matter  and  its  incoi-poration  into  the  soil. 

Once  a  year,  during  the  rainy  season,  they  descend  to  the  sea 
to  deposit  their  eggs,  and  during  this  migration  hundreds  may  be 
seen  on  every  path  down  steep  slopes,  and  many  descend  the 
cliff-face  itself.  They  remain  on  the  beach  for  a  week  or  two, 
and  deposit  their  eggs  among  stones  in  shallow  water  inside  the 
reef.  Afterwards  they  gradually  make  their  way  back  to  their 
accustomed  homes.  In  the  year  of  my  visit  this  migration  occurred 
in  January. 


164  Christmas  Island. 


2.   Cardisoma  carnifex  (Herbst). 

Cancer  carnifvx,  Herbst,  Naturgeseli.  der  Krabben  und  Krebse,  vol.  ii  (1794), 
p.  163,  pi.  xli,  fig.  1. 

This  species  is  now  recorded  from  the  island  for  the  first  time, 
the  reason  why  it  was  not  seen  by  previous  collectors  being  that 
it  occurs  only  in  the  neighbourhood  of  small  fresh-water  streams 
which  up  to  the  time  of  my  visit  had  not  been  explored.  In  this 
island,  at  any  rate,  this  species  must  be  regarded  as  a  fresh-water 
form,  and,  in  fact,  when  a  specimen  was  seen  it  might  be  taken  as 
an  indication  that  fresh  water  was  not  far  ofi.  It  lives  in  deep  holes 
in  the  mud  at  the  sides  and  bottom  of  the  brooks,  and  is  especially 
common  near  the  stream  about  two  miles  north  of  Steep  Point. 
(See  map.) 

Its  colour  when  living  is  a  uniform  light  slate- grey.  This  form 
seems  to  differ  slightly  both  in  colour  and  in  the  proportions  of  its 
carapace  from  specimens  in  the  Museum  Collection  from  Tahiti, 
which  have  been  referred  to  the  same  species. 


Family  OCYPODID^. 
3.   Oeypoda  ceratophthalma  (Pallas). 

Cancer  ceratophthalma,  Pallas,  Spicilegia  Zoologica,  1772,  p.  83,  pi.  v,  figs.  7,  8. 

This  crab  is  rather  common  on  the  shore  platform  at  Plying  Fish 
Cove,  where  it  lives  under  the  blocks  of  stone,  which  are  strewn 
at  the  foot  of  the  cliff. 

Family  CCENOBITID^. 

4.    Birgus  latro  (Linn.). 
Cnncn-  la'ro,  Linu.,  Syst.  Nat.,  12th  ed.,  1766,  p.  1049. 

This  species  is  found  in  abundance  all  over  the  island,  even  in- 
the  densest  parts  of  the  forest  on  the  central  plateau.  If  in  any 
spot  none  are  visible  it  is  only  necessary  to  stand  still  for  a  short 
time  before  several  may  be  seen  approaching  rapidly  from  various 
directions.  As  they  come  near  they  advance  more  slowly  and  with 
caution,  the  antennaj  continually  moving  up  and  down  alternately 
on  opposite  sides.  On  the  least  alarm  they  scuttle  backwards  in 
a  succession  of  ungainly  jerks,  caused  by  the  thrusts  of  the  long- 
front  walking-legs,  and*  as  soon  as  possible  they  push  the  unprotected 
hinder  part  of  their  body  into  any  hole  or  crevice  in  tree  or  rock 
that  they  can  reach. 

In  defending  themselves  they  seem  to  rely  chiefly  on  the  first 
pair  of  walking-legs,  which  are  long  and  terminate  in  sharp  points  ; 
these  the  crab  raises  over  its  back  and  then  strikes  downward  with 


Land  Crustacea.  165 

Ijotli  sides  at  once.  The  cheloe  are  extremely  powerful,  and  are 
used  with  great  effect  when  an  opjoortunity  occurs. 

These  crabs  eat  fruits,  the  pith  of  the  sago-palm  and  the 
screw-pines,  dead  rats  and  other  carrion,  and  any  of  their  fellows 
that  may  have  been  injured.  They  frequently  ascend  trees  to 
ii  great  height  in  search  of  food,  and  occasionally  dozens  may  be 
seen  round  a  sago-palm  of  which  the  fruit  is  ripening,  some 
ascending  and  descending  the  trunk,  others  eating  the  fallen  fruit. 

After  dark,  as  a  rule,  these  crabs  cease  to  wander  about,  and 
I  found  that  many  of  them,  particularly  the  smaller  ones,  climb 
a  short  distance  up  tree  trunks  or  into  low  bushes,  probably  to 
•escape  being  disturbed  by  the  rats.  In  moonlight  and  in  the  light 
of  the  camp-fire  they  may  keep  moving  all  the  night. 

They  arc  excellent  scavengers,  and  have  a  curious  habit  of  often 
dragging  their  food  long  distances  before  attempting  to  eat  it. 
I  have  seen  a  crab  laboriously  pulling  a  bird's  wing  up  the  first 
inland  clifit,  half-a-mile  or  more  from  the  camp  whence  it  had 
stolen  it. 

1  never  saw  one  of  these  crabs  voluntarily  enter  the  sea,  and 
they  do  not  appear  to  migrate  to  it  for  the  purpose  of  laying 
their  eggs.  At  the  beginning  of  the  year  numerous  females 
carrying  large  masses  of  eggs  were  seen  at  long  distances  from 
the  coast  and  on  the  highest  ground ;  and  about  the  same  time 
young  crabs  not  more  than  an  inch  or  two  long,  but  otherwise 
like  the  adults,  were  fairly  common.  Mr.  Andrew  Clunies-Ross 
told  me  that  he  believes  the  eggs  are  hatched  out  while  the  females 
are  buried  in  holes  in  the  ground.  During  the  wet  season  both 
.sexes  seem  to  bury  themselves  temporarily  while  casting  their  shell. 

5.   Coenobita  clypeata  (Herbst). 

'Cancer  chjpcatHs,  Herbst,  Nat.  Krabbenund  Krebse,  ii,  1796,  p.  22,  pi.  xxiii,fig.  2. 

This  large  hermit  crab  is  found  in  considerable  numbers  ;  it 
is  commonest  on  the  lower  terraces  near  the  sea,  though  not 
imfrequently  met  with  in  the  higher  parts  of  the  island.  It 
usually  inhabits  large  Trochus  shells,  and  the  occurrence  of  these 
on  the  hills  far  from  the  sea  was  difficult  to  account  for  until 
this  circumstance  was  noticed.  These  crabs,  like  Birgus,  are  good 
climbers ;  they  ascend  steep  rock  faces  and  get  into  small  trees 
and  bushes  in  search  of  food :  when  disturbed,  they  let  themselves 
fall  at  whatever  height  they  may  be. 

There  are  several  other  species  of  hermit  crabs  living  on  the 
beaches,  but  since  these  belong  rather  to  the  marine  fauna  they 
need  not  be  noticed  here. 

A  small  fresh-water  Crustacean,  apparently  an  Amphipod,  was 
■collected  from  the  mud  of  a  small  stream  on  the  East  Coast ; 
unfortunately  these  specimens  have  been  lost. 


166 


Cliridmas  Inland. 


VERMES/ 


ON    THE    EARTHWORMS    FROM    CHRISTiMAS    ISLAND. 

By  Daniel  Rosa,  D.  Sc, 
Assistant  in  the  Royal  Zoological  Museum,  Turin. 

1.    Pontodrilus  ephippiger,  D.  Rosa  (1898).     (Figs.  1,  2.) 
D.  Eosa:  Ann.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  [7],  vol.  ii  (1898),  p.  281,  pi.  ix,  figs.  4,  5. 


witlt 
85  to 

peri- 


1  2 

Fontodriliis  epJiippiger,  D.  Rosa  (1898). 

Fig.  1.  Prostate. 
,,     2.   Spermatlieca. 

Hal. — Christmas  Island  (near  small  stream  on  east  coast). 

The  length  of  our  specimens  ranges  from  43  to  47  mm., 
a  diameter  of  3  mm.  ;  the  number  of  segments  varies  from 
1 00 ;  the  colour  (in  spirit)  is  an  intense  yellow. 

The  prostomium  is  short,  only  slightly  dovetailed  in  the 
stomium,  which  is  longer  than  the  second  segment. 

The  settB  are  distant :  behind  the  clitellum  the  ventral  interval 
aa  is  twice  that  between  sette  ah ;  the  lateral  intervals  between 
setse  ah,  he,  cd  are  about  equal,  though  slightly  increasing  from 
below  upwards ;  the  dorsal  middle  space  del  is  about  three  times  as 
wide  as  cd.  These  distances  vary  slightly  in  front  of  the  clitellum ; 
for  instance,  at  the  height  of  the  spermathecfe  the  setfe  he  are 
slightly  wider  apart  than  seta3  ah  or  cd,  so  that  the  setae  are  here 
paired,  though,  of  course,  not  very  close  together. 

The  clitellum  extends  over  segments  13-17=  5;  it  may  be 
termed  saddle-shaped,  ceasing  near  the  outer  ventral  seta  {h) :  this 
clitellum  is  well  developed  dorsally,  where  its  rings  are  completely 
fused  together,  while  on  the  ventral  area  the  setae  as  well  as  the 
intersegmental  furrows  are  tolerably  visible. 

There  is  a  deep  transverse  fossa  on  segment  1 8 ;   the  transverse 


^  Eeprinted,  by  permission,  from  Ann.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  [7],  vol.  ii  (1898),. 
p.  281,  pi.  ix,  figs.  4-7. 


Vermes.  167 

margins  of  this  fossa  show  a  slight  inward  convexity,  but  are 
not  specially  swollen,  whereas  the  longitudinal  margins,  which 
overhang  the  fossa,  are  in  fact  the  ventral  end  of  a  pair  of  large 
glandular  swellings  which  are  also  visible  from  the  dorsal  side, 
where  they  gradually  disappear  near  the  outermost  setoe  (d).  The 
whole  has  much  the  appearance  figured  by  Akira  Jizuka  for 
P.  matsushimensis.  The  male  openings  are  difficult  to  see,  lying 
in  the  fovea  at  the  base  of  the  ovex'hanging  walls,  approximately 
in  a  line  with  the  outer  ventral  seta  [h). 

A  deep  slit-like  sucker,  with  pale,  somewhat  raised  margins,  lies 
ventrally  on  the  intersegmental  furrow  between  segments  19  and 
20,  reaching  laterally  the  line  of  the  innermost  ventral  setas. 

The  oviducal  openings  are  two  minute  pores  on  the  anterior  part 
of  segment  14,  alaiost  in  a  line  (though  a  little  ventrad)  with  the 
innermost  ventral  setaj  («). 

The  spermathecal  pores  are  on  small  projecting  tubercles  between 
segments  7-8  and  8-9,  on  a  line  with  the  outer  ventral  sette  {h). 

There  are  no  dorsal  pores.  The  nephridio- pores  lie  at  the  level 
of  the  outer  ventral  setre,  but  I  could  not  determine  which  segment 
bears  the  first  of  them. 

Septa  o-H  to  8-9  inclusive  are  thin;  the  following,  9-10,  10-11, 
11-12,  and  also,  but  to  a  less  degree,  12-13,  are  thickened. 

A  gizzard  is  not  recognizable;  but  septum  6-7  is  more  deeply 
infundibulate  than  its  neighbours,  and  we  may  connect  this  with 
the  earlier  existence  of  a  gizzard  in  the  6th  segment.  There 
are  no  calciferous  glands;  the  intestine  begins  behind  the  18th 
segment,  perhaps  in  16  or  17. 

The  hearts  occupy  segments  11,  12,  13,  the  last  being  the 
largest. 

The  two  pairs  of  large  spermathecaj  belong  to  segments  8  and  9 ; 
each  spermatheca  consists  of  a  pyriform  pouch  not  distinctly 
marked  off  from  its  duct,  and  of  a  narrow  tubular  diverticule 
which  is  longer  than  the  main  pouch. 

The  broad  grape-like  ovaries  are  readily  seen  in  segment  13,  as 
well  as  the  testes  in  segments  10  and  11,  all  these  gonads  being 
attached  to  the  anterior  septum  on  each  side  of  the  neurochord. 
In  front  of  the  gonads,  that  is,  on  the  anterior  face  of  septa  10-11, 
11-12,  and  13-14,  the  funnels  of  both  pairs  of  vasa  deferentia  and 
of  the  oviduct  are  plainly  visible. 

The  small  sperm-sacs  in  segments  11  and  12  have  a  botryoidal 
appearance. 

The  prostates  occupy  segments  10,  17,  and  18,  and  recall  very 
nearly  those  of  P.  insularis  (Eosa).  Their  glandular  portion  has 
the  appearance  of  a  large  sausage  -  like  body,  formed  by  the 
apposition  of  the  several  parts  of  a  slightly  -  coiled  lesser  duct. 
The  muscular  duct  which  arises  from  the  front  end  of  the  glandular 
tube  is  moderately  bent,  with  the  convexity  inwards,  and  gradually 
increases  in  diameter  as  it  proceeds  backwards,  reaching  at  last  the 
external  openings  on  the  18th  segment. 


168 


Chridinas  Idaucl. 


I  could  not  see  exactly  where  the  vas  deferens  joins  the  prostate, 
but  I  have  little  doubt  that  the  connection  between  both  structures 
will  be  found  to  be  the  same  as  that  which  has  been  described  by 
Akira  Jizuka  for  P.  matsushimensis. 

Our  species  seems  to  be  closely  allied  to  P.  insularis  (Eosa), 
which  I  first  described  from  specimens  obtained  in  the  Aru 
Islands,^  and  which  has  been  more  recently  found  also  at  Ceylon 
(Michaelsen).'^  Still,  a  marked  diiference  between  the  two  species 
exists,  as  in  the  sperraathecse  of  P.  mstdarts  both  Michaelsen  and 
I  failed  to  find  any  diverticulum.  Our  specimens  were  not  fully 
mature,  but  on  the  hypothesis  of  an  identity  between  these  two 
species  it  seems  highly  improbable  that  even  in  a  series  of  sections 
no  traces  could  be  found  of  an  organ  which  in  the  adult  reaches  so 
great  a  development.  Moreover,  in  the  descriptions  of  P.  insularis 
no  mention  is  made  of  a  ventral  sucker. 

Another  allied  species  is  undoubtedly  P.  matsushimensis,  for 
a  clear  description  of  which  we  are  indebted  to  Akira  Jizuka.^ 
However,  this  Japanese  Pontodrilus  seems  to  be  really  different 
from  our  species. 

First,  it  is  a  larger  species  than  ours,  as  its  length  ranges  from 
90  to  110  mm.,  with  a  diameter  of  3-3*5  mm. ;  while  our  specimens, 
with  a  diameter,  too,  of  3  mm.,  have  only  a  length  of  43-47  mm. 
Besides,  it  may  be  noted  that  the  clitellum  of  P.  matsushimensis  is 
described  as  being  well  developed  all  round  the  body  (and  the  same 
is  shown  by  the  figures),  whilst  in  our  species  the  clitellum  is 
distinctly  saddle-shaped.  Finally,  the  appearance  of  the  prostate 
is  (so  far  as  one  can  judge  from  the  figures)  somewhat  different. 


2.   Perichaeta  brevis,  D.  Eosa  (1898).     (Figs.  3,  4.) 
D.  Eosa:  Ann.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  [7],  vol.  ii  (1898),  p.  283,  pi.  ii,  figs.  6,  7. 


c  o 


c  s 


TerichcEta  brevis,  D.  Eosa  (1898). 

Fig.  3.  Sperm-sacs  {vs.),  sperm-reservoirs  {cs.),  and  diverticulum  {cs.dh'.). 
,,     4.  Spermatheca. 


^  Ann.  d.  naturh.  Hofmuseum,  Wien,  Bd.  vi,  1895. 

*  Mitth.  aus.  d.  natm-bistor.  Museum,  xiv  (Hamburg,  1897). 

•''  Annotationes  Zoologicae  Japonenses,  vol.  ii,  pars  1  (Tokyo,  1898). 


Vermes.  169 

Hah. — Christmas  Island  (near  small  stream  on  east  coast). 

A  very  small  species,  measuring  only  15-20  mm.  in  length  by 
a  diameter  of  2-2"5  mm. ;  it  consists  of  about  70-80  segments  ;  the 
•colour  (in  spirit)  is  a  deep  yellow. 

The  setfe  on  segment  25  are  approximately  50. 

The  clitellum  occupies  somites  14,  15,  16. 

The  male  poi'cs  are  on  high  conical  and  almost  lateral  porophores, 
which  are  partially  visible  from  behind.  The  boundaries  of  these 
porophores  are  laterally  indistinct;  in  front  and  behind  they  are 
marked  by  the  intersegmental  furrows  17-18  and  18-19,  which 
are  here  deflected.  Fourteen  setfe  are  visible  between  the  male 
pores. 

The  oviducal  pore  is  single  and  lies  in  a  whitish  spot  on  the 
14th  segment. 

There  are  three  pairs  of  spermathecal  pores  between  somites  5-6, 
6-7,  and  7-8,  close  to  the  lateral  line. 

I  have  not  been  able  to  determine  the  position  of  the  first  dorsal 
pore.     There  are  no  copulatory  papillae. 

!None  of  the  septa  are  noticeably  thick  and  none  are  wanting. 

The  gizzard  is  between  conical  and  tun-shaped ;  it  is  as  long  as 
two  somites,  but  is  nevertheless  comprised  between  septa  7-8  and 
8-9 ;  this  last  septum  is  pushed  backwards  and  comes  nearly  in 
contact  with  septum  9-10. 

The  last  heart  lies  in  segment  13. 

The  spemiathecae  lie  in  segments  6,  7,  8  ;  each  consists  of 
a  nearly  globular  sac  with  a  short  narrow  duct,  which  is  connected 
at  the  inner  side  with  a  narrow  tubular  diverticulum ;  this  diverti- 
culum is  straight,  not  enlarged  at  the  end,  and  extends  a  little  over 
the  middle  of  the  large  sac. 

The  sperm  -  sacs  in  segments  1 1  and  1 2  are  each  connected 
with  a  minute  sperm-reservoir;  the  sperm-reservoirs  of  the  10th 
segment  are  laterally  produced  into  a  large  lobe,  which  looks 
exactly  like  another  pair  of  spenn-sacs,  but  it  should  be  mentioned 
that  the  true  sperm-sacs  lying  in  segment  10  prove  to  be  connected 
with  the  sperm-reservoirs  of  the  11th,  and  not  with  those  of  the 
10th  segment. 

The  prostates  extend  through  six  segments  ;  they  are  very 
irregular  in  shape  and  consist  of  many  lobules,  which  are  only 
loosely  connected ;  the  ejaculatory  duct  is  of  moderate  length, 
sigmoid,  and  does  not  open  into  a  muscular  bulb. 

This  species  somewhat  recalls  P.  acrophyla,  Eosa,  ^  from 
•Sumatra. 


*  Ann.  Mus.  Civ.  Geneva,  vol.  ivi,  1896. 


170  Christmas  Island. 

3.   Perichseta  posthuma,  Vaill. 

Vaillant:  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.,  1868,  p.  228. 

The  distribution  of  this  species,  according  to  Beddard,  is  Celebes,. 
Philippines,  India,  Bahamas. 

4.    Megascolex  armatus  (Bedd.). 

Ferichceta  armata,  Beddard:  Ann.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  [5],  vol.  xii  (1883),  p.  216. 
Megascolex  armatus,  Eosa :  Mus.  Civ.  Geneva,  vol.  vii  {2a),  1889,  p.  139. 

ffah. — Calcutta,  Burmah,  Labuan  (Borneo),  Seychelles,  Nias. 


i: 


BOTANY- 


DICOTYLEDONS. 


POLYPETAL^. 

B}-  EDMUjfD  G.  Bakee,  F.L.S.,  of  the  Botanical  Department. 

(PLATE   XVII.) 

MEXISPERMACE^. 
1.    Tiliacora  racemosa,  Colebr.,  forma. 
Bistrih. — India,  Ceylon,  Java. 

CAPPARIDE^. 

2.    Pedicellaria     pentaphylla,    Schrank     {Gynandr(q)sis    penfa- 

phylla,  DC). 

Settlement  jS^o.  84. 

Bistrib. — Widely  spread  in  tropics. 

PITTOSPORE^. 

3.    Pittosporum  nativitatis,  sp.nov.     (Plate  XYII.) 

Arbor  hiimilis.  Bamuli  divaricati  cortice  griseo.  Eolia  apices^ 
ramulorum  versus  snbverticillatim  disposita  ;  lamina  oblonga  vel 
oblongo-lanceolata  utrinque  glabra  in  petiohim  attenuata  apice 
acuta  penninervia  subcoriacea  modice  petiolata  margine  Integra 
vel  subintegra.  Inflorescentia  pro  genere  aliquantulum  insignis ; 
flores  ad  apices  ramulorum  subdense  capitati-congesti ;  pedicellis 
teretibus  brevibus.  Sepala  lanceolata  acuminata  petalis  breviora. 
Petala  oblanceolata  libera.  Ovarium  subsessile  ;  stylus  brevis,  sub- 
crassus  petalis  brevior,  stigmate  terminal!  coronatus.  Capsular 
subglobosaj  coriacea3  bivalves. 

Hah.  —  Christmas  Island  Plateau,  East  Coast.  I^o.  150.  In 
flower  andfi'uit;  March,  1897. 


172  Christmas  Island. 

Small  tree.  Branchlets  divaricate.  Leaves  generally  sub- 
verticillate  near  the  ends  of  the  branches  ;  lamina  oblong  or 
oblong  -  lanceolate,  subcoriaceous,  penninerved,  lateral  nerves 
arching,  sub  -  prominent  below,  glabrous,  margin  entire  or  sub- 
entire,  lamina  3-4  ins.  long,  often  about  an  inch  wide  at  the 
broadest  part,  petiole  i  -J  in.  long.  The  flowers  are  in  compact, 
many-flowered  heads  terminating  branches;  pedicels  short  terete; 
bracts  narrow.  Sepals  acuminate  about  two-thirds  the  length  of 
the  petals.  Petals  free,  oblong  or  oblanceolate,  i  3  lines  long, 
±  ^  line  broad,  somewhat  hooded  at  the  apex,  three-nerved. 
Stamens  five,  shorter  than  the  petals;  filaments  1  line  long  or  a 
little  longer ;  anthers  ±  -h  line  long.  Ovary  hairy  below,  gradually 
tapering  to  a  rather  stout  style  which  is  less  than  1  line  long, 
stigma  terminal  capitate.  Capsule  bivalved  or  sub-trivalved, 
valves  coriaceous ;  fruiting  peduncles  about  3  lines  long.  Seeds 
reddish-brown,  hardly  1  line  long. 

I!^oticeable  on  account  of  the  congested  character  of  the 
inflorescence. 


GUTTIFER^. 
4.    Ochrocarpus  ovalifolius,  T.  And. 


East  Coast. 

jS'ativc  name  :  Nyamplon  besar. 

Distrih. — Malaya,  Fiji. 


5.   Calophyllum  inophyllum,  Linn. 


No.  46. 

jS'ative  name  :  If yamplon. 

Bistrih. — Widely  spread  in  tropics. 


MALVACEAE. 

6.  Malvastrum  tricuspidatum,  A.  Gray. 

Also  in  the  herbarium  from  Cocos-Keeling  Island.    H.  0.  Forbes, 
1879.     No.  135. 

Listrib. — "Widely  spread  in  tropics. 

7.   Abutilon  auritum,  Sweet. 


Kocky  Point.     No.  8fl. 

Distrih. — Widely  spread  in  tropics. 


Dicotyledons.  173 


8.    Abutilou  listeri,  Baker  fil. 

Rocky  Point.     Flowers  July  and  August.      Previously  collected 
by  Mr.  J.  J.  Lister.     Xo.  8,  No.  9. 
Distrih. — Endemic . 


9.   Hibiscus  vitifolius,  Linn. 

Shore  terrace,  Nortb-East  Point.     No.  156. 
Distrih. — AYidely  spread  in  tropics. 


10.    Hibiscus  tiliaceus,  Linn. 

Nos.  49,  61,  122,  142. 
Native  name :  Waroo. 
Distrib. — A  common  seacoast  tree  in  most  tropical  countries. 


11.   Hibiscus  (Abelmoschus),  sp. 

Valley  on  west  coast.     Very  rare.     No.  58. 

This  may  be  IT.  vriesianus,  Hassk.,  in  Hoev.  and  De  Vriese 
Tijdschr.  (1838-39),  p.  263,  a  plant  which  I  only  know  from  the 
description. 


STEECULIACE^. 

12.    Kleinhovia  hospita,  Linn. 

No.  57. 

Native  name  :   Laban. 

Distrib. — Tropical  Asia. 

TILIACE.^. 

13.    Berria  ammonilla,  Roxb.,  forma. 

No.  6.  North  coast.  Nos.  72,  153.  Most  valuable  timber  tree 
on  island.  Has  been  called  "  Teak  "  in  previous  reports.  The  type 
is  figured  in  Roxburgh's  "  Plants  of  the  Coast  of  Coromandel,"  iii, 
t.  264  (1819).  Espera  cordi folia,  Willd.,  in  Ges.  Naturf.  Ereundc 
Neue  Schr.,  iii  (1801),  p.  449,  is  probably  an  earlier  name  for 
the  above. 

Native  name  :  Boognor. 

Distrib.  (type).  —  Tropical  Asia  (var.  rotimdifolia,  Bentham), 
Cumberland  Islands. 


374  Christmas  Islrtnd. 

14.   Grewia  laevigata,  Vahl. 

m.  106. 

]S^ative  name  :   Kayii  Wangie. 

Distrib. — Tropical  Africa,  India,  Malaya. 

15.   Grewia,  sp. 

l^ear  G.  oblong ifolia,  Blume,  but  fruit  is  required.     N"o.  12a. 

RUTACE^. 

16.   Acronychia  andrewsi,  sp.  nov. 

Arbuscula  cortice  griseo.  Folia  trifoliolata  ;  foliola  oblonga  vel 
oblanceolata  sessilia  vel  vix  ptitiolulata  petiole  longiora  e  basi 
acuta  apice  obtusa  vel  subemarginata  penninervia  cbartacea  glabra 
pellucido  -  punctata  subtus  pallidiora  costulis  patentibus  ante 
marginem  unitis  tenuibus  ;  petiolus  communis  canaliculatus. 
Paniculfe  axillares  sub  lente  puboe  adspersoe ;  bracteolse  circa  basin 
pedicellorum  breves  ovatte.  Pedunculi  quam  petioli  breviores. 
Calyx  brevis  lobis  ovatis.  Petala  sub  anthesi  reflexa  lanceolata 
apice  apiculata.  Filamenta  basi  ciliolata,  antberis  dorsifixis  ovatis 
brevibus.  Ovarium  4  -  loculare  globosum,  stylo  basin  versus 
albo-pubescente. 

Hab. — Christmas  Island.  Small  tree,  common,  especially  on  the 
sbore  terrace.     ]S^ative  name  :   Kayu  djerouk. 

Small  tree  with  grey  cortex.  Brancblets  towards  extremities 
pubescent.  Leaves  trifoliolate ;  leaflets  oblong  or  oblanceolate, 
chartaceous,  apex  obtuse,  base  cuneate,  lateral  leaflets  slightly 
smaller  than  central  leaflets  (reaching  2  ins.  long),  central  leaflets 
2  J-2t  ins.  long,  but  probably  longer  when  older ;  common  petiole 
rather  over  an  inch,  petiolules  scarcely  any.  The  flowers  are  borne 
below  the  leaves  in  short  axillary  panicles  (shorter  than  the 
common  petioles) ;  pedicels  pubescent.  Buds  oblong  -  cylindrical. 
Calyx  lobes  short.  Petals  lanceolate  i  I'o  lines  long.  Filaments 
ciliolate  near  the  base.  Ovary  4-locular,  style  pubescent,  stigma 
capitate. 

Allied  to  A.  trifoliolata,  Miq.,  A.  minahassce,  Miq.,  and 
A.  halmaheirce,  Miq. 

MELIACEJE. 

17.   Melia  azedarach,  Linn.  ? 

In  fruit.     ^0.  151. 

Native  name :  Wyudet. 

Species  uncertain  in  absence  of  flowers. 


Dicotyledons.  1 75" 


18.   Dysoxylum  amooroides,  Miquel. 


Tree  reaching  150-200  feet.     Xo. 
^Native  name  :  Pegou  utan. 
Distrib. — Java,  iN'ew  Guinea. 


CEL.iSTEK^EiE. 

19.   Celastrus  paniculatus,  "Willd. 

Small  tree.     Shore  cliff,  Eocky  Point.     iSTo.  26,  Xo.  75. 
Distrih. — India,  Malay  Archipelago,  Philippine  Is. 


20.   Colubrina  pedunculata,  sp.  nov. 

Arhor  humilis.  Eamuli  teretes  Iseves  apices  versus  pubescentes. 
Folia  membranacea  ovata  vel  ovato-lanceolata  acuminata  vel  sub- 
ticuminata  mucronata  basi  lato-cuneata  vel  rotundata  penninervia 
adultiora  superne  glabra  subtus  praDsertim  in  costa  venisque 
•strigoso-pubescentia  modice  petiolata  margine  Integra  vel  sub- 
undulata.  Flores  in  pedunculo  longiusculo  axillari  piloso  pedicel- 
lati.  Calyx  externe  pilis  inspersus ;  lacinioe  ovatte  intus  carinatae. 
Petala  5  disci  carnosi  pentagoni  planiusculi  ovario  adha^rentis 
margini  inserta,  oblonga  concava  quam  sepala  breviora.  Stylus 
erectus  trifidus;  lobis  obtusis  intus  stigmatosis.     Capsula  baud  visa. 

Hal. — Christmas  Island,  north  coast,  only  occurring  near  settle- 
ment.    In  flower  February,  1898. 

Easily  distinguished  from  C.  asiatica,  Brongn.,  and  C.  javanica, 
Miq.,  by  having  a  much  longer  peduncle. 

Small  tree.  Leaves  alternate  membranaceous,  ovate -acuminate 
or  subacuminate,  margin  entire  or  somewhat  undulate,  when  fully 
matured  glabrous  above  and  strigosc  pubescent  below,  especially 
•on  the  veins.  Lamina  3-4  ins.  long,  1^-2  ins.  broad  ;  petiole 
generally  about  i  in.  long. 

Flowers  in  axillary  cymes.  Peduncles  much  longer  than  in 
C.  asiatica,  Brongn.,  being  from  l\~\^  in.,  strigosely  hairy,  as  are 
also  the  pedicels.  Calyx  pubescent  externally,  lobes  ovate,  acute, 
with  internal  keel.  Petals  shorter  than  the  sepals,  nearly  1  line 
long,  rather  remote  from  each  other,  concave.  Stamens  about  same 
length  as  petals.  Style  erect,  stigmas  3.  Ovary  immersed  in  the 
disk  semi- inferior.     Fruit  not  seen. 

The  genus  Murcorella,  Necker,  Elem.,  ii,  p.  122  (1790),  has  been 
placed  by  Mr.  Jackson  in  the  Index  Kewensis  as  synonymous  with 
Coluhrina.  It  is  considerably  earlier,  but  I  have  seen  no  authentic 
material  of  this. 


176  Clivisbnas  Idand. 

AMPELIDEJE. 

21.  Cissus  repens,  Lam. 

Phosphate  Hill. 

Distrih. —  Tropical  Asia,  Queensland. 

22.  Cissus  pedata,  Lam. 

Kos.  59,  127. 

Distrtb. — India,  Ceylon,  Cochin  China,  Siam,  Java. 

23.   Leea  sambucina,  Willd. 

Native  name  :  Chelenka. 

Distrih. — India,  China,  Philippines,  North  Australia. 

Zeea  horrida,  Teysm.,  is  recorded  by  Mr.  H.  N.  Kidlcy. 

SAPINDACE^. 

24.    Allophylus  cobbe,  Blnme,  forma  glaber,  Hiern. 

No.  119. 

Distrib.  (type). — India,  Indian  Archipelago,  North  Australia,  etc» 

LEGIJMINOS^. 

25.   Erythrina  indica,  Lam.,  forma. 

Tree  on  north  coast,  common  in  places  (one  measured  1 8  feet  in 
circumference);  bark  smooth,  light  grey.     No.  62. 

Native  name  :  Dadup. 

This  plant  approaches  so  closely  in  structure  to  SJ.  indica,  Lam., 
that  I  think  it  must  be  considered  a  form  of  that  species.  The 
calyx  of  E.  indica  is  minutely  five-toothed  at  the  very  tip,  while 
the  Christmas  Island  plant  has  three,  or  sometimes  five,  bluntish 
callosities.  The  standard  is  about  2 ins.  long;  the  wings  and  keel 
are  subequal,  and  ±  1  in.  long. 

Distrib.  (type). — Sea-shores  of  South-East  Asia,  from  Sunderbuns. 
to  Malay  Archipelago  and  Polynesia. 

26.  Strongylodon  ruber,  Yogel. 

Common  near  sea.     No.  101. 
Distrih. — Ceylon,  Polynesia. 

27.  Galactia  tenuiflora,  AV.  &  A. 

Eocky  Point.     No.  4. 

Distrih. — India,  Siam,  Malaya,  Australia,  and  East  Tropical 
Africa. 


Dicotyledons.  177 


28.  Canavalia  ensiformis,  DC. 

Shore.     JSTo.  132. 

Distrib. — Widely  spread  in  tropics. 

29.  Phaseolus  lunatus,  Linn. 
No.  93. 

Distrib. — An  American  species  now  widely  spread  in  Old  "World. 

30.   Cajanus  indicus,  Spr. 
m.  100. 
Distrib. — Cultivated  widely  in  tropics. 

31.  Pongamia  glabra,  Vent. 

Forest  tree,  hard  wood.     l^To.  31. 
Native  name  :  Kayu  kwat. 

Distrib.— On  all  coasts  from  Mascarene  Islands  to  Malaya,  North 
Australia,  "West  Polynesia. 

32.  Inocarpus  edulis,  Porst. 

Tall  forest  tree,  common  everywhere.     No.  28. 
Native  name :  Gatet. 
Distrib. — Malaya,  Polynesia. 

33.   Guilandina  bonducella,  Linn. 

Distrib. — Widely  spread  in  tropics. 

34.   Cassia  siamea.  Lam. 

Small  tree,  flowering  in  January,  near  coast.      Probably  intro- 
duced.    No.  103. 

Distrib. — India,  Indo-China,  Malay  Archipelago. 

35.  Entada  scandens,  Benth. 

East  coast. 

Distrib. — Widely  distributed  in  the  tropics. 

COMBEETACE^. 

36.  Terminalia  catappa,  Linn. 

Large  tree.     No.  23. 

Native  name :  Katapan. 

Distrib. — Widely  spread  in  tropics. 

N 


178  Christmas  Island. 


37.   Combretum  acuminatum,  Eoxb. 

East  coast;  August.     Climber.     Xo.  41. 
Distrih. — India,  Malaya  to  Philippines. 


38.  Gyrocarpus  asiaticus,  TVilld. 

Flowering  specimens.  Also  fruit  specimens.  Common  near  sea. 
Seedlings  soon  occur  in  great  numbers  when  clearings  are  made. 
No.  140. 

Native  name  :  Buab  ba-siap. 

Probably  synonymous  with  G.  americanus,  Jacq.,  Select.  Amer., 
p.  282,  t.  178  (1763).  Comes  into  leaf  January,  flowering  about 
April,  As  soon  as  fruit  is  ripe  leaves  fall,  and  tree  is  bare  from 
June  to  December. 

Distrih. — Widely  spread  in  tropics. 


39.   ftuisqualis  indica,  Linn. 

Distrib. — India,    Malaya,    China,    Philippine    Islands,    Tropical 
Africa. 


MYRTACE^. 

40.  Eugenia,  sp. 

Large  forest  tree.     Flowers  March,  April.     No.  162. 
Native  name :  Gowok. 

This  plant  requires  comparison  with  some  of  the  Miquelian  types 
contained  in  the  Dutch  Herbaria. 


41.   Barringtonia  racemosa,  Blume. 

Nos.  13,  27,  38.     Also  spirit  specimens. 
Native  name  :  Jamboe  passagi. 
One  of  largest  and  commonest  forest  trees. 
Distrib.— MalajSL,  Polynesia. 


LYTHRACE^. 

42.   Pemphis  acidula,  Forst, 

Forming  clumps  on  sea  cliffs.     Nos.  65,  116.     Also  in  herbarium 
from  Cocos-Keeling  Island.     H.  0.  Forbes. 
Native  name  :  Kayu  burung. 
Distrib. — Tropical  coasts  of  the  Old  "World. 


Dicotyledons,  179 


CTTCURBITACEiE. 

43.  Momordica  charantia,  Linn. 

Nos.  47,  95,  80. 

Bistrih. — India,  ilalaya,  China,  Tropical  Africa. 

44.  Melothria  mucronata,  Cogn. 

Nos.  2,  59,  67,  70. 

Bistrih, — India,  Malaya,  Philippine  Islands. 

45.   Melothria,  sp. 

Trailing  on  rocks,  east  coast.     No,  113. 

AEALIACE^. 

46.   Heptapleurum  ellipticum,  Seem.  (?). 

Climbing  on  trees.     Common.     lS,o.  15. 

The  above  species  was  recorded  by  Mr,  Ridley  for  Christmas 
Island.  Our  specimens  are  in  flower  only,  and  fruit  is  required 
for  confirmation  of  this. 


GAMOPETAL.^. 

By  Edmund  G.  Bakeh,  F.L.S.,  of  the  Botanical  Department. 

EUBIACE^. 

47.  Randia  densiflora,  Benth.,  laxior,  var.  nov, 

Cymse  quam  typi  ece  laxiores,  sed  pedunculis  pedicellisque 
longioribus.  Flores  majores.  Calyx  externe  giaber  dentibus 
brevibus.  Corollfe  tubus  ±  2  lin.  longus,  ut  in  specimine  typico 
interne  hirsutus ;  lobis  4-4 '5  lin.  longis,  antheros  ±  4  lin.  longse. 

Sab. — Common  everywhere.     No.  5. 

Native  name  :  Coppee  utan. 

In  the  type  the  corolla  tube  is  scarcely  above  1  line  long  and  the 
lobes  2 '5-3  lines.     The  anthers  are  about  2  lines  long. 

Bistrih,  (type). — India,  Hongkong,  Malay  Archipelago,  North 
Australia. 


180  Christmas  Island. 

48.  Guettarda  speciosa,  Linn. 

Large  forest  tree ;  common.  East  toast.  Sweet-scented  flower. 
No.  40. 

Native  name :  Mclati. 

Listrib. — Tropical  shores  of  Old  and  Now  World. 

49.  Morinda  citrifolia,  Linn, 

Small  tree  in  Flying  Fish  Cove.     No.  78, 

Native  name  :  Mungkoodoo. 

Seems  somewhat  diifenuit  from  nsual  form  of  this  plant,  leaves 
being  narrower  and  Howers  occasionally  four-merous,  but  agrees 
with  a  specimen  so  named  in  Herb.  Banks,  from  Endeavour  lliver, 
New  Soutli  Wales. 

JDistril).  (type).  —  India,  Malay  Archipelago,  Australia,  Pacific 
Islands. 

60.   Saprosma  nativitatis,  sp.  nov, 

Frutex.  Eamxili  adultiores  ghibriusculi,  juniores  rufo-pubescentes. 
Stipule  interpetiolarcs  opposistsD  membranacea3  biciispidatro  de- 
cidual. Folia  disticha  e  basi  acuta  oblonga  vol  oblougo-lanceolata 
vel  oblaucoolata  apice  siibacnta,  brcviter  pctiolata  mcmbranacea 
subtus  pallidiora  supra  glabra,  subtus  oostulis  utrin(jue  ll-13valde 
patcntibus  ante  marginem  arcuatis  et  unitis  cum  costa  i)rima  brcviter 
rufo-liirsutis.  Flores  axillarcs  sessiles,  Calycis  lobi  ovati  quam 
corollas  tubus  ±  dimidio  broviores,  persistcntes.  Corolla  infundi- 
bularis  fauce  villosa  lobis  4  oblongis  vel  oblongo-ovatis.  Stamina 
fauci  corolla)  inserta ;  filamentis  pro  gcncre  Mli([uantulum  longis. 
Ovarium  2-loculare  ;  stylus  filiformis  ramis  2  rccur\atis.  Scmina 
plano-convexa. 

JIah. — Christmas  Ish-vnd.     Above  Cove.     No.  79. 

Small  slirub  with  dark  cortex,  the  younger  brauchlcts  covered 
with  dark  rufescont  pubescence,  the  older  branches  glabrous  or 
sub-glabi'ous.  Leaves  oblong,  or  oblong  lanceolate,  or  oblanceolate, 
lamimi  often  about  1.^,  iif.  long  and  5-7  lines  bi'oad  at  the  Avidest 
part,  petiole  short  (1^-2^-  lines  long),  pcnniucrved,  lateral  nerves 
11-13  arching  and  uniting  before  the  margin,  which  is  entire. 

Fh)Avers  axillary,  sessile,  tetramcrous.  Calyx  lobes  reaching  about 
half  the  length  of  the  corolla  tube.  Corolla  infuudibuliform,  lobes 
oblong  or  oblong  ovate,  tube  about  1  line  long.  Anthers  borne  on 
filaments  which  arc  longer  than  is  usual  in  this  genus.  Ovary 
two-celled  ;  fruiting  calyx  persistent. 

COMPOSlTiE. 

61.   Ageratum  conyzoides,  Cass. 

Common  on  .shore  cliff.     No.  48. 
Bistril. — All  hot  countries. 


Dicotyledons.  181 


52.   Blumea  spectabilis,  DC, 

Common  on  open  spaces  where  trees  have  fallen.     East  coast. 
"So.  44. 

Didrib. — India,  Ceylon. 

53.   Wedelia  biflora,  DC. 

Above  East  Coast  Waterfall,  near  sea.     No.  56. 
Distrib. — Tropical  shores  of  Eastern  Asia. 

54.    Synedrella  nodiflora,  Gartn. 

Common  on  shore  cliff,  near  Flying  Fish  Cove.     Xo.  52. 
Distrib. — India,  Andaman  Islands,  Tropical  America. 


GOODENOVIE^. 
55.   Scaevola  koenigii,  Vahl. 

On  sea  cliffs;  common  near  Flying  Fish  Cove.     Xo.  17. 

Native  name  :  Kembang  sabla. 

Distrib. — Tropical  East  Asia,  Australia,  Polynesia. 

MYRSINEJE. 

56.   Ardisia  complanata,  Wall. 

New  South-East  Eoad  Plateau.     Shrub  6-8  feet.     No.  1. 

<' Small  tree."     No.  14. 

Distrib. — Penang,  Malay  Peninsula,  .Java. 

SAPOTACE^. 
57.    Sideroxylon  sundaicum,  Burck.,  ex  descript. 

Tall  tree ;  common  everywhere.    Fruit  eatable.    Nos.  29  and  73. 
Native  name  :  Saoh. 
Distrib. — Sunda  Islands. 

OLEACE^. 

58.    Jasminum  sambac,  Aiton. 

Flowers  rather  larger  than  usual. 
Distrib. — India,  Java,  Moluccas. 


182  Christmas  Island. 

APOCYNACE^. 

59.   Cerbera  odollam,  Gcertn.,  forma. 

Small  tree,  Rocky  Point.     iN'o.  104. 

This  plant,  as  figured  by  Rheede  in  the  Hort.  Mai.,  i,  p.  71, 
t.  39,  has  long  lanceolate  or  oblanceolate  leaves.  In  the  Christmas 
Island  plant  the  leaves  are  broader  and  shorter. 

Bistrih.  (type). — India,  Malay  Archipelago,  China,  Australia, 
Pacific  Islands. 

60.   Ochrosia  ackeringae,  Miquel,  angustifolia,  var.  nov. 

Folia  quam  ea  typi  longiora  et  angustiora.  Drupae  2  basi 
connatce  divaricatse  conicas  1^  poll,  longoe. 

Forest  tree.     Timber  used  for  building.     IS'o.  35. 
Native  name  :  Gundra  roussa. 
Distril. — Banka  Islands. 

ASCLEPIADACEJE. 

61.  Hoya  aldricMi,  Hemsley. 

Everywhere  on  trees  and  rocks  ;  flowers  !N'ovember-January. 
No.  105.  Mr.  AY.  B.  Hemsley  briefly  diagnoses  this  species  ia 
Joum.  Linn.  Soc,  xxv,  p.  355.  For  an  amplified  description  see 
Mr.  W.  P.  Hiem  in  Journ.  Bot.,  1898,  p.  417. 

Native  name  :  Kembang  jiwa. 

Di'strib. — Endemic. 

BORAGINE^. 

62.   Tournefortia  argentea,  Linn.  fil. 

Common  on  sea  clifi's.     No.  137. 

Bistrih. — Ceylon,  Australia,  Malaya,  Mauritius. 

63.  Cordia  subcordata.  Lam. 

Near  sea  only.     Yery  hard  wood.     No.  45. 
Native  name :  Grongan. 

Bistrih. — South-East  Asia  to  Australia  and  Sandwich  Islands, 
Tropical  Africa. 

64.  Ehretia  buxifolia,  Roxb. 

Small  shrub,  common  on  the  higher  parts  of  the  island,  where  it 
forms  the  worst  of  the  undergrowth.  The  leaves  are  rather  larger 
than  usual.     No.  68. 

Bistrih. — Deccan  Peninsula,  Malaya  to  Formosa  and  Philippines. 


Dicotyledons.  18.3 


CONVOLYULACE^. 

65.  Ipomoea  pes-caprae,  Eoth. 

This  common  plant  of  tropical  sea-shores  was  recorded  by 
Mr.  Eidley  from  the  island,  but  is  not  in  the  present  collection. 

66.   Ipomoea  (Calonyction)  grandiflora,  Lamk.,  forma. 

Climbing  on  trees,  north  coast.     Flowering  in  April. 

This  plant  approaches  very  closely  to  /.  lungijiora,  R.  Br.,  the 
type  of  which  is  in  the  British  Museum  (Natural  History) 
Herbarium.  The  leaves  and  sepals  are  similar,  but  the  peduncles 
are  longer.  Robert  Brown's  plant  came  from  the  Gulf  of 
Carpentaria,  and  Mr.  C.  B.  Clarke,  in  Fl.  Brit.  India,  iv,  p.  198, 
unites  it  with  /.  grandiflora,  Lamk. 

Distrib.  (of  I.  grandijiora,  Lamk.). — Widely  spread  in  tropics. 

67.   Ipomoea  peltata,  Choisy, 

Creeper  forming  dense  masses  over  low  trees,  middle  of  island. 
Distrib. — Malaya,  Madagascar,  Fiji. 

63.   Ipomoea  digitata,  Linn. 
Distrib. — Widely  spread  in  tropical  countries. 

69.   Convolvulus  parviflorus,  Vahl. 

Trailing  herb.  White  Beach  at  Settlement  No.  33. 
Distrib. — Widely  spread  in  tropics  of  Old  World. 


SOLANACE^. 

70.    Solanum  biflorum,  Loureiro. 

Middle  of  island. 

Native  name  :  Lombok  utan. 

Distrib. — Singapore,  Malaya,  East  Ava. 

71.   Solanum  ferox,  Linn. 

Top  of  first  inland  cliff.     No.  74. 

On  road  above  Flying  Fish  Cove.     No.  97. 

Phosphate  Hill  Eoad.     No.  99. 

Native  name  :  Terong  glatet. 

Distrib. — India,  Java. 

72.   Physalis  minima,  Linn. 

Phosphate  Hill.     No.  160. 

Distrib. — Tropical  Asia,  Africa,  AustraKa. 


184  Christmas  Island. 


73.   Datura  alba,  I^ees. 

On  all  coasts.     I^o.  117. 

This  species  in  the  Flora  of  British  India  is  considered  a  variety 
oVD.  fastuosa,  Linn. 
Distril. — India. 

ACAIs^THACE^. 

74.   Ruellia  prostrata,  Lamk.,  var.  dejecta,  C.  B.  Clarke. 

Bipter acanthus  dejectus,  !N^ees. 

Common  in  Flying  Fish  Cove.     Ko.  96. 
Bistrih. — East  Africa,  India,  Ceylon. 

75.   Asystasia  coromandeliana,  ITees,  forma. 

Top  of  inland  cliff,  Steep  Point.  In  flower  April  5th,  1898. 
No.  154. 

Leaves  mnch  larger  than  type,  reaching  5^  ins.  long  at  base, 
gradually  narrowing  to  petiole. 

Distrib.  (type). — India,  Malaya,  Africa,  Arabia. 

76.   Dicliptera  maclearii,  Hemsley. 

Common  on  shore  platform.     IS'os,  20  and  22. 
Distrih. — Endemic. 


YERBENACEJE. 

77.   Stachytarpheta  indica,  Yahl. 

Settlement,  Flying  Fish  Cove.     No.  29. 
Distrib. — Tropical  Asia  and  America. 

78.   Callicarpa  longifolia,  Lamk. 

Small  tree.  East  coast,  shore  cliff,  and  near  Flying  Fish  Cove. 
No.  39. 

Native  name  :  Chendana. 

Distrib. — India,  West  Malaya  to  North  Australia. 

79.   Tectona  grandis,  Linn.  fil. 

This  tree  is  recorded  by  Mr.  Hemsley  for  the  island,  but  it  is 
not  in  present  collection.  The  so-called  Teak  of  the  island  is 
Berria. 

[I  believe  that  this  record  is  due  to  a  mistake,  and  that  Tectona 
grandis  does  not  occur  in  the  island. — C.  W.  A.J 


.   Dicotyledons.  185 


80.  Premna  lucidula,  Miq. 

Small  tree.     First  inland  cliff.     No.  103. 
J^ative  name  :  Kayu  durie. 
Distrib. — Java. 

LABIATE. 

81.  Anisomeles  ovata,  R.  Br. 

Common  on  shore  platform.     ~^o.  18. 
Common  on  shore  cliff.     No.  34. 
Distrih. — India,  Malaya,  China. 

82.   Leucas  javanica,  Benth.,  forma. 

Shore  above  the  Cove ;  common.     No.  3. 
Shore  cliff,  in  clearings.     No.  124. 

The  calyx  is  smaller  and  teeth  shorter  than  in  Horsfield's  Java 
specimens  of  this  plant. 

Some  forms  of  Z.  moUissima,  Benth.,  seem  closely  allied  to  above. 
Distrib.  (type). — Java,  Philippine  Islands. 


APETAL^. 

By  A.  B.  Rendle,  M.A.,  D.Sc,  P.L.S., 
Of  the  Botanical  Department. 

NYCTAGINEJE. 

83.   Boerhaavia  diffusa,  L.,  var.  pubescens,  Choisy. 

Shore  cliff,  near  Plying  Pish  Cove.  No.  51.  Common  near 
the  sea;  November.  No.  101.  On  shore  cliff:  January,  1898. 
No.  123. 

Distrib. — Tropics  generally. 

84.   Pisonia  grandis,  R.  Br. 

Large  tree  near  sea;  August  to  September.     No.  19. 

Native  name :  Ampol. 

Distrib. — North  Australia,  Polynesia. 

85.  P.  excelsa,  Bl. 

A  tree,  common  everyvs^here,  especially  in  middle  of  plateau. 
No.  96.     Plying  Pish  Cove  ;  April,  1898.     No.  159. 

Native  name  :  Jamboe.  ♦ 

Distrib. — Malay  Islands. 


186  Christmas  Island. 


AMAEANTACE^. 

86.   Deeringia  celosioides,  E.  Br. 

Everywliere  near  cliffs.      Plowering  in  August.     Elowers  red. 
No.  22.     East  coast;  first  inland  cliff.     No.  114. 
Distrth. — India,  Malaya,  Australia. 

87.   Celosia  argentea,  L. 

Elying  Eish  Cove;   introduced.     No.  21.     Elying  Fish  Cove; 
common;  December.     No.  77. 
Native  name  :  Buntoot  kuching. 
Distrib. — Tropical  Asia  and  Africa. 

88.  Achyranthes  aspera,  L. 

Eocky  point,   shore  cliffs ;    common.     Three  to  four  feet  high. 
No.  11. 

Distrib. — Tropics. 


PIPEEACE^. 

89.   Peperomia  laevifolia,  Miq. 

Centre  of  island  ;  on  fallen  trees ;  Eebruary,  1898.     No.  145. 
Distrib. — Jaiva. 

90.   P.  rossi,  Eendle,  sp.  nov. 

Herba  parva,  carnosula,  repens,  glabra,  foliis  oppositis,  breviter 
petiolatis,  ellipticis,  obtusis,  obscure  triplinerviis,  frequentissime 
et  minute  atro-punctulatis ;  spicis  tenninalibus,  crassis,  densifloris, 
folia  duplo  excedentibus ;  bracteolis  rotundatis,  peltatis ;  ovario 
obtrudente,  rotunde-obovoideo,  stigmata  parvo,  punctiformi,  sub 
apice  lateraliter  inserto ;  fructu  brunneo,  valde  exserto,  subgloboso, 
apiculato,  pericaipio  punctato. 

Shoots  3  to  4  ins.  long  by  about  1^  line  greatest  thickness; 
leaves  f  to  1-^  ins.  long  by  4  to  7  lines  broad,  on  petioles  2  to  3  lines 
long.  Spikes  reaching  barely  2  ins.  long  by  1  line  thick ;  peduncles 
less  than  -^  in.  Bracteoles  about  ^  line  in  diameter,  punctulate 
like  the  leaves.  Fruit  f  line  long,  pericarp  scarcely  fleshy,  covered 
with  numerous  small  roundish  warts. 

The  measurements  in  the  above  description  are  taken  from  a 
moistened  specimen ;  the  plants  shrink  considerably  on  drying. 

Near-  the  Polynesian  P.  insularum,  Miq.,  but  distinguished  by 
its  fleshy  habit  and  elliptical  leaves. 


Dicotyledons.  187 


LAUEINE^. 

91.    Cryptocarya  nativitatis,  Rendle,  sp.  nov. 

Arbor  ramulis  ferrugine  -  tomentellis,  foliis  breviter  petiolatie, 
coriaceis,  ovatis  vel  oblongo  -  ovatis,  interdum  lanceolatis  vel 
oblongo  -  lanceolatis,  apice  acuminatis,  uninerviis,  supra  glaucis, 
impresso-costatis,  et  manifeste  reticulatis,  subtus  glabris  cum  venis 
prominentibus  et  dense  prominulo-reticulatis  ;  paniculis  floribundis, 
rbacbi  ferrugine,  ramulis  et  floribus  subfulve-tomentellis,  floribus 
subsessilibus,  sesquilineis. 

Leaves  4  to  6  ins.  long  by  li  to  2f  ins.  broad,  with  4  to  6 
upwardly  curving  main  lateral  veins ;  ultimate  meshes  of  reticu- 
lation small,  but  well  marked ;  petioles  J  to  -^  in.  long.  Terminal 
panicles  spreading,  reaching  3  ins.  long  by  3^  ins.  broad,  branches 
2  ins.  longer  less.  Perianth  -  segments  oblong -spathulate,  blunt, 
1  to  li  line  long;  fertile  stamens  9,  anthers  bilocular,  the  3  inner 
extrorse,  with  a  pair  of  shortly-stalked  roundly  cordate  anther-like 
glands  scarcely  f  line  long,  the  3  staminodes  (fourth  staminal 
whorl)  subsessile,  triangular-ovate,  acute,  base  cordate,  apex  hairy, 
i  line  long.     Fruit  shortly  ellipsoidal,  about  f  in.  long. 

Approaches  the  North  Australian  B.  Cunninghamii,  Meissn.,  but 
is  distinguished  by  its  larger  flowers  and  ovate  leaves. 

Phosphate  Hill ;  April  25,  1898^.     ISTo.  158. 

Native  name  :  Jamboo  boolut. 

92.   Hernandia  peltata,  Meissn. 

Large  tree  ;  common.     jSTo.  146. 

Native  name  :  Commendor. 

Didrih. — India,  Malaya,  Polynesia. 

Probably  the  Hernandia  ovigera,  L.,  of  Hemsley's  list. 


EUPHORBIACE^. 

93.  Euphorbia  hypericifolia,  L. 

Common  on  the  shore  and  cliff.     Nos.  10,  60. 
Distrib. — Tropics. 

94.   E.  pilulifera,  L. 

Shore   cliff  and  terrace,  Flying  Fish  Cove ;    common.     No.  54- 
Coffee  garden  ;  common.     No.  51. 
Bistrih. — Tropics  and  subtropics. 

95.  Phyllanthus  niruri,  L. 
Distrib. — Tropics. 


188  Cliridmas  Island. 

96.  Jatropha  curcas,  L. 

Distrih. — Tropics  generally, 

97.   Croton  caudatus,  Geisel. 

Shore  terrace,  near  ISTortli-East  Point ;  December,  1897.    No.  107. 
A  single  specimen,  containing  unopened  male  flowers. 
Distrih. — India,  Malaya. 

98.    Claoxylon  rubescens,  Miq. 

Eocky  Point;  December,  1897.  No.  112.  North  coast, 
February;  plateau,  March,  1898.  Small  tree,  first  inland  cliff. 
No.  53. 

Native  names :  Chundana,  Kayu  on  jay. 

Distrih. — Malay  Islands  to  Polynesia. 

99.   Acalypha  wightiana,  Muell.  Arg. 

North-East  Point ;  April,  1898.     No.  1-57. 
Distrih. — India,  Java. 

100.   Cleidion  J  avanieum,  Bl. 

Small  tree,  east  coast,  first  inland  cliff;  August,  1897.     No.  37. 
Distrih. — India,  Malaya. 

101.   Macaranga  tanarius,  Muell.  Arg. 

Tall  tree ;  common  everywhere.  No.  64.  Flying  Fish  Cove ; 
February,  1898. 

Native  name  :  Kayu  merah. 
Distrih. — Malayan  islands. 

TJRTICACE^. 

102.   Celtis  cinnamomea,  Lindl. 

Large  tree,  common  everywhere.  In  fruit,  February,  1898. 
Stinking  wood.     No.  63. 

Native  name  :  Kayu  boussouk. 
Distrih. — India,  Malaya. 

103.   Sponia  amboinensis,  Decaisn. 

Small  tree.  Coffee  Garden;  October,  1897.     No.  32. 
Distrih. — Tropical  Asia,  Australia,  Polynesia. 


Dicotyledons.  189 


104.  Ficus  retusa,  L. 

Common  everywhere ;  January,  1898.     No.  120. 

Native  name :  Waringin. 

Distrib. — India,  Malaya  to  Australia. 

105.   F.  saxopMla,  BL,  vel  aff. 
Distrib . — Java,  Timor. 

106.   Cudrania  javanensis,  Trecul. 

Thorny  creeper.  Plateau  near  south-east  road;  August,  1897. 
No.  11. 

Distrib. — Old  World  tropics. 

107.    Fleurya  ruderalis,  Gaud. 

No.  134. 

Native  name :  Pulus. 

Distrib. — Malay  Archipelago,  Polynesia. 

108.   Laportea  crenulata,  Gaud. 

No.  133. 

Native  name :  Pulus. 

Distrib. — India,  Malaya. 

109.    L.  murrayana,  Eendle,  sp.  nov. 

Arbor  dioica  (?),  ramulis  crassis,  glabris,  f oliis  petiolatis,  paulo  supra 
hasin  rotundatam  peltatis,  late  ovatis,  acutis,  glabratis,  venis  subtus 
sparse  stimuloso  -  pilosis  exceptis,  marginibus  leviter  undulatis, 
siccis  atro  -  viridibus  et  membranaceis  ;  inflorescentibus  f cemineis 
axillaribus  petiolos  subcequantibus,  pedunculis  compressis  vix  alatis, 
cum  ramis  ramulisque  sparse  stimuloso -retrorso-hispidis,  floribus 
capitatis ;  perianthii  segmentis  4  insequalibus,  plus  minus  ovatis 
vel  ellipticis,  acuminatis,  dorso  puberulis  ;  achsenio  discoideo, 
glabro,  cum  stigmate  subulato  terminato. 

Leaves  3^  to  7i  ins.  long  by  2  J  to  4^  ins.  broad,  petioles  2  to  3  ins. 
attached  about  ^  in.  above  the  base  of  the  leaf,  lateral  veins  about 
six  each  side,  subprominent  below,  curving  and  anastomosing 
below  the  margin,  united  by  regular  scalariform  secondary  veins ; 
reticulations  minute,  obvious  ;  cystoliths  numerous,  evident ; 
stipules  bluntly  ovate,  sparsely  hispidulous.  Inflorescence  to  2f  ins. 
long,  lateral  branches  IJ  in.  and  less;  branchlets  subterete;  florets 
sessile.  Perianth-segments  brown,  l  line  or  less ;  stigmas  long, 
ferruginously  hairy;  achenes  f  line  in  diameter.  Male  flowers 
absent. 


190  Christmas  Island. 

Apparently  near  the  Javanese  Z.  laxiflora,  Wedd.  (from  the 
description  in  DC.  Prodr.,  xvi,  i,  81),  which,  however,  has  leaves 
puhescent  beneath,  and  the  female  inflorescence  larger  than  the 
petioles. 

Flying  Fish  Cove.  A  tree ;  leaves  stinging  severely.  February, 
1898.     No.  147. 

JSTative  name :  Jelaton. 

110.   Procris  pedunculata,  Wedd. 

A  shrub  trailing  over  rocks.  First  inland  cliff,  No.  76.  Near 
Flying  Fish  Cove,  No.  91. 

Distrib. — Malay  Islands,  Polynesia,  Mascarene  Islands. 

111.   Boehmeria  platyphylla,  Don. 

Small  tree,  common  everywhere.     Stinging  leaves  ;  wood  very 
soft;  in  flower  all  the  year.     Nos.  18,  60. 
Native  name  :  Pulus  scrobbo. 
Distrib. — India,  Malaya,  to  China  and  Japan  ;  Polynesia. 


MONOCOTYLEDONS. 

By  A.  B.  Eendle,  M.A.,  D.Sc,  F.L.S., 

Of  the  Botanical  Department. 

(PLATE    XVIII.) 

OPtCHIDE^. 

1.   Dendrohium  crumenatum,  Sw. 

Common  everywhere  on  trees.     No  110. 
Distrib. — Malaya. 

2.   D.  macrsei,  Lindl. 

The  flowers  are  smaller  than  usual  in  the  species,  but  I  do  not 
think  the  Christmas  Island  plant  is  specifically  distinct. 
Distrib. — India,  Java. 

3.   Phreatia  listeri,  Rolfe. 
Distrib. — Endemic. 

4.  P.  congesta,  Eolfe. 

Distrib. — Endemic.     A  small  orchid  not  found  in  the  present 
collection. 


Monocotyledons.  191 


5.   Saccolabium  archytas,  Ridl. 

Boritis,  sp.n.  (?),  Rolfe  in  Hemsley's  list. 

February,  1898.     On  trees  everywhere.     No.  144. 

This  is  obviously  the  plant  of  which  fruiting  specimens  only 
were  collected,  tentatively  referred  by  Mr.  Eolfe  to  Doritis  in 
Mr.  Hemsley's  list. 

Distrib. — Endemic. 


6.   Sarcochilus  carinatifolius,  Ridl. 

On  trees  everywhere.     'No.  143. 

Flowering  and  fruiting  specimens.  Fruit  just  before  dehiscence 
a  little  over  2  ins.  long,  tapering  regularly  from  If  line  diameter  at 
the  apex  ;  lobes  of  dehisced  capsule  of  ins.  long. 

Distrib. — Endemic. 


7.   Corymbis  veratrifolia,  Eeichenb.  fil. 

February,  1898.     Common  on  higher  parts  of  the  island. 
Distrib. — India,  Malaya. 

AMARYLLIDACE^. 

8.  Crinum  asiaticum,  L. 

On  cliff,  North- East  Point ;  March,  1898.     No.  142. 
Distrib. — Tropical  Asia  to  Japan  and  North  Australia. 

PALM^. 

9.  Arenga  listeri,  Becc. 

Didymosperma,  sp.  of  Hemsley's  list. 

Common  everywhere  ;  flowering  at  all  times.     No.  109.      Some- 
times attains  a  height  of  70  feet  and  a  diameter  of  13  inches. 
Native  name :  Areng. 
Distrib. — Endemic. 

PANDANACE^. 

10.    Pandanus,    sp. 

Male  spikes  and  leaves  only.  Apparently  allied  to  the  common 
Indo-Malayan  P.  ocloratissimus,  Linn.  fil. 

Mr.  Andrews  states  that  there  is  another  species  of  Pandanus  of 
which  he  was  unable  to  procure  flowers.    It  forms  trees  40  feet  high. 


192  Christmas  Island. 

AROIDE^. 

11.  Remusatift  vivipara,  Schott. 

Phosphate  Hill  Eoad.     ISTo.  115.     January,  1898. 
Distrib. — India,  Malaya. 

CYPERACEiE. 

12.  Fimbristylis  cymosa,  R.  Br. 

Distrib.  —  Malaya,  Australia,  Polynesia.  Not  found  in  the 
present  collection. 

GRAMIKE^. 
13.   Ischsemum  foliosum,  var.  leiophyllum.  Hack. 

Flying  Fish  Cove.     Common  everywhere  round  coast.     JN'o.  23. 

Distrib. — Endemic. 

This  is  the  /.  miiri7ium,  Forst.,  of  Hemsley's  list;  and  is  probably 
only  a  form  of  the  common  tropical  A  siatic  /.  ciliare,  Retz. 

I.  muticum,  L.,  cited  in  Mr.  Ridley's  list,  is  perhaps  a  mistake 
for  /.  murinmn,  Forst. 

14,   Ligitaria  sanguinalis,  Scop. 

Common  on  shore  cliffs.     No.  25  (in  part). 
Distrib.  — Universal. 

15.  Panicum  (Effusse)  andrewsi,  Rendle,  sp.  nov.   (Plate  XVIII.) 

Planta  minor  culmis  tenuibus,  basi  repentibus  tum  ascendentibus, 
usque  paniculam  foliatis ;  foliis  lanceolatis,  acutis  vel  acuminatis, 
basi  oblique  cordatis,  sparse  pilosis  ;  panicula  effusa,  glabra, 
ramis  solitariis,  tenuibus,  inferioribus  ascendentibus,  superioribus 
patentibus,  ramulis  filiformibus  ;  spiculis  longe  -  pedicellatis, 
ellipsoideis,  parvis,  glabris,  gluma  i*  quam  gl.  iii^  duplo  minore, 
ovata,  uninervia,  vel  obsolete  5-nervia ;  gl.  ii*  obovata,  obtusa, 
5-nervia ;  gl.  iii^  vix  gl.  \i^^  excedente,  late  elliptica,  obtusa, 
5-nervia,  paleam  sterilem  includente ;  gl.  fertili  coriacea,  levi, 
convexa,  elliptica,  5  -  nervia,  marginibus  paleam  subsequalem 
amplectante. 

Shoots  6-8  ins.  high,  internodes  short,  6-8  lines  long  by  barely 
\  line  or  less  in  diameter,  puberulous ;  sheaths  subequal,  striate, 
with  pilose  margins ;  ligule  very  narrow,  membranous ;  blades 
1-2  ins.  long,  5-7  lines  broad,  papery,   generally  seven-nerved ; 


-  Gymnosperms.  193 

margins  pilose  below,  becoming  glabrous  above.  Panicle  not  fully- 
developed,  3  ins.  long  by  If  broad ;  in  Timor  specimens  8  ins.  long 
by  4  ins.  broad.  Spikelets  f  line  long  ;  barren  glumes  membranous, 
green,  gl.  i  less  than  \  line  long ;  gl.  ii  barely  f  line  long,  very 
bluntly  apiculate,  lateral  nerves  as  in  gl.  iii  submarginal;  gl.  iii 
■§-  line,  with  an  empty  pale  a  little  more  tban  half  its  length; 
fertile  gl.  barely  -§-  line ;   grain  unripe. 

Resembles  P.  arhorescens,  L.  (P.  ovalifolium,  Poir,),  in  habit,  but 
differs  in  the  much  smaller  lowest  glume,  and  the  shape  and  size  of 
gls.  ii  and  iii. 

Sab. — Christmas  Island,  1897.  Also  collected  in  Timor  by 
"Wallace  and  Curtis  (in  Herb.  Kew). 

16.  Oplismenus  compositus,  Beauv. 

Coffee  Garden,  Plying  Pish  Cove,  and  everywhere.  Nos.  7,  128. 
No.  128  is  viviparous. 

Distrib. — Tropics  generally. 

17.  Eleusiue  indica,  L. 

Common  on  shore  cliffs.     No.  25  (in  part). 
JDistrib. — Old  "World  tropics. 

18.  Eragrostis  plumosa,  Link. 

Nos.  26,  138. 

Distrib. — Tropical  Asia  and  Africa. 


GYMNOSPERMS. 

By  A.  B.  Rendle,  M.A.,  D.Sc,  P.L.S., 
Of  the  Botanical  Department. 

CYCADE^. 

Cycas  circinalis,  L.,  var.  javana,  Miq. 

Flying  Fish  Cove,  beach. 

Grows  all  round  the  island;   most  plentiful  on  upper   terrace 
(350  feet)  at  west  end  of  south  coast. 
Native  name  :  Penawa  jambi. 
Distrib. — Java,  Sumatra,  Borneo. 


194  Christmas  Island. 

FERNS. 
By  A.  Gepp,  M.A.,  F.L.S,,  of  the  Botanical  Department. 

FILICIN^. 

1.  Trichomanes  parvulum,  Poiret. 

On  trees,  plateau;  Februaiy,  1898. 

Distrib. — East  Asia,  Malay  Archipelago,  Oceania,  Madagascar. 

2.  Davallia  solida,  Swartz. 

Common  in  forest,  entrees;  November,  1897.     No.  82. 
Disirib. — Malay  Peninsula,  Java,  Polynesia. 

3.  Davallia  dissecta,  J.  Sm. 

Common  on  cliffs.     No.  81. 
Distrib. — Java. 

4.  Davallia  speluncae,  Baker. 

One  frond. 

Distrib. — Tropics  and  sub -tropics. 

5.   Asplenium  nidus,  L. 

May,  1898. 

Distrib. — Tropics  and  sub-tropics  of  the  Old  World. 

6.   Asplenium  falcatum.  Lam. 

Common  on  trees ;  October,  1897.     Nos.  83,  112. 
Distrib.  —  Polynesia,    Australasia,    Malay    Archipelago,    India, 
Africa. 

7.   Asplenium  centrifugale,  Baker :  in  Journ.  Linn.  Soc,  xxv, 

p.  360  (1890). 

Disirib. — Christmas  Island  (J.  J.  Lister). 

8.  Nephrodium  syrmaticum.  Baker. 

Common  in  forest.     No.  87. 
Distrib. — India,  Malay  Archipelago. 

9.   Nephrodium  dissectum,  Desv. 

Common  in  forest.     No.  88. 

Distrib. — India,  Malay  Archipelago,  Oceania,  Madagascar. 


Ferm.  195 


10.   Nephrodium  intermedium,  Baker. 

Distrib. — India,   Malay   Archipelago,   Japan,    Christmas   Island 
(J.  J".  Lister). 

11.   Nephrodium  truncatum,  Presl. 

Panchoran;  January,  1898.     No.  121, 
Distrib. — India,  Malaccas,  Australia,  Polynesia. 

12.   Nephrodium  polymorphum,  Baker. 

JS'orth-'West  Point ;  not  common.     'No.  94. 
Distrib. — India,  Malay  Archipelago. 

13.  Aspidium  membranaceum,  Hook. 

Plateau,  common;  No.  12.     On  trees  everywhere ;  No.  131. 
Distrib. — Ceylon,  Java,  Philippines,  West  China,  Formosa. 

14.  Nephrolepis  exaltata,  Schott. 

North  coast;  December,  1897.     No.  130. 
Distrib. — Tropics. 

15.   Nephrolepis  acuta,  Presl. 

•Common  in  forest  everywhere.     No.  85. 
Distrib. — Tropics. 

16.  Nephrolepis  ramosa,  Moore. 

Climbing  on  trees  and  shrubs,  common.     No.  92. 
Distrib.— TioT^iGs  of  the  Old  World. 

17.  Polypodium  adnascens,  Sw. 

Distrib. — India  and  China  to  Fiji ;  East  and  West  tropical  Africa. 

18.  Polypodium  irioides.  Lam. 

Common  everywhere  on  trees  and  rocks.     No.  108. 
Distrib. — India  and  China  to  Fiji  and  New  South  Wales ;  East 
and  West  tropical  Africa. 

19.  Vittaria  elongata,  Sw. 

Sine  he.     No.  163. 

Distrib. — India  to  Hawaii  and  New   South  Wales;   East   and 
West  tropical  Africa. 


196  Christmas  Island. 


20.   Acrostichum  flagelliferum,  "Wall. 

Eare ;    middle  of  island;    No.  90.      Phosphate  Hill;   January, 
1898;    No.  126. 
Distril. — Himalayas  to  Java  and  the  Philippines. 

21.    Acrostichum  listeri,  Baker :   in  Jonrn.  Linn.  Soc,  xxv, 

p.  361  (1890). 

Common  on  higher  parts  of  plateau;  No.  19.      Phosphate  Hill; 
January,  1898;  No.  125.     Sine  loc;  No.  129. 
Distrib. — Christmas  Island. 

LYCOPODIACE^. 

22.   Lycopodium  phlegmaria,  L. 

Middle  of  island;  February,  1897. 
Distrib. — Tropics  of  the  Old  World. 


MOSSES. 
By  A.  Gepp,  M.A.,  F.L.S.,  of  the  Botanical  Department. 

1.  Leucobryum  chlorophyllosum,  C.  Muell. :    Syn.  Muse,  ii, 

p.  535  (1851). 

Distrib. — Sumbawa,  Celebes. 

2.  Octoblepharum  albidum,  Hedw. :  Muse,  frond., iii,  p.  15  (1 792). 
Distrib. — Tropical  Zone. 

3.   Thyridium  fasciculatum,  Mitt. :  in  Journ.  Linn.  Soc,  x, 

p.  189  (1869). 

Distrib. — India,  Malay  Archipelago,  Oceania,  Chile,  Mauritius. 

4.  Trachymitrium  revolutum,  Hampe  :  in  Nuov.  Giorn.  bot.  Ital., 

iv,  p.  280  (1872). 

Distrib. — Java,  Borneo. 

5.   Neckera  lepiniana,  Mont. :   in  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.,  ser.  ni,  x, 

p.  107  (1848). 

Distrib.— Malay  Archipelago,  Oceania,  Mauritius. 


Lichens.  197 

6.   Thuidium  plumulosum,  Doz.  et  Mo^k. :  Bry.  Jav.,  ii, 
p.  118,  tab.  223  (1865). 

Distrih. — Ceylon,  Malay  Archipelago,  Oceania. 

7.   Hypnum  montagnei,  Lac. :  Bry.  Jav.,  ii,  p.  181,  tab.  279  (1867). 
Distrib. — Java. 


HEPATIC. 


Ptychanthus  squarrosus,  Mont. 
Distrib. — Malay  Archipelago. 


LICHENS. 

By  Yeenon  H.  Blackman,  M.A.,  F.L.S., 
Of  the  Botanical  Department. 

1.   Parmelia  tinctorum,  Despr. 
Distrib. — Wide.     Asia,  Africa,  Australia,  New  Caledonia. 

2.   Parmelia  appendiculata,  Fee  ? 

Yery  poor  specimen. 
Distrib. — E.  Africa. 

3.   Physcia  picta,  Nyl. 

Distrib. — Very  wide.      Asia,    Africa,  America,   Oceania   (Java, 
Australia). 

4.   Pyxine  sorediata,  Fr. 
Disti'ib. — Africa,  S.  America,  Japan,  Tahiti. 

5.   Pannaria  rubiginosa,  Del.  ? 
Poor  specimen. 
Distrib. — Very  wide.    Europe,  Japan,  Africa,  America,  Australia. 


198  Christmas  Island. 

6.   lecanora  varia,  Ach. 
Distrii. — Europe,  Siberia,  Algeria,  Mexico,  New  Caledonia. 

7.  Eamalina  fraxinea,  Ach. 
Disfrih. — Europe,  W.  and  S.  America. 

8.  Lecidea  lutea,  Schaer.  ? 

Distrth. — Europe,  Africa,  Japan,  S.  America,  Labuan,  Sandwich 
Islands,  New  Zealand. 

9.  Leptogium  phyllocarpum,  Nyl.  ? 

Distrib. — Asia,  Africa,  S.  America,  Oceania  (Java,  Philippines, 
etc.). 


FUNGI. 

By  Vernon  H.  Blackman,  M.A.,  F.L.S., 
Of  the  Botanical  Department. 

BASIDIOMYCETES. 

1.   Schizophyllum  commune,  Fr. 

Distrib. — Cosmopolitan. 

2.   Polyporus  confluens,  Fr.  ? 
Distrib. — Europe,  N.  America,  Australia. 

3.   Fomes  lucidus,  Fr. 
Distrib. — Of  almost  universal  occurrence. 

4.   Fomes  australis,  Fr. 
Distrib. — Europe,  Borneo,  Yenezuela,  Ceylon,  Australia. 

5.   Polystictus  flabelliformis,  Kl. 

Distrib. — S.  America,   Cuba,    India,  Ceylon,   Malay  Peninsula, 
Borneo. 

6.   Polystictus  xanthopus,  Fr. 
Distrib. — In  tropics  generally. 


Fungi.  199 


7.  Polystictus  luteo-olivaceuB,  B.  &  Br. 
Distrib. — Australia  (Brisbane). 

8    Polystictus  sanguineus,  Mey. 

Distrib.  —  In  tropics  generally.     India,  America,  Africa,  Ne-w 
Zealand,  Borneo,  Tasmania,  Philippines,  Java,  Pacific  Islands. 

9.   Hexagonia  polygramma,  Mont. 

Distrib. — Central  America,  Mexico,  Cuba,  India,  Borneo,  Ceylon, 
Australia. 

10.   Daedalea  tenuis.  Berk. 
Distrib. — Philippines,  Australia  (Adelaide). 

11.  Favolus  boucheanus,  Klotzsch. 
Distrib. — Europe,  N.  America,  Australia. 

12.   Laschia  caspitosa.  Berk. 
Distrib. — Australia  (Clarence  Eiver). 

13.   Hirneola  polytriclia,  Mont. 
Distrib. — Mexico,  Cuba,  India,  Ceylon,  New  Zealand,  Java. 

14.  Hirneola  auricula-judae.  Berk. 

Distrib. — Europe,  N.  America,  Mexico,  Cuba,  Tasmania,  Borneo. 

15.  Guepinia  sparassoides,  Kalchbr. 
Distrib. — S.  Africa  (Kaffraria). 

GASTEEOMYCETES. 

16.   Cyathus  montagnei,  Tul. 
Distrib. — Cuba,  Brazil,  Uruguay,  Ceylon,  Australia. 

17.   Geaster  andrewsi,  Blackm.,  n.sp. 

Exoperidium  in  statu  humido  subcameum,  in  statu  sicco 
coriaceum,  multifidum,  laciniis  (circa  7)  acutis,  basi  integra, 
extus  paRidum,  siccitate  aspero  et  veniis  instructum,  intus  leve, 


W)  (Jlimtmrn  Jdaud, 

DUnmiHui)  ym'U^)mU)  m\nmU'At,  mUmU)  «J<'»)Wt<>,  in  wuirn  Mr<'<>)w 

K;i'/)M»i'liij>i(     20    -iO ;»)»».     \ninm    {i)%\m\*imn),    «;j<J<>j>«?rl<lliiin 
'/    1'/;;hii,    \n\um, 

uUmAnm,   hni  tlui  t*«1/«'</ji*l    vojnjjitj  wf  Him  t;x<;))«!ri<iiiim  «iU(I  thti 


ID,    T»i' li'tf  yii!i:t    <ri<  liolom*,   M'/llt. 

10    Htllbiim  Jiivtiniouiu,  Menu, 
IHHrih.    U\n, 


MVO'/ro/OA. 

)ly  Ann"""    I  I'lit',  K.H.H. 

1.   UUmtmHU  Hii\ftnUm»,  l(<M,,  vur.  •>,  {{ttnuiriit, 
/M«(tif).     J']iij'o[w,  AMJt»>'ii«,  Aiit»l,>«l)tt,  l'«<illo  )«)«n<l»,  Jav«, 

tUtlrifi.     Ku»'o))«',  JN    A/»ici))<(i,  .1(1  vt(, 

Diulrih.      |'!ii)o|i«;,  N    iHi*l  H    Aiiii'i'ij'u,  (liiitiiiii,  Jiivtt. 


201 


PAL>EONTOLOGY 

AND 

GEOLOGY. 


FOSSIL  MOLLUSCA  F1{0M   THE   REEF-LIMESTOXES 
OF    CHIUSTMAS   ISLAND. 

By  11.  BuLLEN  Newtox,  F.G.S. 

The  rcof-limcstoncs  of  Christmas  Island  have  been  refciTcd  to  in 
general  terms  by  the  few  writers  who  have  visited  the  repon,  but 
wc  are  indebted  to  Mr.  C.  W.  Andrews,  through  collections  made 
in  1897-98,  for  our  first  knowledge  of  the  palaeontology'  of  this 
formation. 

Among  the  specimens  brought  home  from  those  deposits  were 
a  small  number  of  shells,  which,  although  of  rather  bad  preserva- 
tion, and  many  of  them  not  specifically  determinable,  are  more 
or  less  important  as  a  contribution  to  the  (iuaternary  history  of 
this  area. 

The  identifications  that  have  been  possible  appear  to  prove 
conclusively  tlie  modem  character  of  these  rocks,  the  species  being 
inhabitants  of  the  surrounding  seas  at  the  present  day. 


MOLLUSCA  :    GASTEROrODA. 

Genus   TECTUS,    De   Montfort,    1810. 
Conchyliologie   Systematique,   1810,   vol.  ii,  p.   186. 

Type.  —  Tectug  pagodalis,  Be  !Montfort  =  Trochns  mauritianm, 
Omelin. 

Sifnonyms. — Pt/ramis,  Schumacher,  1817;  Fi/rami'dea,  Swainson, 
1840. 


202  Christmas  Island. 


Tectus  pyramis,  Bom. 

G.  "W.  Knorr:  Vergniigen  Sammlung  Muscheln,  1757,  vol.  i,  pi.  xii,  fig.  4. 
Trochus  pyramis,  Born:  Testacea  Musei  Csesarei  Vindobonensis,  1780,  p.  333; 

Chemnitz,    Conchylien  -  Cabinet,    1781,    vol.    v,    pi.    160,   figs. 

1510-1512,  p.  19. 
Trochus  oheliscus,  GmeHn  :   Systema  Naturae,  1790, 13th  ed.,  vol.  i,  pt.  6,  p.  3579. 
Tectus  oheliscus,   G.  W.  Tryon :    Manual  of  Conchology,  1889,  vol.  xi,  p.  19, 

pi.  ii,  figs.  13,  14. 

Description. — Born's  original  diagnosis  of  this  Troehiform  shell 
expresses  very  clearly  the  salient  characters  of  the  species.  It  is 
as  follows  :  ^^  Testa  conica,  acuminata,  anfractihus  imbricatis,  seriatim 
granulosis,  columella  torta,  imperforata." 

Remarks.  —  An  undoubted  specimen  of  this  species  has  been 
obtained  from  the  limestone  reefs  of  Christmas  Island.  It  is  a  tall, 
conical  form,  with  about  twelve  or  more  somewhat  flattened  whorls, 
the  upper  ones  being  tuberculate  or  undulating  at  the  suture. 
The  surface  of  the  whorls  is  ornamented  with  a  regular  series  of 
spiral  granulations,  which  on  the  last  whorl  are  arranged  in  eight 
or  nine  rows ;  the  periphery  is  obtusely  acute.  The  base  of  the 
shell  is  flat,  wide,  and  sculptured  with  concentric  lirations,  which 
become  obsolete  near  the  outer  margin.  The  shell  possesses  a 
shallow,  subtriangular  aperture  and  a  short  twisted  columella.  No 
internal  characters  of  the  mouth  are  visible,  being  hidden  by  matrix. 

Limemions. — Length  80,  diameter  80  mm. 

Tryon's  illustration  (fig.  14,  see  Synonymy)  gives  an  excellent 
idea  of  the  specimen  from  Christmas  Island. 

Bistrihution.—ln&mn.  and  Pacific  Oceans;  Samoan,  Yiti,  and 
Philippine  Islands,  New  Caledonia  ;  North  Australia,  etc.  ; 
Singapore.     (Tryon.) 

Locality. — Flying  Fish  Cove  ;  found  in  the  lowest  raised  reef. 

Number  on  specimeti :  609. 

JSxamples :  1. 

Tectus  ? 

Remarks. — A  fragmentary  cast,  probably  of  this  genus,  occurs 
embedded  in  a  pink-coloured  limestone  associated  with  remains  of 
corals,  etc.     It  is  not  specifically  determinable. 

Locality.— To^  of  first  inland  cliff,  about  300  feet  above  sea-level. 

Number  on  specimen :  951. 

Examples:  1. 

Genus  TUTUFA,  Jousseaume,  1881. 

Bull.  Soc.  Zool.  France,  1881,  vol.  vi,  pp.  172,  175. 

Type. — Murex  lampas,  Linnaeus. 

Synonyms. — Lampas,  Schumacher,    1817,   nee   Meuschen,    1787 
(Brachiopod),  nee  De  Montfort,  1808  (Foraminifer). 


Fossil  Mollusca.  203 

Tutufa  granifera,  Lamarck. 

Manella  graiiifera    )  Lamarck :    Hist.  Nat.  Anim.  sans  Vert.,   1822,  vol.  vii. 


J?,  semigranosa  }  p.  153 
Zampas  granifera  \  G.  W.  T 
L.  semigranosa         J      pi.  xxii,  figs.  35-37 


Lampas  granifera    \  G.  "W.  Tryon:  Manual  of  Conchology,  1881,  vol.  iii,  p.  41, 


JDescription.  —  This  species  is  represented  by  a  single  cast 
embedded  in  a  cream-coloured  limestone.  A  thin  test  is  sparingly 
presei'ved  in  places,  and  the  typical  high  spire  is  "well  exposed. 
The  characteristic  granulations  encircling  the  whorls  are  also 
displayed,  each  row  being  separated  by  a  nearly  obsolete  line  of 
granules.  The  shell  has  swollen  whorls,  and  terminates  with 
a  short  recurved  canal.  On  each  side  of  the  specimen  is  a  definite 
rounded  or  funiculate  varix,  which  agrees  with  recent  forms  in 
not  being  regularly  continuous. 

Dimensions. — Length  35,  diameter  20  mm. 

Memarks. — Since  the  present  specimen  occurs  associated  with 
coral  structures  and  other  organisms,  it  is  interesting  to  state  that 
according  to  Tryon  this  genus  is  found  at  less  depth  than  Ranella 
and  invariably  frequents  coral  reefs  and  rocks. 

Distribution. — lied  Sea,  Natal,  Paumotus,  Philippines,  north-east 
coast  of  Australia.     (Tryon.) 

Locality. — Top  of  tirst  inland  cliff,  about  300  feet  above  sea-level. 

Wumber  on  specimen  :  951. 

Example :  1  (specimen  associated  with  pectinoid  and  other 
bivalve  shells  of  doubtful  determination). 


Cyprsea,  sp. 

Descn'ptio7i. — This  is  a  small  cast  in  a  cream-coloured  compact 
limestone,  of  cylindrical  shape  above  but  with  a  depressed  base, 
exhibiting  a  sub -central,  narrow,  and  longitudinal  aperture; 
the  lip  bears  a  regular  dentition  along  its  entire  length ;  a  short 
canal  is  present  at  each  end  ;  the  spiral  volutions  are  well  exposed 
through  a  small  fracture  at  the  base, 

Dinmisions. — Length  25,  width  (max.)  15  mm. 

Remarks. — From  a  comparison  with  recent  forms  this  specimen 
appears  to  be  allied  to  C.  carneola  of  Linnaeus,  a  species  living  in 
the  Pacific  and  Indian  Oceans. 

Locality. — Flying  Fish  Cove ;  about  500  feet  above  sea-level  and 
above  rocks  of  undoubted  Miocene  age. 

Number  on  specimen  :  841. 

JExamples :   1 . 

Turbo  ? 

Remarks. — Cast  of  a  Gasteropod  shell  probably  referable  to  Turbo, 
showing  the  two  last  whorls.     The  absence  of  sculpture  and  other 


2Q4  Christmas  Island. 

characters  renders  this  specimen  of  no  account  for  determination 
purposes.  Found  in  a  cream-coloured  limestone  containing  corals 
and  other  structures.  The  front  or  apertural  part  of  the  specimen 
is  embedded  in  matrix. 

Locality. — Top  of  first  inland  cliff,  about  300  feet  above  sea-level. 

Number  on  specimen  :  951a. 

Examples ;   1 . 

INDETERMINABLE     SPECIMENS. 

First. — A  fragment  of  white  limestone  weathering  a  slaty  colour, 
with  remains  of  a  Gasteropod  cast,  probably  of  Trochoidal  affinities, 
but  not  identifiable. 

Locality. — North  coast,  about  50  feet  above  the  sea-level. 

Numler  on  specimeyi :   1043. 

Examples :  1 . 

Secondly.— A.  mass  of  light-coloured  limestone  contains  several 
small  forms  of  Gasteropod  shells  whose  structures,  having  mostly 
dissolved  away,  leaving  mere  casts  or  impressions,  are  not  capable 
of  accurate  determination.  Among  some  of  the  shells  represented 
in  the  block  appear  to  be  Nassa  and  a  number  of  Cerithimn -like 
forms  with  a  granular  ornamentation,  probably  belonging  to  the 
genus  Littium,  etc. 

Locality. — Top  of  first  inland  cliff,  about  300  feet  above  sea-level. 

Number  on  specimen  :  951. 

Examples  :  One  block  ;  composed  entirely  of  small  Gasteropods. 


MOLLUSCA :    LAMELLIBRANCHIATA. 

Genus  VENUS,  Linnaeus,  1758. 
Systema  Naturoe,  1758,   10th  ed.,  p.   684. 
Type. —  Venus  verrucosa,  Linnaeus. 


Venus  verrucosa,  Linnaeus. 

Venus  rerriwosa,  Linnsifius:  Systema  Nature,  1758,  10th  ed.,  p.  685  ;  Philippi, 
J',uum.  Moll.  Siciliic,  1836,  vol.  i,  p.  43  ;  Komer  (E.),  Kritische 
Untersuch.  Venus,  1857,  p.  26  ;  Fischer  (P.),  in  Tchihatcheff's 
"  Asia  Mineure,"  1866-69,  volume  on  '  Paleontologie,'  p.  365. 

Description. — Shell  sub-cordate  and  thick  ;  sculpture  exhibiting 
nearly  equidistant  concentric  ridges,  with  a  series  of  intermediate 
fine  and  closely-set  striations  ;  the  ridges  are  tubercled  or  verrucose 
at  the  sides ;  a  ribbed  structure  radiating  from  the  beaks  lies 
immediately  below  the   outer  coating  with  the  concentric  ridges, 


.  Fossil  Mollusca.  205 

and  where  the  concentric  striations  cross  these  a  cancellated 
condition  is  set  up  ;  margins  crenulate  ;  ligamental  furrow 
excavated,  oblique ;  characters  of  lunule  obscured  by  matrix  ;  no 
dentition  seen. 

Remarks. — The  specimen  refeiTed  to  this  species  shows  extremely 
well  the  chief  characters  of  the  shell.  Both  valves  are  in  contact, 
but  not  quite  m  situ  :  the  left  illustrates  structural  ornamentation  ; 
the  right,  represented  by  a  cast,  shows  a  posterior  oblique  ridge 
and  adductor  scar,  but  no  sinus  or  pallia!  line  are  decipherable, 
probably  on  account  of  youth,  as  the  specimen  is  small  and 
apparently  a  young  example.     It  is  in  a  cream-coloured  limestone. 

Dimensions. — Height  28,  length  31,  diameter  25  mm. 

Distrihution. — Species  of  wide  distribution  occurring  in  the  Post- 
Pliocene  beds  of  the  Clyde  Basin,  etc.  ;  in  the  Sicilian  strata ; 
and  recent  examples  in  the  Mediterranean  ;  Canary  Islands  ; 
America ;    Indian  Ocean  (E.  Romer) ;    etc.,  etc. 

Locality. — Top  of  first  inland  cliff,  about  300  feet  above  sea-level. 

Number  on  specimen  :   1032. 

Examples :  1 . 


Venus,  sp. 

A  small  block  of  cream-coloured  limestone  contains  casts  of 
a  right  and  left  valve  of  this  genus.  The  position  of  the  muscle 
marks  and  sinus,  the  characters  of  the  posterior  oblique  area,  and 
the  convexity  of  the  valves,  appear  to  show  a  relationship  to  Venus- 
puerpera  of  Linnoeus,  resembling,  in  fact,  a  figure  called  V.  puerpera, 
var.,  in  Chenu's  "Manuel  Conchyliologie,"  1862,  vol.  ii,  p.  82, 
tig.  352,  although  the  absence  of  dental  and  sculptural  characters 
renders  the  specimen  of  doubtful  specific  value. 

Dimensions. — Height  55,  length  65,  depth  of  each  valve  18  mm. 

Locality. — Top  of  first  inland  cliff,  about  300  feet  above  sea-level. 

Number  on  specimen  :   1032. 

Examples :  Two  valves  on  one  slab. 


INDETERMINABLE    SPECIMENS. 

A  small  mass  of  a  rather  coarse-grained  yellowish-white  limestone, 
weathering  a  drab  colour,  largely  composed  of  Lamellibranch  shells, 
which  occur  as  casts  having  little  or  no  characters  sufficient  for 
identification.  Some  of  the  shells  have  a  trigonal  or  nuculoid 
appearance. 

Locality. — "West  end  of  island,  about  725  feet  above  sea-level. 

Number  on  specimen  :  360. 

Examples:  1. 


206  Christmas  Island. 


THE  FOSSIL  COEALS  OF   CHRISTMAS  ISLAND. 
By  Dr.  J.  W.  Geegoey,  F.G.S.,  F.Z.S. 

(PLATE   XIX.) 

The  collection  of  fossil  Corals  made  in  Christmas  Island  by 
Mr.  C.  W.  Andrews  includes  a  little  over  seventy  specimens, 
which,  were  carefully  collected,  the  exact  stratigraphical  position 
of  each  being  recorded.  The  fauna  is  of  interest,  as  I  understand 
from  Mr.  Andrews  that  no  fossils  were  obtained  by  previous 
visitors  to  Christmas  Island,  and  that  the  only  other  fossils  which 
he  obtained  were  foraminifera  and  a  few  imperfect  molluscan  shells. 
Hence  the  detennination  of  the  geological  age  of  the  various  lime- 
stones that  build  up  the  island  must  be  dependent  to  a  considerable 
extent  on  the  evidence  of  the  corals. 

Many  of  the  specimens,  however,  have  been  so  altered,  often 
by  phosphatization,  that  they  are  specifically  indeterminable  ;  and 
the  number  of  corals  collected  fi'om  the  oldest  limestones  in 
Christmas  Island  is  small,  and  the  specimens  fragmentary.  But 
the  most  serious  difficulty  in  the  study  of  this  fauna  is  that  it 
comes  fi'om  the  borderland  between  the  provinces  of  the 
neontologist  and  palceontologist.  The  identification  of  late 
Cainozoic  fossil  corals  is  always  a  difficult  task.  For  the 
description  of  the  recent  specimens  is  based  on  the  external  form 
and  superficial  characters ;  whereas  the  description  of  the  fossil 
corals  refers  to  the  essential  structiire  of  the  corallites,  as  shown 
by  transverse  sections.  Hence,  consideration  of  the  relations  of 
the  living  and  the  latest  extinct  species  of  corals  involves  a 
comparison  of  incomparable  terms. 

A  further  difficulty  in  the  case  of  the  Christmas  Island 
collections  is  introduced  by  the  fact  that  the  corals  are  mainly 
Astreans.  And  the  Astreans  in  the  Zoological  Department  are 
not  yet  arranged,  so  that  I  have  not  always  been  able  to  compare 
the  fossil  corals  with  specimens  of  the  species  to  which  they  are 
referred. 

The  fauna  includes  representatives  of  nineteen  determinable 
species,  of  which  eight  are  new. 

As  regards  the  general  character  of  the  fauna,  it  is  typically 
Indo-Pacific,  all  the  previously  known  species  coming  fi'om  that 
region. 

The  corals  are  all  reef -building  species,  and  probably  none  of 
them  grew  at  a  greater  depth  than  six  or  eight  fathoms.  The 
list  of  species  and  their  distribution  are  given  in  the  appended 
table.      The  horizons  of  the  fossils  have  been  divided  into  four 


Fossil  Corals. 


207 


O   CO 

ii 

Indo-Pacific. 

Indo-Pacific. 
>> 

Indo-Pacific. 

? 

Miocene  :   Jara. 

Indo-Pacific. 

Indo-Pacific. 
Indo-Pacific. 

Distribution  on  Christmas  Island. 

Fossil. 

•-;   in 

1   g 
o   a 

X                                                 <^-                     X         X 

p  -s 

OS 

X                                                  XX 

So 

XXXX               X         X"-                           X         XXX 

Sea 
Cliffs. 

X               XXXXX                     XX                     XX 

-4^ 

P 

g                              X               X         X    X                                       X 

p; 

o 
K 

Lam. 

(Ed.  &  H.) 

(Ell.  &  Sol.) 

n.sp. 

(Lam.) 

(        M        ) 

(Ed.  &  H.),  n.var. 

n.sp. 

Dune. 

n.sp. 

Dana,  n.var. 

(Blainv.) 

n.sp. 

>> 

Ed.&H. 

n.sp. 
Ed.  &  H. 

ce 

N 

O 

^    ■                m 

Focillopora,  aff.  brevicornis 

sp 

Mttssa,  aS.  echinata        

leptoria  phrygia 

Caeloria  andretosi    

Maandrina  equisepta 

GoniastrtBa  retiformis    

Orbicella  pleiades    

,,        quadrangtilaris,  var.  eolumnata 

,,        murrayi 

,,        herklotsi 

,,        prcehcliopora    

Acanthastrcea  patula,  var.  paucidentata 

Frionastraa  magnljica    

Anisoccenia  murrayi       

,,          favoidea       

Coscinarcea  andrewsi      

Forites,  aff.  lutea 

,,        belli 

Montipora,  aff.  dance     

208  Christmas  Island. 

groups,  in  accordance  with  Mr.  Andrews'  account '  of  the  structure 
of  the  island.     The  groups  are  the  limestones  of — 

1.  The  sea  cliffs.  3.  The  central  plateau. 

2.  The  inland  cliffs.  4.  The  central  nucleus. 

The  interpretation  of  the  evidence  of  the  fossil  corals  as  to  the 
ages  and  relations  of  the  Christmas  Island  limestones  is  difficult, 
as  so  little  is  yet  known  of  the  coral  fauna  of  Malaysia  between 
early  Miocene  and  recent  times.  Many  Miocene  corals  from  Java 
have  been  described  by  Duncan,  von  Keuss,  and  Martin ;  and  the 
existing  Malaysian  coral  fauna  is  fairly  well  known.  But  from 
the  intervening  period  no  corals  have  previously  been  described. 
^Nevertheless,  the  evidence  of  Mr.  Andrews'  collection  is  tolerably 
clear. 

"The  limestones  of  the  sea  cliff  contain  corals  many  of  which 
are  of  the  same  species  as  those  now  growing  on  the  fringing  reef 
of  Christmas  Island ;  so  that  the  date  of  those  limestones  is  no 
doubt  Pleistocene.  At  the  other  end  of  the  series  are  the 
limestones  of  the  central  nucleus  :  they  have  yielded  three 
determinable  species,  of  which  two  are  new,  and  the  third 
( Orhicella  herldotsi)  is  found  in  the  older  Miocene  of  Java ;  of 
the  other  two  species  one  belongs  to  a  genus  elsewhere  known 
only  in  the  Miocene,  and  the  other  is  a  coral  of  an  ancient  aspect, 
though  its  genus  was  foimdcd  on  a  living  species  from  the  Red 
iSea.  The  limestones  of  the  central  nucleus  are  therefore  probably 
Miocene  in  age.  But  the  evidence  of  the  corals  is  insufficient 
for  positive  opinion,  or  for  the  suggestion  of  a  more  precise  date. 
As  opportunities  for  further  geological  collecting  in  Christmas 
Island  will  probably  arise,  it  may  be  worth  while  directing 
attention  to  the  desirability  of  obtaining  more  specimens  of  corals 
from  the  central  limestones. 

On  the  central  plateau  reefs  of  recent  limestone  are  said  to 
occur ;  this  age  is  assigned  to  the  rocks  on  the  evidence  of  the 
foraminifera.  But  there  are  no  corals  of  recent  species  in  the 
collection  from  the  central  plateau.  The  evidence  of  the  corals 
renders  it  probable  that  outcrops  of  the  central  limestones  occur 
on  the  floor  of  the  plateau. 

The  majority  of  the  specimens  were  obtained  from  the  limestones 
of  the  inland  cliffs.  Most  of  the  species  from  this  zone  are  still 
living,  and  four  of  them  also  occur  in  the  rocks  of  the  sea  cliffs. 
But  others  are  of  older  aspect,  and  the  occurrence  of  a  weathered 
specimen  of  Orhicella  herklotsi  and  Anisoccenia  favoidea  shows  that 
the  Miocene  limestones  are  exposed  in  some  parts  of  the  inland 
cliffs.      ^Miether  the   rest  of  the   cliffs,    containing  the   species 


*  C.  W.  Andrews,  "A  Description  of  ChiistmaB  Island  (Indian  Ocean)" 
Geogr.  Joum.,  1899,  vol.  xiii,  pp.  20-24. 


Fossil  Corals.  201) 

Mussa  aff.  echinata,  Coeloria  andreivsi,  Montipora  aff.  danm,  etc., 
should  bo  regarded  as  Pleistocene  or  Pliocene,  the  evidence  is 
insufficient  to  show.  It  is  only  certain  that  these  limestones  are 
intermediate  in  age  between  the  late  Pleistocene  of  the  sea  cliffs 
and  the  Miocene  of  the  central  nucleus. 


Family   POCILLOPOllIDiE. 
Pocillopora,  aff.  brevicornis,  Lamarck,   1816. 

Pocillopora  is  represented  among  the  Christmas  Island  corals  by 
several  fragments  included  in  a  lim(!stonc  from  the  foot  of  the 
first  inland  cliff  on  the  Korth  Coast  (No.  867).  One  specimen 
is  a  cylindrical  branch  45  mm.  high  and  8  mm.  in  diameter. 
Another  is  a  low,  massive,  almost  hemispherical  branch. 

Mr.  Bernard  has  provisionally  identified  two  recent  Pocilloporee 
from  Christmas  Island  as  P.  favosa  and  P.  brevicornis;  the  fossil 
specimens  would  agree  with  either  in  the  characters  of  the 
corallites.  A  large  number  of  recent  species  of  this  genus  have 
been  proposed  by  neontologists  on  variations  in  the  shape  of  the 
branches.  Ortmann, '  howevca-,  has  suggested  that  the  recent 
species  are  mere  individual  variations.  In  describing  a  collection 
of  thirty -three  specimens  he  states  that  they  form  a  complete 
transitional  series,  and  fill  up  the  gaps  between  the  previously 
described  species.  Ortmann,  therefore,  did  not  give  a  specific 
name  to  any  of  the  specimens. 

Ilecently  Mr.  J.  S.  Gardiner'*  has  also  questioned  whether  "all 
these  so-called  species  should  not  rather  be  described  as  varieties 
of  one  species,"  though  he  retains  the  conventional  method  of 
treatment  of  the  group. 

The  most  convenient  name  for  the  Christmas  Island  fossil 
specimens  would  be  P.  brevicornis,  Lam. 

Pocillopora,  sp.  indct. 

No.  989.     From  second   inland  cliff,   over   Flying  Fisli  Cove  ; 

alt.  500-600  feet. 
No.  947.    Broad  reef  on  middle  of  the  island  ;  alt.  500-600  feet. 
No.  925.     High   cliff   over   south   end   of  Flving   Fish 

alt.  400  feet. 
These  three  specimens  are  so  altered  that  they  are  specifically 
indeterminable. 


•  Ortmann,  Syst.  und  Yerbr.  Stciukor. :  Zool.  Jalirb.,  vol.  iii,  Syst.  1888, 
pp.  162-166. 

2  J.  S.  Gardiner,  "  Pocilloporidfc  from  S.W.  I'acilic  "  :  Tree.  Zool.  Soc, 
1897  (1898),  p.  942. 


210  Christmas  Island. 

Group  ASTR^ID^. 

Mussa,  aff.  echinata  (Edwards  &  Haime),  1849. 

LohophylUa  echinata,  Edwards  &  Haime,  1849.     Mem.  Astr.,  pt.  ii :  Ann.  Sci. 

nat.,  ZooL,  ser.  in,  vol.  xi,  p.  253. 
Mussa  ,,        Edwards    &    Haime,    1857.      Hist.    nat.   Cor.,   vol.   ii, 

p.  337. 

This  species  is  represented  in  the  collection  by  a  fragment 
(No.  203)  70  mm.  high,  65  mm.  long,  and  with  the  calices  28  mm. 
wide.  The  specimen  includes  two  confluent  calices,  and  the  walls 
of  the  corallum  are  parallel  in  horizontal  sections.  As  the  upper 
part  of  the  septa  is  not  shown,  its  absolute  specific  determination 
is  impossible.  But  so  far  as  the  evidence  goes,  the  specimen 
agrees  with  those  collected  by  the  "Challenger"  in  the  Malay 
Archipelago,  and  detennined  by  Quelch  as  M.  echinata.  The  only 
doubtful  point  is,  that  in  the  transverse  sections  the  septa  do  not 
appear  to  be  alternately  thick  and  thin  ;  but  this  aiTangement 
is  probably  masked  by  the  secondaiy  calcification  of  the  specimen 
during  fossilization. 

The   Christmas   Island  specimen  was    collected   fi'om   the   first 
inland  cliff  at  the  Zigzag,  at  the  altitude  of  90  feet. 

Leptoria  phrygia  (Ell.  &  Sol.),  1786. 

Jtladrepora  phrygia,  Ellis  &  Solander,  1786.     Hist.  Zooph.,  p.  162,,  pi.  xlviii, 

fig.  2. 
non Leptoria      ,,         Edwards  &  Haime,  1849.     Mem.  Astr.,  pt.  iii:  Ann.  Sci. 

nat.,  ZooL,  ser.  in,  vol.  si,  p.  292. 
,,         tenuis  {non  Dana),  Edwards  «S:  Haime,  1849.     Ibid.,  p.  292. 

The  name  of  this  species  has  been  the  subject  of  much  confusion, 
owing  to  an  apparent  inconsistency  between  Dana's  figures  and 
description  of  this  species  and  Z.  tenuis  (Dana).  Milne  Edwards 
and  Haime  apparently  based  thcii-  diagnoses  on  Dana's  figures,  and 
thus  inverted  the  main  characters  of  the  two  species;  for  they 
describe  L.  tenuis  as  having  broader  gyri  and  less  crowded  septa  than 
L.  phrygia,  and  also  as  having  stouter  walls  and  columella.  But 
Dana  does  not  state  the  magnification  of  his  enlarged  figures,  and 
it  therefore  appears  wiser  to  base  the  distinctions  between  the  two 
species  on  his  diagnoses.  He  therein  states  that  the  gpi  of 
L.  phrygia  are  2-2^  lines  broad,  while  those  of  M.  tenuis  are 
1|- lines  broad.  Moreover,  in  L.  phrygia  there  are  from  10  to  12 
septa  to  the  half -inch,  whereas  in  L.  tenuis  there  are  about  20  septa 
to  the  half-inch.  Edwards  &  Haime,  however,  define  L.  phrygia 
as  having  the  gj-ri  3  mm.  broad,  against  4  mm.  in  L.  tenuis,  and 
15  primary  septa  per  centimetre,  against  8  in  L.  tenuis. 


Fossil  Corals. 


211 


Ortmann^  appears,  therefore,  to  be  perfectly  justified  in  con- 
cluding that  Edwards  &  Haime  reversed  the  names  of  these  two 
species. 

The  Christmas  Island  collection  includes  three  specimens  of  this 
species,  which  have  the  following  dimensions  : — 


"Width  of  calicinal  series      

Number  of  primary  septa  per  cm. 


They  are  therefore  referable  to  the  Z.  tenuis  of  Edwards  &  Haime 
(iiofi  Dana)  and  the  Z.  phri/f/ia  of  Ellis  &  Solander,  with  whose 
figure  they  agree. 

A  slide  cut  from  specimen  No.  306  affects  the  generic  diagnosis 
of  Leptoria.  As  generally  defined,  the  walls  of  adjacent  corallites 
are  said  to  unite  directlj^ ;  but,  as  shown  on  Fig.  1,  the  adjacent 


Vo.  53. 

No.  306. 

No.  100 

3  mm. 

3-4  mm. 

3-4  mm 

9 

7 

7-9 

F;g.  1. 


series  are,  in  places,  united  by  costce  and  exotheca,  and  not  by 
the  walls.  This  fact  led  me,  on  first  examination  of  the  slide, 
to  feel  some  doubt  whether  the  coral  were  a  Leptoria.  But  it 
appears  only  necessary  to  modify  the  generic  diagnosis  to  this  slight 
extent ;  for  the'  same  mode  of  union  of  the  series  of  corallites 
occurs  in  Z.  fenuis  (Dana).  Thus  Dana's  description  of  that 
species  refers  to  the  corallum  as  very  cellular ;  and  his  figure  of 
a  transverse  section  (Dana,  op.  cit.,  pi.  xii,  fig.  Id)  shows  the 
compound  nature  of  the  walls. 

Mr,  Bernard's  manuscript  list  of  the  recent  corals  collected  by 
Mr.  Andi'cws  at  Christmas  Island  shows  that  Z.  phrtjgia  still 
lives  on  the  neighbouring  reefs. 


^  Ortmann  :  op.  cit.,  p.  172. 


212  Christmas  Island. 

The  distribution  of  the  fossil   spociinons   on  Christmas  Island 
is  as  follows : — 

1^0.    53.     From  top  of  sea  cliff  on  the  east  coast. 

No.  306.     First  inland  cliff   above  West  White   Beach  ;     alt. 

260  feet. 
No.  100.     From  a  limestone  breccia  on  the  first  inland  cliff  at 

the  height  of  250  feet. 


Coeloria  andrewsi,  sp.n. 

Diagnosis. — Corallum,  form  unknown,  but  massive ;  the  species 
is  represented  by  a  slab  80  mm.  high,  55  mm.  wide,  and  20  mm. 
thick.  Corallites  in  very  short  series  and  mostly  isolated.  The 
longest  series  is  7  mm.  long,  and  includes  three  calicinal  centres. 
The  single,  circumscribed  corals  occur  in  regular  rows.  Walls 
thick.  Columella  of  stout  trabeculoe,  and  for  the  genus  fairly  well 
developed.  Septa  stout ;  one  cycle  in  young  corallites ;  two 
incomplete  cycles  in  mature  corallites. 

Distrihution. — Eeprcsented  in  the  collection  by  one  specimen 
(No.  175),  from  the  first  inland  cliff  on  the  north  coast ;  approximate 
altitude  90  feet. 

Figure. — PI.  XIX,  Fig.  1.     Part  of  a  transverse  section,  X  2  dia. 

Affinities. — The  nearest  ally  of  this  species  is  the  Mceandrina 
delicatula,  Ortm.,^  from  Samoa,  in  which  the  valleys  are  from 
5  to  12mm.  in  length;  the  septa  occur  in  three  cycles,  and  the 
columella  is  represented  only  by  a  trace.  Owing  to  the  shortness 
of  the  calicinal  series  the  species  belongs  to  the  section  of  Coeloria^ 
for  which  Edwards  &  Haime  once  founded  the  genus  Astroria. 
This  species  is  also  allied  to  Astroria  esperi^  Ed.  &  H.,-  which, 
however,  has  three  incomplete  cycles  of  septa,  and  calicinal  valleys 
3  centimetres  lona,'. 


Mseandrina  equisepta,  sp.n. 

Diagnosis. — Corallum  massive.  Calicinal  series  5  mm.  wide  and 
fairly  long  (many  of  them  being  3  cm.  long) ;  while  there  are 
many  independent  calicos.  Many  of  the  calicinal  series  are 
straight,  and  others  are  bent  into  V-shape.  Septa  subequal,  and 
about  thirteen  in  number  in  1  cm. ;  small  secondaiy  septa  occur  at 
intervals.  Columella  usually  a  little  under  1  mm.  in  width,  but 
varying  from  -5  to  1-5  mm. 

Figure. — PI.  XIX,  Fig.  2.    Part  of  a  transverse  section,  X  2  dia. 


'  Ortmaun :  op.  cit.,  p.  171,  pi.  vi,  fig.  6. 

^  Edwards  &  Haime,   Mem.  Astr.,  pt.  ii:   Ann.   Sci.  nat.,  Zool.,  ser.  iii, 
vol.  xi  (1849),  p.  298. 


Fossil  Corals.  2X3 

Bistrihution. — Christmas  Island.  Fossil  from  the  raised  reefs 
of  the  sea  cliff  at  Kooky  Point.  Also  recent  from  fringing  reef 
of  Flying  Fish  Cove. 

Affinities. — The  main  character  of  this  species  is  the  subequal 
size  of  its  septa,  which  are  alternately  large  and  small  in  most 
species. 

A  recent  specimen  from  Christmas  Island  has  been  pro\isionally 
named  by  Mr.  Bernard  C,  aff.  sinensis,  with  which  it  agrees  in 
some  characters.  But  according  to  Edwards  &  Haime's  diagnosis 
of  C.  sinensis  the  "valleys  are  extremely  short;  one  sees  few  of 
them  which  are  more  than  2  cm.  in  length,  and  a  great  number 
of  calicos  are  independent  {se  circomcrivent)^  The  septa,  moreover, 
are  alternately  large  and  small.  C.  sinensis  is,  indeed,  placed 
by  its  founders  in  their  genus  Astroria,  whereas  the  present 
species  seems  to  me  to  be  necessarily  excluded  from  that  section 
of  Cceloria. 

Another  ally  of  II.  equisej^ta  is  C.  amhica,  Klz.^  (C.  forsJcaeli, 
Ed.  &  H.),  which  differs,  among  other  characters,  by  the  unequal 
size  of  the  septa.  C.  hotiai,  Ed.  &  H.,''  in  this  respect  agrees  with 
the  Christmas  Island  species,  but  it  has  the  columella  "  tout-a-fait 
rudimentaire." 

Another  coral  with  which  this  species  has  points  of  resemblance 
is  the  Ilceandrina  heterogyra  of  Ed.  &  H.  ;  ^  but  that  species  is 
described  as  having  subequal  septa  of  2-3  cycles,  a  well  developed 
columella,  and  12-14  septa  per  cm.  The  locality  of  the  type  is 
unknown,  and  Quelch^  maintains  that  it  is  a  "West  Indian  coral, 
and  the  name  is  a  sjTionym  of  M.  strigosa,  Dana,  i.e.  Mccandrina 
filograna  (Esper). 

llefercnce  to  this  Mceandrina  raises  the  question  of  the  retention 
of  Mceandrina  and  Cceloria.  The  latter  genus  was  founded  by 
Milne  Edwards  &  Haime^  in  1848  for  one  species  previously 
known  as  Mceandrina  daidalea,  which  must  therefore  be  taken  as 
the  type.  Cceloria  was  separated  from  Mceandrina  simply  as  in 
the  former  the  columella  is  parietal  and  nidimentaiy,  and  in  the 
latter  is  essential  and  spongj-.  In  1857  Edwards  &  Haime® 
Totained  the  genera  on  the  same  grounds  :  they  stated  that  in 
Mceandrina  the  columella  is  "  bien  developpee,"  whereas  Cceloria 
belongs  to  a  group  with  the  columella  rudimentary  or  absent. 
Since  that  date  those  authors  who  have  accepted   Cceloria  have 


1  Kluuzinger:    Korallth.   Eoth.  Meer.,  iii,   Steiukor.,  pt.  2  (1879),  p.  17, 
pi.  ii,  figs.  1-3  and  8  ;  pi.  ix,  fig.  10. 

*  Edwards  &  Haime,  Mem.   Astr.,   pt.  ii :   Ann.  Sci.  nat.,  Zool.,  ser.  iii, 
vol.  xi  (1849),  p.  295. 

3  Edwards  &  Haime,   Mem.  Astr.,  pt.  ii :    Ann.  Sci.  nat.,  ZooL,  ser.  iii, 
vol.  xi  (1819),  p.  281. 

*  Quelch.  Reef  Corals  :  Eep.  Cliall.  Exped.,  Zool.,  vol.  xvi,  pt.  46,  p.  93. 

5  Edwards  &  Haime,  Classif.  deux.  trib.  Astr. :    Compt.  Eend.,  vol.  xlvi, 
p.  493. 

^  Edwards  &  Haime  :  Hist.  nat.  Cor.,  vol.  ii,  p.  289. 


214  Christmas  Island. 

done  so  on  the  character  of  the  columella.  But  in  the  ij])Q 
species  of  Coeloria  the  columella  is  quite  well  developed  (see  e.g. 
the  original  figure  of  Ellis  k  Solander,  Hist.  Zooph.,  pi.  xlvi, 
figs.  1,  2);  it  is  in  fact  better  developed  than  in  some  species 
of  Mceandriiia. 

The  distinction  based  on  the  columella  appears  to  me  insufficient 
for  the  separation  of  the  two  genera.  The  length  of  the  confluent 
calicinal  series  may,  however,  yield  an  adequate  basis  ;  for  those 
corals  in  which  the  calicinal  series  are  very  long  may  be  con- 
venientlj^  kept  distinct  from  those  in  which  the  calicinal  series 
are  short  and  independent  calices  predominate.  Cceloria,  with 
C.  dmlalea  as  the  type,  would  include  the  latter  group.  The  naming 
of  the  former  group  is  a  difficult  question.  The  most  convenient 
name  would  be  Mceandrina,  but  that  name  would  have  to  be 
designated  as  Ed.  &  H.,  1848,  non  Lamarck,  1801.  For  according 
to  the  original  foundation  of  that  genus  its  type  is  Mmandrina 
peetinata,  Lam.,  which  most  authors  have  taken  as  the  type  of  the 
genus  Pectinia. 

Whether  the  inconvenience  of  the  change  in  the  name 
M(Bandrina,  which  observance  of  the  laws  of  nomenclature  would 
involve,  be  too  serious  for  obedience  to  the  law  to  be  advisable, 
I  leave  zoologists  to  settle,  and  so  provisionally  retain  it. 


Gcniastraea  retiformis  (Lamarck),  1816. 

Astrcca  retiformis,  Lamardv,  1816.     Hist.  nat.  Anim.  s.  Vert.,  vol.  ii,  p.  265. 
Goniastrcea  retiformis,   Edwards  &  Haime,   1849.     Mem.  Astr.,  pt.  iii :    Ann> 

Sei.  nat.,  ZooL,  ser.  iii,  vol.  xii,  p.  161. 

This  species  is  represented  at  Christmas  Island  by  a  recent 
specimen  determined  by  Mr.  Bernard  and  several  fossil  specimens. 
The  latter  show  the  following  characters  : — The  corallites  are  fi'om 
3-4  mm.  in  dia. ;  the  walls  are  from  '5  mm.  to  something  under 
1  mm.  in  thickness  ;  the  septa  belong  to  three  cycles,  of  which  the 
third  is  incomplete ;  the  columella  is  loose  and  sometimes  hollow ; 
the  pali  are  indistinct ;  the  corallites  are  elliptical,  quadi'angular, 
pentagonal,  or  hexagonal  in  shape. 

The  corals  agree  closely  with  G.  capttata,  Stud.,'  which,  as 
Ortmann'^  suggests,  is  probably  a  variety  of  G.  retiformis  with 
thinner  walls,  somewhat  exsert  septa,  and  more  open  calices.  The 
recent  specimen  from  Christmas  Island  resembles  the  capitata  form,, 
the  characters  of  which  are  not  preserved  in  any  of  the  fossils. 

Distrihiition.  — Christmas  Island. 
Eecent : 

Fringing  Reef,  Flying  Fish  Cove. 


1  Th.   Stiider,    Beitr.   Fauna   Steinkor.  Singapore:    Mitth.   Naturf.   Gesell. 
Bern.,  1880  (1881),  pp.  40,  41,  fig.  8. 

2  Ortmann :  op.  cit.,  p.  173. 


Fossil  Corals. 


215 


Fossil : 

No.  1,042.    Pinnacles  at  foot  of  first  inland  cliff  at  the 

Zigzag. 
No.    969.     Pedestal  of  block  of  foraminiferal  limestone 

on  top  of  the  sea  cliff. 
No.    — .       Sea  cliff  at  Rocky  Point. 

Orbicella  herklotsi   (Duncan),   1864. 

Astrcea  herklotsi,  Duncan,  1864.     Coral  from  Mount  Sela:  Quart.  Joum.  Geol. 

Soc,  vol.  XX,  p.  72,  pi.  vii,  fig.  9. 
ffeliastrcea  tabulata,  Martin,  1880.      Tertiarsch.  Java,  p.  140,  pi.  xxiv,  fig.  21, 

pi.  xxvi,  fig.  4. 

Distribution. — Orbitoidal  Limestone.    Miocene  at  Radjamandala, 
near  Tjisitu,  Java  ;  and  Mount  Sela,  Java. 
Christmas  Island. 

No.  659.     Limestone  from  south  side  of  chalk-capped 

hill ;  alt.  700  feet. 
No.  954.     From  talus  at  foot  of  high  cliff,   east  of 

Phosphate  Hill. 
No.  947.     Broad  reef  near  middle  of  the  island. 
?No.  996.     An    altered    specimen   fi'om   inland   cliff, 

south  coast ;  alt.  200  feet. 
?No.  626.     A  specimen  in  fonn  of  a  cast,  from  the  foot 
of  the  second  inland  cliff,  east  coast. 
Figure. — Fig.  2.     Part  of  a  thin  section  of  specimen,  No.  659, 
X  7  dia. 


Fig.  2. 


Orbicella  murrayi,  sp.n. 

Diagnosis. — Corallum  massive,  with  very  large  corallites,  and 
very  thick  exothecal  areas.  The  calices  are  fi'om  9  to  10  mm.  in 
dia.,  while  the  calicinal  centres  are  from  15  to  25  mm.  apart. 


216  Chrktmas  Island. 

The  septa  occur  in  three  complete  cycles,  and  there  is  one  order 
of  the  fourth.     The  columella  is  from  2  to  3  mm.  in  diameter. 

The  costse  are  veiy  long,  and  can  be  traced  out  through  the 
compact  exothecal  tissue. 

distribution. — Christmas  Island. 
Fossil : 

No.  996.     From  limestones  of  the  inland  cliff,  on  the 
south  coast ;  alt.  200  feet. 
?  No.  903.     Cast  of  probably  the  same  species,  from  the 
sea-level  on  the  east  coast,  above  basalt 
and  volcanic  agglomerate. 
Figure. — PI.  XIX,  Fig.  3.      Part  of  transverse  section  across 
No.  996,  X  2  dia. 

Affi7iities. — This  species  is  characterized  by  the  large  vsize  of  the 
exothecal  areas,  which  are  vs^ider  than  in  any  other  species  of 
Orbicella  known  to  me.  The  better  specimen  was  collected  fi'om 
the  inland  cliffs  on  the  south  coast,  and  may  indicate  an  outcrop  of 
the  limestones  of  the  central  nucleus  at  that  point. 


Orbicella  pleiades  (Lamarck),  1816. 

This  well-known  East  Indian  species  is  represented  by  several 
specimens,  viz. : — 

No.  122.     Top  of  the  sea  cliff,  east  coast. 

No.  978.     Limestones  of  the  inland  cliff;    alt.  200  feet.     East 

coast. 
No.  353.     On  the   road,   212  chains  south  from  West  White 

Beach  ;  alt.  about  450  feet. 
No.  867.     Foot  of  first  inland  cliff,  north  coast ;  alt.  50-60  feet. 
No.  212.     Foot  of  the  inland  cliff,   south  end  of  Flying  Fish 

Cove  ;  alt.  50-60  feet. 
No.  —  .     Limestones  of  the  sea  cliff.  Rocky  Point. 

The  specimens  have  the  corallites  more  closely  packed  than  in 
the  specimen  shown  in  Ellis  &  Solander's  original  figure ;  but  they 
agree  in  essential  points  with  the  species  as  generally  accepted. 
The  corallites  are  circular,  and  from  2  to  3  mm.  in  dia. ;  the  septa 
in  sections  are  usually  twelve  in  number,  but  some  representatives 
of  an  incomplete  third  cycle  occur. 


Orbicella,  aff.  quadrangularis  (Edwards  &  Haime). 

The  collection  includes  a  well-preserved  fi-agment  of  an  Orhicella 
with  large  subquadrangular  corallites,  distinct  calicinal  edges,  well- 
marked  costse,  narrow  zones  of  very  coarsely  vesicular  exotheca, 
and  septa  which  are  thick  near  the  walls  and  become  thin  near  the 
columella.  In  these  respects  it  appeal's  to  be  a  member  of  this 
species,  of  which  I  have  not  seen  either  figures  or  specimens. 


Fossil  Corals. 


217 


The  Christmas  Island  specimens  differ  from  Milne  Edwards 
and  Haime's  diagnosis  in  three  respects,  which  appear  to  me  to  be 
worthy  of  at  least  varietal  recognition. 

Var.  columnata/  nov. 

The  variety  differs  from  the  typical  form  of  the  species  by 
ha\ing  deep  open  calices  ;  the  columella  is  very  large ;  and  the 
tertiarj'  septa  are  not  united  to  the  secondary'  septa. 

The'diameter  of  the  corallites  is  from  1 1-13  mm, ;  the  diameter 
of  the  columella  is  about  5  mm.  ;  and  there  are  about  3-^-  cycles 
•of  septa. 

Distrihition. 
a.  Eecent : 

Locality  of  the  type  unknown. 
h.  Fossil : 

Christmas  Island.     IN'o.  322.     Limestones  of  the  sea- 
cliff  scries,  mouth  of  Sidney's  Dale. 
Figure. — Pig.  3.     Part  of  a  transverse  section,  X  H  dia. 


Fig.  3. 


Orbicella  prseheliopora,  sp.n. 

Diagnosis.  —  Corallum  massive  :  external  characters  unknown. 
Corallites  of  medium  size,  being  from  4-5  mm.  in  diameter,  circular, 
and  separated  by  from  1  to  2  mm.  Columella  very  spongy,  but 
large,  being  from  1-1-5  mm.  in  clia.  Septa  irregular;  in  some 
sectors  of  a  corallite  there  may  be  representatives  of  an  incomplete 
sixth  order;  whereas  in  the  adjacent  sector  the  septa  of  the  fourth 
order  are  rudimentary  and  barely  recognizable.     The  primaiy  and 


Golumnatus,  furmshed  Tvith  a  column,  in  reference  to  the  large  columella. 


218  Christmas  Island. 

secondary  septa  are  long  and  thin,  the  latter  being  considerably  the 
shorter ;   both  are  connected  to  the  columella,  though  in  sections- 
the  connection  may  not  be  shown  in  all  cases. 
Distribution. — Christmas  Island. 
Fossil : 

Ifo.  946.     From  the  limestone  pinnacles  a  little  south 

of  the  middle  of  the  island ;  alt.  550  feet. 

No.  511.     A   specimen  from   top   of   the   upper   cliff, 

middle  of  the  east  coast. 

Figure. — PI.    XIX,   Fig.   4.     Part   of   a  transverse   section   of 

specimen  Xo.  946,  x  2  dia. 

Affinities. —  Orhicella  prcelieliopora  is  a  species  intermediate  in 
characters  between  the  Orhicella  irregularis  (Mart.)  from  the 
Miocene  of  Java  and  0.  heliopora  (Lam.)  from  the  Australian 
seas.  It  is  probably  nearer  the  former,  which  difiers  by  having 
onlj'  four  cycles  of  septa,  and  by  having  the  corallites  crowded 
together  so  that  they  are  irregular  and  polygonal  in  shape.  The 
two  species  agree  in  the  irreg-ularity  of  the  septal  sequence.  In 
two  adjacent  sectors  in  one  corallite  of  the  type-specimen  of 
0.  jyrcBhelio^m'a  the  sequence  is  as  follows  : — 

1     4     3     2  5  3     1 
16473525341 

According  to  Martin's  diagram  of  0.  irregularis,  the  sequence 
in  three  sectors  in  that  species  is  : — 

13  2  3  1 

14  3     5     2  3  1 
1            3     5     2     5     3     4     1 

From  0.  heliopora  the  Christmas  Island  coral  differs  by  having 
a  looser  columella  and  less  regular  septal  sequence  ;  for  0.  heliopora 
is  said  to  have  four  complete  cycles.  The  primary,  secondary,  and 
tertiaiy  septa  are  said,  moreover,  to  be  not  veiy  different  in  size 
in  the  living  species. 


Acanthastraea  patula  (Dana), 

Orhicella  patula,  Dana,  1848.     Zooph. :  Expl.  Eiped.  "Wilkes,  vol.  viii,  p.  209, 

pi.  X,  fig.  14. 
Acauthastraa  ?  patula,  Edwards  &  Haime,  1857.    Hist.  nat.  Cor.,  vol.  ii,  p.  505. 


Yar.  paucidentata,  nov. 

The  genus  Acanthastraa  is  represented  in  the  collection  by 
a  small  fragment  70  mm.  long  ;  the  corallites  are  fi'om  9  to  12  mm. 
in  diameter,  the  majoiity  being  12  mm.  The  columella  is  small, 
and  consists  of  a  few  denticles,  though  sections  at  first  sight 
appear  to  have  a  long  columella  owing  to  the  abundance  of  central 


Fossil  Corals. 


219 


endotheca.  The  corallites  in  internal  sections  are  mostly  circular, 
the  majority  are  of  the  same  size,  the  walls  are  thin.  The  septa 
include  three  complete,  well-developed  cycles ;  between  them  are 
some  obscure  costte,  corresponding  to  the  septa  of  a  fourth  cycle. 

The  specimen  agrees  essentially  with  Dana's  0.  patula,  except 
that  the  septa  appear  more  distinct  from  one  another  than  in  his 
figure  (Dana,  pi.  x,  fig.  H^"),  and  the  columella  contains  fewer 
denticles.  "VVhitelegge  ^  has  recently  recorded  the  species  fi'om 
Funafuti ;  but  he  gives  the  corallites  as  from  5-10  mm.  in  diameter, 
and  the  walls  fi-om  2-6  mm.  in  thickness,  with  the  septa  varj-ing 
from  12-36.  He  describes  the  columella  as  composed  of  a  series 
of  compressed  denticles,  which  agrees  with  Dana's  figure,  though 
the  dimensions  of  the  Funafuti  coral  do  not  correspond  very  well. 

Distribution . — Christmas  Island. 

Fossil:  Pinnacles  of  the  sea-clrff  limestone.     !No.  166. 

Figure. — PI.  XIX,  Fig.  5.  Part  of  a  transverse  section,  x  2  dia. 
No.  166. 


Prionastrsea  magnifica  (De  Blainville),  1830. 

Favastrea  magnifica,   De  Blaiuville,  1830.      Zooph. :    Diet.  Sci.  nat.,  vol.  Ix, 

p.  340 ;  and  1834,  Man.  Act.,  pi.  liv,  tig.  3. 

AstrcBa  ,,  Dana,   1848.     Zooph.  :    Expl.  Exped.   Wilkes,    vol.  viii, 

p.  231,  pi.  xii,  fig.  3. 

PrionastrcBa     ,,  Edwards  &  Haime,  1850.     ]\Iem.  Astr.,  pt.  iii :  Ann.  Sci. 

nat.,  ZooL,  ser.  iii,  vol.  xii,  p.  129. 


Fig.  4.     (Xat.  size.) 

The  collection  contains  one  well-preserved  specimen  (Xo.  322) 
of  PrionastrcBa,  with  corallites  from  5-9  mm.  in  dia.,  a  columella 
2-3  mm.  in  dia.,  walls  -5  to  1  mm.  thick,  and  three  complete  and 


1  T.  Whitelegge,  Funafuti,  pt.  vi :  Mem.  Austr.  Mus.,  1898,  No.  3,  p.  353. 


220  Christmas  Island. 

a  fourth  incomplete  orders  of  septa.  The  corallites  do  not  exhibit 
any  tendency  towards  a  serial  arrangement,  and  the  calices  are 
polygonal. 

The  species  must  be  compared  with  two  living  species,  whose 
characters  are  as  follows : — 

Dia.  of     Xo.  of 

corallites.    septa.  Columella.  Calices. 

australensis,  Ed.  &  H.        10  mm,       36-38      rudimentary        oblong;  sometimes 

in  short  series. 
magnifica, 'Ely.        ...         10    ,,  34         well  developed    polygonal. 

A  transverse  section  of  the  Christmas  Island  coral  is  figured  as 
Pig.  4,  and  it  appears  to  be  a  typical  form  of  P.  magnifica.  Two 
well-preserved  specimens  of  the  same  species  were  collected  by 
!Mr.  Andrews  from  the  existing  reefs.  The  fossil  was  found  in  the 
limestones  of  the  sea  cliif,  at  the  mouth  of  Sidney's  Dale. 

Von  Reuss  ^  has  described  as  P.  duhia  an  allied  species  from  the 
Javan  Miocene. 


AnisocoBnia  murrayi,  sp.n. 

Diagnosis. — Corallum  massive.  Corallites  large,  about  15  mm. 
in  diameter,  and  closelj'  united.  Septa  in  five  orders :  those 
belonging  to  the  different  orders  are  of  proportional  lengths. 
The  primary  and  secondary  septa  have  internally  thickened 
palifoi-m  lobes  ;    the  primary  septa,  in  fact,  appear  clavate. 

Distribution. — Orbitoidal  Limestone  of  the  central  nucleus  of  the 
island,  from  fallen  blocks  from  high  cliff  (400  feet)  at  south  end 
of  Flj-ing  Fish  Cove  (IN'o.  964). 

Figure. — PI.  XIX,  Pig.  7.     Part  of  a  transverse  section,  X  2  dia. 

Affinities. — This  interesting  coral  is  represented  by  one  specimen 
in  a  compact  and  apparently  structureless  limestone.  The  coral  is, 
however,  well  shown  in  thin  sections.  Its  nearest  ally  is  the 
Miocene  Anisoccenia  crassisepta,  Peuss,-  from  which  it  differs  by 
having  the  corallites  more  than  twice  the  size ;  von  Eeuss  gives 
their  diameter  as  7  mm. 


Anisoccenia  favoides,  sp.n. 

Diagnosis.  —  Corallum  massive,  with  the  corallites  small  and 
elongate;  they  vaiy  in  width  from. 2-3 mm.  and  in  length  from 
3-7  mm.  The  corallites  are  closely  united  hy  a  dense  wall. 
Septa  very  short  and  thick,  with  well-marked  dark  lamina.     The 


1  A.  E.  von  Reuss,  Foss.  Kor.  Java  :   Xovara  Raise,  Geol.  Th.,  1867,  vol.  ii, 
p.  167,  pi.  i,  fig.  3. 
.XA.  E.  vonJieuss:;  ibid.,  p.  16G,  pi.  i,  fig.  2. 


Fossil  Corals.  221 

number  of  septa  is  about  14-16.      EnJotheca  scanty,   with  the 
corallites  traversed  b)'  a  large  axial  cavity. 

Bistrihutmi. — Christmas  Island. 

No.  919.     Eeef  on  top  of  the  high  cliff  east  of  Phosphate 
Hill ;  alt.  600  feet. 

Figure. — PI.  XIX,  Fig.  6.    Part  of  a  transverse  section,  x  2  dia. 

Ajfinities.  —  This  species  is  of  interest  as  helping  to  connect 
von  Reuss's  two  genera  Anisoccenia  and  Favoidea,  which,  it  seems 
to  me,  should  be  united,  for  they  agree  in  all  essential  characters. 
The  new  species  resembles  Favoidea  jimghulmi,  Ess.,^  the  tj'pe 
species  of  Favoidea,  by  having  elongated  corallites,  which  appear 
to  divide  by  fission.  A  transverse  section  closelj'  resembles 
von  Reuss's  figure  of  the  corallum  of  his  species.  In  the 
characters  of  the  septa,  however,  this  new  species  most  closely 
resembles  Anisoccenia  ;  for  the  septa  are  thick  and  short,  and 
they  are  traversed  by  the  central  groove,  clearly  indicated  in 
von  Reuss's  figure  (op.  cit.,  pi.  i,  fig.  2b).  The  main  difference 
between  this  new  species  and  those  of  von  Reuss  is,  that  in  both 
the  latter  internal  sections  show  that  the  corallites  are  united  by 
an  exothecal  layer,  whereas  in  the  Christmas  Island  coral  they 
unite  directlj".  This  difference  does  not  seem  to  me  of  much 
importance  in  this  case ;  it  may  be  explained  as  diic  to  comparison 
between  slices  at  different  depths  in  the  corallum. 


Group   FUXGIDA. 

Coscinaraea  andrewsi,  sp.n. 

diagnosis.  —  Corallum  apparently  massive.  Corallites  large, 
about  10  mm.  in  dia.  (possibly  in  short  series).  Columella  well 
developed,  about  2  mm.  in  dia.  Septa  thick,  trabeculate  throughout. 
Three  complete  cycles^  with  representatives  of  the  fourth ;  the 
septa  of  the  third  cycle  are  often  unequal,  and  the  sequence  in 
the  sectors  is  often  asymmetrical.     Synapticulas  rare. 

Distrihution. —  Christmas  Island.  Orbitoidal  Limestone  of  the 
central  nucleus  at  Flj-ing  Fish  Cove.     jS'o.  836. 

Figures. — PI.  XIX,  Fig.  8.     Part  of  a  transverse  section,  X  2  dia. 

Affinities. — The  species  is  founded  on  a  small  fragment,  which, 
however,  shows  the  characters  of  the  corallites  very  distinctly. 
The  genus  is  one  of  much  interest,  as  it  is  one  of  the  Fungids  with 
very  trabeculate  septa.  The  species  differs  from  the  type  C.  monile, 
Forsk.,  by  its  larger  corallites,  which  are  less  elongate  and  more 
regular  in  form.  The  septal  sequence  is  irregular  and  somewhat 
indefinite. 


'  A'oa  Eeuss  :  op.  cit.,  p.  168,  pi.  i,  fig.  4. 


222  Christmas  Island. 

Group    PERFORATA. 
Family  PORITID^. 

Porites,  aff.  lutea,  Edwards  »&  Haime. 

Forites  conglomerata,   var.  Jaime,   Quoy  &  Gaimard,    1833.      Voy.    Astrolabe, 

Zoopli.,  vol.  iv,  p.  249. 
,,  ,,  Dana,    1848.      Zooph.  :    Expl.  Exp.   Wilkes,   vol.  viii, 

p.  561,  pi.  Iv,  fig.  3. 
„         lutea,  Edwards  &  Haime,  1860.     Hist.  nat.  Cor.,  vol.  iii,  p.  180. 

The  genus  Pontes  is  now  undergoing  revision  by  Mr.  Bernard, 
and  until  his  work  is  issued,  identifications  of  recent  species  of  the 
genus  must  be  regarded  as  pro'V'isional.  The  Christmas  Island 
collection  includes  two  fossil  Porites,  with  twelve  well-marked 
septa,  veiy  thin  and  indistinct  walls,  inconspicuous  columella,  and 
the  pali  not  well  developed.  The  diameter  of  the  corallites  is 
about  r5mm.  This  association  of  characters  renders  it  probable 
that  the  species  is  a  close  ally  of  P.  lutea,  which  was  founded 
\)j  Edwards  &  Haime,  practically  on  Dana's  P.  conglomerata. 
Mr.  Stanley  Gardner  suggests  that  P.  lutea  should  be  regarded 
as  a  variety  of  P.  arenosa. 

Distrihution. — On  Christmas  Island. 
Eossil :  Sea  cliff.  Rocky  Point. 

No.  161.     Top  of  the  sea  cliif,  north  coast. 

]S"o.  165.     Lower  part  of  the  sea  cliff. 

jSTo.  997.     Southern  slope  of  the  island;  alt.  350  feet. 


Fig.  5. 


Figure. — Pig.  5.     Part  of  a  transverse  section  of  specimen  from 
Rocky  Point,  X  9  dia. 


FoshU  Corah. 


223 


Porites  belli,  sp.n. 

Diagnosis.  —  Corallum  massive.  Corallites  very  small,  being 
about  l'5mm.  in  diameter.  The  walls  are  thin,  but  verj^  distinct 
in  sections.  The  intermediate  tissue  is  very  naiTow.  The  septa 
lire  from  12  to  16  in  number,  and  very  sinuous  and  irregular.  The 
columella  is  very  small  and  indistinct,  and  so  also  are  the  pali. 
Distrihition. — On  Christmas  Island. 
Fossil : 

Xo.  132.     A  much  altered  specimen  from  the  second 

inland  cliff.     East  coast ;  alt.  550  feet. 
No.  301.     An  altered  specimen  with  thickened  walls. 

Inland  cliff  ;  alt.  250  feet. 
jSTo.  306.     From  inland  cliff  over  West  White  Beaclf. 

I^orth  coast;  alt.  260 feet. 
No.  85  S.     Shore  plateau  at  top  of  sea  cliff.   North -East 

Point ;  alt.  40  feet. 
No.  980.     From  60-80  feet  up  the  first  inland  cliff. 

North  coast ;  alt.  about  120  feet. 
No.       6.     From   a   large   mass    from    south    side    of 
Flying  Fish  Cove. 
?No.  905.     An  altered  coral  from  top  of  the  first  inland 
cliff.     South  of  the  waterfall. 

Figure. — Fig.  6  :  part  of  a  section  of  specimen  No.  609,  X  9  dia. 
Fig.  7 :  part  of  another  specimen  (No.  6),  showing  the  walls 
burrowed  by  a  boring  alga. 


fa^ 

^ 

p 

^P 

m 

^ 

Fig.  6. 


Fig.  7. 


Affinities. — The  Christmas  Island  corals,  on  which  this  species 
is  founded,  include  several  specimens  from  the  limestones  of  the 
sea  cliff  and  the  inland  cliff.     The  species  has  a  well-marked  but 


224  Chridmm  Idand. 

thin  wall,  which  extends  downward  through  the  corallum,  cutting 
it  up  into  well-defined  quadrangular  or  polygonal  corallites.  This 
wall  is  more  definite  intemall)"  than  is  the  case  in  P.  gaimardi. 
The  species  belongs  to  the  group  of  which  P.  arenosa  (Esp.)  is 
a  convenient  type ;  that  form  differs,  however,  by  its  larger 
columella  and  more  regular  and  equal  septa ;  the  corallum  is  said 
to  be  thin  and  encrusting  in  typical  form  of  arenosa^  though  that 
point  is  probably  unimportant. 

In  one  specimen  (Xo.  6,  figd.  Fig.  7)  the  walls  are  tunnelled 
by  some  boring  alga. 


Montipora,  aff.  danae,  Edwards  &  Haime. 

Manopora  tulerculosa  [non  Lam.),  Dana,  1848.     Zooph. :   Expl.  Exp.  "Wilkes, 

vol.  viii,  p.  507,  pi.  xlvii,  fio-.  2. 
Montipora  dana,  Edwards  &  Haime,  1851.     Mon.  Porit. :  Ann.  Sci.  nat.,Zool., 

ser.  Ill,  vol.  xvi,  p.  65. 

Mr.    Andrews'    collection    includes    a    specimen    of    a    massive 
Montipora,    with     calicos     -66  mm.    in    diameter,    separated    by 


•   Fig.  8. 

coenenchyma  of  about  the  same  -nidth,  and  with  six  well-developed 
septa,  and  usually  some  representatives  of  the  second  cycle.  In 
these  characters  it  agrees  with  31.  dance.  Specimens  of  the  genus 
do  not  appear  to  have  been  previously  met  with  as  fossils. 

The  specimen  (No.  364)  was  collected  in  the  first  inland  cliff 
on  the  south  from  West  White  Beach  at  alt.  of  120  feet. 


Fossil  Corals.  225 


FIGURES    m    THE    TEXT. 

Fig.  1.     Leptoria  phrygia  (Ell.  &  Sol.).      Part  of  transverse  section,   x  5  dia. 
No.  306. 

2.  Orbiclla  herklotsi  (Dune).      Part  of  a  transverse  section,  x  7  dia. 
No.  659. 

3.  Orbicella    quadrangitlaris    (Ed.    &    H.),    var.    columnata.      Part    of 
a  transverse  section,  x  1^  dia.     No.  322. 

4.  Frionasfrcea    magmjica   (Blainv.).       Part    of    a    transverse    section, 
X  2  dia.     No.  322. 

5.  Forites,  aff.  lutea,  Ed.  &  H.      Part  of  a  transverse  section,  x  9  dia. 
No.  853. 

6.  Forites  belli,  n.sp.     Part  of  a  transverse  section,  x  9  dia.     No.  609. 

7.  Forites  belli,  n.sp.      Part  of  a  transverse  section  bored  by  an  alga, 
X  9  dia.     No.  6. 

,     8.     Montipora  dancs,  Ed.  &  H.      Part  of  a  transverse  section,   x  12  dia. 
No.  364. 


Q. 


226  Christmas  Island. 


ON   THE   FORAMINIFEEA   OF    THE 

ORBITOIDAL   LIMESTONES   AND   EEEF   EOCKS 

OF    CHEISTMAS   ISLAND. 

By  Professor  T.  Etjpeet  Jones,  F.E.S.,  etc.,  and 
Feedeeick  Chapman,  A.L.S.,  F.E.M.S.,  etc. 

(PLATES  XX  AND  XXI.) 

The  following  has  been  written  in  elucidation  of  the  foraminiferal 
fauna  of  the  rocks  of  Christmas  Island  (Indian  Ocean),  which 
Mr.  Andi'ews  has  kindly  handed  to  us  for  description. 

In  submitting  this  report  we  wish  to  state  that  we  have  made 
it  as  comprehensive  as  possible  in  the  time  at  our  disposal,  and 
hope  at  a  later  date  to  furnish  further  details  with  regard  to  this 
interesting  collection. 

For  the  greater  part  of  the  work  we  have  of  necessity  been 
dependent  upon  thin  sections  for  our  study  and  determination  of 
the  organisms  ;  and  this  at  best  is  somewhat  unsatisfactory.  It 
is  hoped,  however,  that  by  a  careful  examination  of  the  various 
slices  of  rock,  showing  the  organisms  in  their  different  phases, 
the  facts  here  brought  together  will  in  some  measure  extend  the 
knowledge  of  the  association  and  habits  of  growth  of  these  small, 
but  most  important,  I'ock-builders. 

It  is  now  proposed  to  describe  the  general  microscopic  structure 
both  of  the  fossil  and  the  recent  limestones,  in  their  order  of  age 
as  far  as  possible  ;  and  to  give  concise  accounts  of  any  foraminifera 
which  appear  to  be  new. 

Teetiaet  LniESTONES  OF  Flying  Fish  Cove. 

The  most  complete  section  of  the  older  rocks  of  Christmas 
Island  is  that  seen  in  Flying  Fish  Cove  ;  and  for  this  reason 
we  chiefly  confine  our  remarks  to  the  foraminifera  of  the  rocks 
from  this  locality. 

The  oldest  bed  exposed  is  a  yellow  limestone  (No.  2).^  This 
appears  to  be  of  much  earlier  date  than  the  limestones  found 
higher  in  the  sections.  Orhitoides  are  found  in  all  the  limestones 
of  this  section ;  but  those  of  No.  2  are  of  the  type  associated 
with  rocks  of  Nummulitic  (Eocene  and  Oligocene)  age,  whilst  the 
Orbitoidal  limestones  which  follow  are  probably  of  Miocene  age. 


1  These  num'bers  are  those  employed  in  Mr.  Andrews'  collection  of  rocks. 


Foraminiferal  Limestones.  227 

This  yellow  limestone  is  composed  largely  of  foraminifera ;  and, 
besides  these,  it  contains  polyzoa  and  Lithothamnion,  both  branching 
and  massive.  The  organisms  are  imbedded  in  a  fine-grained  calcitic 
rock,  which  seems  to  have  resulted  from  the  crystallization  of 
a  fairly  pure  calcareous  mud.  It  shows  signs  of  having  been 
indurated  by  the  overlying  basalt. 

The  foraminifera  recognized  in  the  thin  slices  of  this  rock  are  as 
follows  : — 

Cristellaria  italica'^  (Defrance). 

J^aracenaria   italica,    Defrance,    1824,    Diet.    Sci.    jSTat.,   vol.    xxxii,    p.    177  ; 

vol.  xlvii  (1827),  p.  344,  Atlas  Conch.,  pi.  xiii,  fig.  6. 
■Cristellaria  italica  (Defr.\  Brady,   1884,  Eeport  Challenger,  vol.  ix,  p.  544, 

pi.  Ixviii,  figs.  17,  18,  20-23. 

A  nearly  complete  lateral  and  vertical  section  occurs  in  this 
slide  (jS'o.  2). 

Cristellaria  rotulata'^  (Lamarck). 

ZcnticHlitcs  rotulata,  Lamarck,  1804,  Anuales  du  Museum,  vol.  v,  p.  188,  No.  3  ; 

Tabl.  Encycl.  Meth.,  pi.  466,  fig.  o. 
C)isfellaria  rotulata   (Lamarck),   Brady,   1884,    Rep.   Chall.,  vol.  ix,  p.   547, 

pi.  Ixix,  figs.  13«,  b. 

A  vertical  section,  traversing  from  aperture  to  the  opposite  edge 
in  the  septal  plane. 

Glohigerina  hulloides,  d'Orbigny. 

G.  bidloiclcs,  d'Orbigny,  1826,  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.,  vol.  vii,  p.  277,  No.  1 ;  Modele, 
No.  IQ  and  (young)  No.  17  ;  Brady,  1884,  Eep.  Chall.,  vol.  ix, 
p.  593,  pi.  Ixxvii,  and  pi.  Ixxix,  figs.  3-7. 

A  specimen  somewhat  fragmentary,  but  probably  belonging  to 
the  above  sj)ecies. 

Planorlidina  mediterratiensis,  d'Orbigny. 

1'.  mediterranensls,  d'Orb.,  1826,  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.,  vol.  vii,  p.  280,  No.  2,  pi.  xiv, 
figs.  4-6  ;  Modele,  No.  79  ;  Brady,  1884,  Eep.  Chall.,  vol.  ix, 
p.  656,  pi.  xcii,  figs.  1-3. 

Several  specimens,  with  a  more  or  less  neatly  rounded  contour, 
like  that  of  the  above  species,  appear  in  our  rock-sections. 

Truncatulina  lohatula  ("Walker  &  Jacob), 

Xantilas  lohatuhis,  Walker  &  Jacob,   1798,  Adams'  Essays,  Kanmacher's  ed., 

p.  642,  pi.  xiv,  fig.  36. 
Trttncaialina  lohatula,  Brady,  1884,  Eep.  Chall.,  vol.  ix,  p.  660,  pi.  xcii,  fig.  10; 

pi.  xciii,  figs.'l,  4,  5;  pi.  105,  figs.  4,  5. 


228  Christmas  Island. 

This  form  is  here  represented  by  numerous  examples  cut  in 
various  directions ;  thus  a  good  idea  may  be  gathered  of  the  actual 
shape  of  the  test. 

The  shell-wall  is  fairly  thin  and  simple,  and  the  test  is  fiat  on 
the  upper,  and  evenly  inflated  on  the  inferior,  face.  In  the 
regularity  of  the  chambers  this  form  agrees  very  closety  with 
the  variety  figured  by  d'Orbigny  from  the  Miocene  of  Vienna 
under  the  name  of  Truncatulina  boueana,^  which  form  has  been 
included  in  the  synonymy  of  T.  lobatula  by  H.  B.  Brady.  The 
chances  that  these  sections  represent  a  Pulvinulina  are  small,  on 
account  of  the  comparative  thinness  and  simplicity  of  the  outer 
walls  of  the  chambers,  although  the  two  genera  have  isomorphous 
forms. 

Pulvinulina  repanda  (Fichtel  &  Moll).     (PI.  XX,  Pig.  1.) 

NaHtxlns  repandus,  Fichtel  &  Moll,  1798,  Test,  micr.,  p.  35,  pi.  iii,  figs.  a-d. 
Rotalia  repanda  (F.  &  M.),  Parker  &  Jones,  1860,  Ann.  Mag.  Nat.   Hist., 

ser.  Ill,  vol.  T,  p.  175,  No.  25. 
Fukinula  repanda  (F.  &  M.),  P.  &  J.,  in  Carpenter,  1862,  Introd.  Foram., 

p.  210. 
Placentula  repanda  (F.  &  M.),  Berthelin,  1878,  Foram.  Bourgneuf  et  Pornichet, 

p.  41,  No.  68. 
Pulvinulina   repanda    (F.    tS:   M.),   Terrigi,   1880,    Atti   dell'    Accad.    Pontif., 

ann.  xxxiii,  p.  206,  pi.  iii,  fig.  61  ;    Brady,  1884,  Kep.  Cliall., 

vol.  ix,  p.  684,  pi.  civ,  figs.  18<r-c. 

Several  good  transverse  and  vertical  sections  of  a  pulvinuline 
form,  with  a  thick  test,  and  with  characteristically  coarse  pores, 
have  been  noted  in  the  yellow  limestone  (jS"©.  2)  [see  photograph, 
Fig.  1].  The  average  diameter  of  the  test  is  aV  inch.  These 
examples  compare  most  closely  with  the  above  species,  which  is 
verj'  frequent  and  large  in  the  coral-sands  at  the  present  time.  To 
aid  the  comparison,  a  section  of  a  recent  specimen  has  been  made 
and  examined,  and  bears  out  this  conclusion. 

Rotalia  scJiroeteriana,  Parker  &  Jones. 

R.   sehrocieriana  (Parker   &   Jones   MS.),    Carpenter,    1862,    lutrod.    Foram., 

p.  213,  pi.  xiii,  figs.  7-9. 
S.  tuberosa,  Karrer,  1867,  Sitzungsb.  k.  Akad.  "Wiss.  Wien,  vol.  Iv,  p.  349, 

pi.  i,  fig.  4. 
£.  schroeteriana,  Parker  &  Jones,  Brady,  1884,  Eep.  ChalL,  vol.  ix,   p.  707, 

pi.  105,  figs.  la-c. 

Amongst  the  rotaline  sections  in  specimen  No.  2  there  are  some 
strongly  developed  examples,  coarsely  porous,  sub- orbicular,  and 
with  the  surface  irregularly  relieved  with  rounded  prominences. 
These  specimens  appear  to  agree  most  nearly  with  the  above 
species.  R.  schroeteriana  has  been  described  from  Miocene  deposits, 
and  is  also  found  li\'ing  in  the  Eastern  Archipelago. 


1  Foram.  Foss.  Yienne,  1846,  p.  169,  pi.  ix,  figs.  24-26. 


Foraminiferal  Limestones.  229 

Gypsina  globulus  (Eeuss). 

Ceriopora  globulus,  Eeuss,  1847,  Haidinger's  Naturw.  Abhandl.,  vol.  ii,  p.  33, 

pi.  V,  fig.  7. 
OrbitoUna  Icevis,  Parker  &  Jones,  1860,  Ann.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  ser.  iii,  vol.  vi, 

p.  31,  No.  7. 
Tinoponis pilaris,  Brady,  1876,  Ann.  Soc.  Malac.  Belg.,  vol.  vi,  p.  103. 
Tinopontis  baculntus  (Montfort),  var.  sphcvroidalis,  Carter,  1877,  Ann.  Mag.  Nat. 

Hist.,  ser.  iv,  vol.  xix,  p.  215,  pi.  xiii,  figs.  18,  20. 
Gypsina  vcsiciilaris  (Piirker  &  Jones),  var.  sphccroidalis.  Carter,  1877,  Ann.  Mag. 

Nat.  Hist.,  ser.  iv,  vol.  xx,  p.  173. 
Gypsina  glubithis  (Eeuss),  Brady,  1884,  Eep.  Cliall.,  vol.  ix,  p.  717,  pi.  101,  fig.  8. 

This  Tvell-known  species  is  frequent  in  coral  deposits  througliout 
the  Tcrtiaries  and  in  recent  times.  Their  circular  sections  are 
numerously  represented  in  this  limestone.  The  average  diameter 
of  these  specimens  is  about  2-4  inch. 

Amphistegina  lessonii,  d'Orbigny. 

A,  lessonii,  d'Orbigny,  1826,  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.,  vol.  vii,  p.  304,  No.  3,  pi.  ivii, 

figs.  1-4. 
A.  lessonii,  d'Orbigny  :    Brady,  1884,   Eep.   ChalL,  vol.  ix,   p.  740,  pi.  HI, 

figs.  1-7. 

This  species  is  common  in  the  sections  now  described,  and  it  is 
of  fairly  average  size.  A.  lessonii  occurs  in  many  of  the  Tertiary 
strata  dating  from  the  Eocene  ;  and  it  is  common  at  the  present 
time  in  tropical  and  sub -tropical  seas. 

Heterostegina  depressa,  d'Orbigny.     (PL  XX,  Fig.  1.) 

H.  depressa,  d'Orbigny,  1826,  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.,  vol.  vii,  p.  305,  pi.  xvii,  figs.  5-7  ; 

Modele,  No.  99. 
H.  antillarum,  d'Orbigny,  1839,  Forara.  Cuba,  p.  121,  pi.  vii,  figs.  24,  25. 
R.  helvetica,  Kaufmann,   1867,   Geol.   Beschreib.  des  Pilatus,  p.  153,  pi.   ix, 

figs.  6-10. 
H.   depressa,  d'Orbigny:   Brady,  1884,  Eep.  Chall.,  vol.  ix,  p.   746,  pi.   112, 

figs.  14-20. 

Numerous  examples  of  the  above  species  appear  in  the  sections 
of  limestone  ^0.  2.  They  are  of  moderately  large  size,  averaging 
one-sixth  of  an  inch  in  width.  These  specimens  also  exhibit  the 
large  flange-like  portion  strongly  developed  ;  and  which,  when 
isolated  from  the  major  part  of  the  shell,  may  easily  be  mistaken 
for  one  of  the  thick  Cycloclypeincd.  The  specimens  seen  in  these 
sections  also  show  the  transverse  subdivision  of  the  chambers  into 
chamberlets,  thus  being  distinguished  from  the  closely  allied 
Operculina. 

Orbitoides  {Discocyclina)  dispansa  (Sowerby).     (PI.  XX,  Fig.  1.) 

Lycoplirit  dispansiis,  Sowerby  (1837),  Trans.  Geol.  Soc.  Lond.,  ser.  11,  vol. 
(1840),  pp.  327  and  718,  pi.  xxiv,  figs.  16  and  16a,  b. 


230  Christmas  Island. 

Orbitulites  dispansa  (Sow.),  d'Archiac,  1850,  Histoire  progres  Geologie, 
"Tableau  de  la  Faiine  nummulitique,"  vol.  iii,  p.  230. 

Lycophris  dispansus,  Sow.,  Carter,  1853,  Ann.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  ser.  ii,  vol.  xi, 
p.  172,  pi.  vii,  figs.  23-29 ;  (1853),  Journ.  Bombay  Br.  R.  Asiatic 
Soc.,  vol.  V,  pt.  18,  p.  136,  pi.  ii,  figs.  23-29  ;  1857,  Geol.  Papers 
Western  India,  p.  451,  pi.  xviii,  figs.  16,  16a,  16J,  and  p.  545, 
pi.  xxiii,  figs.  23-29. 

Orhitoides  dispansa  (Sosv.),  Carter,  1861,  Ann.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  ser.  iii,  vol.  viii, 
p.  447,  pi.  xvi,  fig.  1  ;  pi.  xvii,  fig.  1. 

Orhitoides  {Discoci/cUiia)  dispansa  (Sow.),  Giimbel,  1868  (1870),  Abhandl. 
m.-ph.  CI.  k.  bayer.  Ak.  "Wiss.,  vol.  x,  p.  701,  pi.  iii,  figs.  40-47. 

Orhitoides  dispansa  (Sow.),  Hantken,  1871,  A  magy.  kir.  foldt.  int.  evkonyve, 
vol.  X,  p.  132,  pi.  ii,  figs.  10«,  h ;  and  Mitth.  Jahrb.  k.  ungar. 
geol.  Anstalt,  vol.  i,  p.  138,  pi.  ii,  figs.  lOa,  b ;  Brady,  1875, 
Geol.  Mag.,  dec.  n,  vol.  ii,  p.  536,  pi.  xiv,  figs.  2a,  h,  c; 
Hantken,  1875  (1876),  A  magy.  kir.  foldt.  int.  evkonyve,  vol.  iv, 
p.  72,  pi.  xi,  fig.  3 ;  and  Mitth.  Jahrb.  k.  ungar.  geol.  Anstalt, 
vol.  iv,  1875  (1881),  p.  82,  pi.  xi,  fig.  3;  Fritsch,  1878, 
Palajontographica,  Suppl.  iii.  Lief,  i,  p.  142,  pi.  xviii,  fig.  10  ; 
pi.  xix,  fig.  8 ;  Brady,  1878,  Jahrb.  Mijn.  Ned.  Oost-Indie, 
vol.  vii,  pt.  2,  p.  164,  pi.  ii,  figs.  2a-c ;  Medlicott  &  Blanford, 
1879,  Geol.  India,  pp.  340  and  459,  pi.  xv,  fig.  8. 

Orhitoides  [DiscoojcUna)  dispansa  (Sow.),  Biitschli,  1880,  in  Bronn,  Klassen, 
etc.,  Thier-Reichs,  p.  216,  pi.  xii,  fig.  16. 

Orhitoides  dispansa  (Sow.),  Martin,  1881,  Samml.  geol.  Eeichs-Mus.  Leiden  [1], 
vol.  i.  Heft  2,  p.  112,  pi.  vi,  figs.  1-3. 

Orhitoides  {DiscocycUna)  dispansa  (Sow.),  Jennings,  1888,  Geol.  Mag.,  dec.  iii, 
vol.  V,  p.  530,  pi.  xiv,  fig.  6. 

Orhitoides  dispansa  (Sow.),  Verbeek,  1891,  "Voorloopig  Bericht  over  Nummu- 
lieten,  Orbitoiden,  en  Alveolinen  van  Java,"  Nat.  Tijdschr.  v. 
Nederl. -Indie,  vol.  Ii,  p.  120,  figs,  ^a,  h  ;  Yerbeek  &  Fennema, 
1896,  "  Descr.  geol.  Java  et  Madoura,"  vol.  i,  pi.  ix,  figs. 
148,  149;   pi.  X,  figs.  158-160;   vol.  ii,  p.  1173. 

It  has  been  noticed  by  previous  authors,  who  have  described 
Orhitoides  from  the  Eastern  Archipelago  and  India,  that  the  older 
strata  comprising  the  Eocene  and  Oligocene  are  characterized  by 
the  type  of  Orhitoides  limited  by  the  subgenus  Biscocyclina,  which 
has  the  chambers  of  the  median  plane  of  a  rectangular  shape  ; 
whilst  the  Miocene  strata  yield  Orhitoides  of  the  subgeneric  type 
Lepidocyclina,  which  has  the  median  chambers  lozenge-shaped  or 
subcircular. 

The  present  section  (No.  2)  shows  a  few  examples  of  Orhitoides 
somewhat  fractured  on  the  flanged  portion.  Some  of  these  frag- 
ments of  the  flange  are  turned  in  upon  the  plane  of  section,  thus 
accurately  showing  the  shape  of  the  median  chambers,  and 
conclusively  prove  the  affinit}^  of  the  present  species  to  the 
Biscocyclince.  Special  attention  is  drawn  to  this  occurrence,  since 
the  great  mass  of  the  Orbitoidal  Limestone  of  Christmas  Island 
is  composed  of  Lepidocyclince^  and  are  therefore  presumably  of 
Miocene  age,  whilst  these  now  mentioned  are  possibly  of  Upper 
Eocene  or  Oligocene  age. 


Foraminiferal  Limestones.  231 

At  the  actual  contact  of  the  basalt  with  the  limestone  bed 
just  described,  the  rock  is  composed  of  comminuted  limestone 
intermingled  with  granules  of  glassy  basalt  or  palagonite  (specimen 
No.  3).  In  the  limestone  fragments  of  this  rock  foraminifera, 
such  as  Heterosteg  171(1,  can  still  be  distinguished,  but  they  are  much 
altered  by  the  action  of  heat  from  the  basalt. 


The  rock  (No.  522)  above  the  first  basalt  sheet  is  a  yellowish 
limestone,  not  quite  so  dark  as  No.  2,  and,  as  far  as  can  be  seen, 
is  devoid  of  Orbitoides.  The  foraminifera  are  as  a  whole  somewhat 
different  from  that  of  the  preceding  limestone  (Ko.  2).  Besides 
foraminifera,  which  are  here  numerous,  there  are  remains  of 
polyzoa,  echinoderm  spines,  Lithothamnion,  and  other  calcareous 
algfe.  The  rock  is  granular  or  hemicrystalline,  whilst  here  and 
there  it  shows  traces  of  travertine  structure  possibly  due  to  the 
deposition  of  carbonate  of  lime  from  the  flow  of  warm  or  heated 
currents  of  water. 

The  foraminifera  observed  in  sections  of  this  limestone  (522)  are 
as  follows : — 

?  Troehammina,  sj). 

Textularia  rugom  (Reuss). 

Flecanium  riigosiini,  Reuss,  1869,  Sitzungsb.  k.  Ak.  Wiss.  Wien,  vol.  lix,  p.  453, 
pi.  i,  figs.  3«,  b. 

The  specimen  in  our  section  shows  the  irregular  contour,  similar 
to  that  of  the  above-mentioned  species.  It  is  usually  found 
associated  with  coral  reefs. 

Bolivina  heyriclii,  Eeuss. 
BoUvina  pygmcea,  Erady.     Rare. 
?  Sph(Broidina.     Spherical  segments. 
?  Pidlenia,  sp.     Very  rare. 

Truncatulma  lohatula  (Walker  &  Jacob). 

As  in  the  former  rock- specimen,  this  species  is  fairly  common  in 
the  sections.  A  few  of  the  examples  are  higher  in  the  vertical 
line,  and  therefore  more  nearly  resembling  T.  refulgens  (Montfort). 

Pulvinulina  repanda  (F.  &  M.). 
One  or  two  examples  of  this  species  are  present  also  in  this  rock. 
Gypsina  globulus  (Reuss).     Several  fine  specimens. 


232  Christmas  Island. 

Rotalia  schroeteriana  (Parker  &  Jones). 

Some  very  excellent  sections,  in  both  transverse  and  vertical 
direction,  are  seen  in  this  specimen  (No.  522). 

Rotalia  clathrata,  Brady.     (PI.  XX,  Fig.  2.) 
Rotalia  clathrata,  Brady,  1884,  Rep.  Cliall.,  vol.  ix,  p.  709,  pi.  107,  figs.  8,  9. 

One  of  the  more  striking  forms  in  No.  522  may  be  referred  to 
the  above  species.  In  section  the  surface  reticulation  is  represented 
by  square-ended  projections.  The  shell- wall  in  this  species,  as  in 
the  other  allied  Rotalioi,  is  coarsely  tubulated.  Longest  diameter 
of  the  test  -^g  inch. 

This  is  not  an  isolated  instance  of  a  recent  species  occurring  for 
the  first  time  in  the  Miocene  of  Christmas  Island,  as  will  be  seen 
by  referring  to  subsequent  pages.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that 
this  rare  form  has  been  found  only  in  the  8outh  Pacific,  in  shallow 
or  moderately  shallow  water. 

Gypsina  globulus  (Reuss). 

This  species  is  represented  in  this  rock- section  by  several 
specimens.  They  are  rather  more  irregular  in  internal  structure 
than  those  of  the  preceding  limestone  (No.  2),  and  are  altogether 
smaller  in  size. 

Amphistegina  lessonii,  d'Orbigny. 

This  is  again  common  in  the  section  before  us.  It  may  be 
distinguished  from  Pulvinulina  elegans  (d'Orb.)  by  the  sigmoid 
form  of  the  septa  and  the  alar  extension  of  the  chambers  on  the 
inferior  surface, 

Heterostegina  depressa,  d'Orbigny. 

Frequent,  but  not  so  common  as  in  the  foregoing  limestone 
(No.  2). 


The  last-mentioned  limestone  (No.  522)  is  succeeded  by  a  second 
sheet  of  basalt  with  accompanying  beds  of  tuff.  The  limestones 
which  follow  are  of  considerable  thickness,  and  as  a  rule  are 
crowded  with  Orhitoides ;  although  there  are  some  exceptions 
where  these  are  rare. 

The  genus  Orhitoides  is  represented,  in  the  limestones  now  about 
to  be  described,  by  the  Lepidocyclinc  subgenus  only,  and  this 
seems  to  indicate  that  the  beds  are  related  to  others,  in  the  same 


Foramiiu feral  Limestones.  233 

geographical  area,  which  have  been  -well  investigated  for  their 
microzoic  fauna  and  are  of  Pliocene  age.' 

The  first  of  the  Miocene  Orbitoidal  Limestones  is  specimen 
No.  924,  which  was  taken  in  contact  with  the  basalt  bed  above 
referred  to,  and  to  the  south  of  Flying  Fish  Cove  at  Smith  Point. 
Thin  slices  of  this  rock  exhibit  layers  of  travertine,  differing  from 
the  previous  occurrence  in  being  evenly  stratified  and  not  filling 
up  angular  cavities.  This  was  probably  formed  by  deposition  from 
warm  currents  flowing  over  an  evenly  laid,  sandy  sea- bottom. 
The  rock  itself  is  roughly  crystalline,  with  many  organic  particles 
interspersed  ;  these  latter  are  of  an  ash-grey  colour,  with  the 
(;xception  of  the  more  gigantic  forms  as  Orhitoides  and  Carpenteria, 
which  are  yellowish  brown. 

The  organisms  present  in  limestone  jS^o.  924  consist  of  polyzoa, 
cchinoderm  spines,  foi'aminifera,  and  Lithothamnion. 

The  foratninifera  are  as  follows  : — 

Spi'roloculina,  sp. 

In  the  more  finely  grained  material  of  this  rock  there  are  one 
■or  two  examples  of  a  small  Spiroloculina,  of  the  type  of  Sp. 
asperula,  Karrer,-  or  Sp.  nitida,  d'Orbigny  ^ ;  but,  owing  to  the 
obscui'ation  of  the  specimens  by  the  surrounding  material,  it  is 
difficult  to  say  whether  the  test  is  finely  arenaceous  or  not. 

Miliolina  trigonula  (Lamarck). 

Miliolitcs  trigonula,   Lamarck,   1804,  Ann.  du  Mus,   vol.   v,   p.   351,   No.   3  ; 

1822,  Auim.  sans  Vert.,  vol.  vii,  p.  612,  No.  3. 
Miliolina  trigonula  (Lam.),  Brady,   1884,  Eep.  Chall.,  vol.  ix,  p.  164,  pi.  iii, 

iigs.  14-16. 

Several  specimens  occur  in  No.  924.  It  is  a  well-known 
Tertiary  form  ;  and  in  recent  deposits  is  at  home  in  depths  down 
to  100  fathoms. 

Miliolina  stibrotunda  (Montagu). 

VnrmicitUtm  suhrotiindHin,  Montag-ii,  1803,  Test.  Brit.,  pt.  ii,  p.  .521. 
Miliolina  subrotunda  (Montagu),  Brady,  1884,  Itep.  Chall.,  vol.  ix,  p.  168,  pi.  v, 
figs.  10,  11. 

This  species  is  well  seen  in  the  sections  and  distinguished  by 
its  subcircular  contour.  It  has  occurred  in  other  Miocene  deposits, 
and   is   frequent   as  an   inhabitant   of   moderately   shallow  water 


'  See  Verbeek  &  Fennema,  "  Descr.  geol.  Java  et  Madoura,"  Appendix,  vol.  ii, 
1896.  Also  Newton  &  Holland,  Ann.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  ser.  vii,  vol.  iii, 
pp.  2.56,  2.57. 

'^  Sitzuugsb.  k.  Ak.  "Wiss.  AVien,  vol.  Ivii,  1868,  p.  13B,  pi.  i,  fig.  10. 

3  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.,  vol.  vii,  1826,  p.  298,  No.  4. 


234  Christmas  Island. 

around  certain  coasts ;  and  it  is  especially  common  in  some  coral- 
sand  deposits.  In  this  limestone,  I^o.  924,  M.  suhrotunda  is  fairly- 
common, 

IfiUolina  '^.  oblong  a  (Montagu). 

Vcrmicuhim  ohlongum,  Montagu,  1803,  Test.  Brit.,  p.  522,  pi.  xiv,  fig.  9. 
MilioUna  oblonga  (Montagu),  Brady,  1884,  Eep.  ChalL,  vol.  ix,  p.  160,  pi.  v,. 
figs.  4«,  b. 

A  specimen  occurs  in  this  limestone,  probably  referable  to  the 
above  species. 

?  Uvigerina,  near  bnmnensis,  Karrer. 

Uvigerina  bnmnensis,  Karrer,  1877,  Geol.  k.  F.-J.  Wasserleitung,  p.  385, 
pi.  xvi^>,  fig.  49;  Brady,  1884,  Rep.  Chall.,  vol.  ix,  p.  577, 
pi.  Ixxv,  figs.  4,  5. 

This  is  a  vertical  section  of  a  test  which  closely  resembles 
a  strongly  inflated  TJvigerina.  In  outline  it  may  be  compared 
with  the  above  form,  which  was  recorded  by  Karrer  from  Tertiary 
strata  at  Berchtoldsdorf,  near  Yienna.  Our  specimen  has  a  rather 
large  globose  primordial  chamber.  The  test  measures  -^i  inch 
(1-04  mm.)  in  length,  which  is  equal  to  other  recorded  specimens. 

Glohigerina  hulloides,  d'Orbigny. 
One  specimen  occurs  in  our  slides  of  No.  924. 

Glohigerina  conglolata,  Brady.     (PI.  XX,  Fig.  3.) 

Brady,  1879,  Quart.  Journ.  Micr.  Sci.,  new  ser.,  vol.  xix,  p.  72;  idem,  1884, 
Kep.  Chall.,  vol.  ix,  p.  603,  pi.  Ixxx,  figs.  1-5  ;  pi.  Ixxxii,  fig.  5. 

This  appears  to  be  the  first  recorded  occurrence  of  the  above 
species  in  the  fossil  condition.  Two  fine  specimens  were  seen  in 
our  sections  of  IN'o.  924. 

Planorhulina,  sp.  near  acervalis,  Brady. 

Growing  upon  some  of  the  larger  organisms,  and  also  upon 
fragments  of  consolidated  material  in  the  rock,  maj'  be  seen  many 
specimens  of  an  adherent  foraminifer,  possibly  to  be  referred  to  the 
above  species.^  The  chambers  arc  more  crowded  or  compressed 
in  this  form  than  in  the  somewhat  similar  Oypsina  inhcerens. 

Truncatulina  lohatula  ("W.  &  J.). 

A  solitary  specimen  of  the  above  was  noticed  in  our  sections 
of  No.  924. 


Rep.  Chall.,  vol.  ix,  1884,  p.  657,  pi.  xcii,  fig.  4. 


Foraminiferal  Limestones.  235 

Carpenteria,  sp.  near  C.  lithothamnica,  TJhlig. 

Carpenteria  lithothamnica,   Uhlig,    1886,    Jahrb.   k.   k.   geol.    Reichsaustalt, 
vol.  xxxvi,  p.  189,  pi.  T,  figs.  1-3. 

A  somewhat  crushed  specimen  of  Carpenteria  occurs  in  a 
section  of  No.  924.  In  some  respects  it  agrees  with  Uhlig's 
C.  lithothamnica,  of  which  he  also  figures  a  section  (fig.  3,  loc.  cit.). 
Our  specimen  also  bears  points  of  resemblance  to  C.  monticidaris, 
Carter.^     It  is  in  lateral  measurement  one-eighth  of  an  inch. 

This  occurrence  of  Carpenteria  in  rocks  as  old  as  the  Miocene  is 
interesting ;  and,  until  Uhlig's  discovery  of  them  in  the  Tertiary 
beds  of  the  Carpathians,  and  Sir  John  Murray's  record  of  them 
from  the  rocks  of  Malta, ^  they  appear  to  have  been  unknown  as 
fossils. 

Polytreina  miniaceum  (Pallas). 

Millepora  miniacea,  Pallas,  1766,  Elenchus  Zoophytorum,  p.  251. 

M.  miniacea  (Pallas),  Liuue,  1788,  Syst.  Nat.,  13th  (Gmeliu's)  ed.,  vol.  i,  pt.  6, 

p.  3784,  No.  6. 
Folytrema  miniacsiim  (Liune),  Brady,  1884,  Eep.  ChalL,  vol.  ix,  p.  721,  pi.  100, 

figs.  5-9  ;  pi.  101,  fig.  1. 

In  our  section  of  No.  924  there  are  several  conical  foraminiferal 
organisms,  and  tapering  branchlets  which  strongly  resemble  the 
sections  of  P.  miniaceum  seen  in  recent  reef-rocks,  and  notably 
those  from  the  Funafuti  atoll.  The  specimens  here  under  notice 
have  a  basis  of  rounded  cellules,  to  which  are  added  superficial 
layers  of  chambcrlets,  elongated  in  the  upward  direction  of  growth. 
There  are  apparently  no  reliable  records  of  this  genus  from  fossil 
deposits. 

Amphistegi7ia  lessonii,  d'Orbigny. 
This  species  is  here  very  rare. 

Seterostegina  depressa,  d'Orbigny. 
This  form  is  also  very  rare  in  this  limestone. 

Orhitoides  {Ze2ndoci/clina)  neodispansa,  sp.  no  v.     (PI.  XX,  Fig.  3.) 

Test  discoidal,  thicker  in  the  centre  and  surrounded  by  a  peri- 
pheral flange.  The  curve  from  the  centre  to  the  edge  makes 
a  more  sudden  sweep  than  it  does  in  0.  papyracea  and  its  Miocene 
analogue  0.  verheeki.  The  surface  of  the  test  studded  with  bosses 
of  solid  shell  material,  which  are  the  salient  bases  of  cones  inserted 


'  Ann.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  ser.  iv,  vol.  xix,  1877,  pi.  xiii,  figs.  9-12. 
'  Scott.  Geogr.  Mag.,  1890,  p.  27  (sep.  copy),  and  pi.  i. 


236  Christmas  Island. 

between  the  regular  flattened  and  cylindrical  chamberlets  of  the 
outer  series  in  Orbitoides.  The  medium  scries  of  chamberlets  are 
somewhat  elliptical  and  alternate  with  one  another.  Average 
breadth  \  inch  (5  mm.);  thickness  -^g  inch  (l'56mm.).  Very 
common  in  No.  924. 

It  is  most  probable  that  the  form  figured  by  Yerbeek  and 
Fennema  (torn,  cit.,  p.  1178,  pi.  xi,  fig.  168)  as  Lepidocyclina, 
species  d,  is  comparable  with  those  we  have  just  described.  The 
dimensions  of  the  former  are  stated  to  be  2imm.,  which  is  about 
half  the  size  of  our  specimens. 


The  limestone  next  in  succession  is  from  the  middle  of  Flying 
Fish  Cove  at  480  feet,  and  its  reference  number  is  571. 

It  is  a  hard  white  limestone  with  dark  spots,  and  it  weathers 
with  a  pitted  surface  and  becomes  splintery.  The  rock  is  partially 
crystallized,  but  the  organisms,  especially  the  foraminifera,  are  not 
thereby  obscured. 

The  organic  contents  of  this  specimen  are  fragments  of  Litho- 
tkamnion,  foraminifera  [Orbitoides  absent),  corals,  and  molluscan 
shells. 

The  foraminifera  present  in  the  sections  of  'No.  571  are  as 
follows : — 

Miliolina  ?  tindosa  (Karrer). 

Qmnquelocidina  tmdosa,  Karrer,  1867,  Sitz.  k.  Ak.  Wiss.  "Wien,  vol.  Iv,  p.  361, 

pi.  iii,  fig.  3. 
Miliolina  uiidosa  (Karrer),   Brady,  1884,  Rep.  Chall.,  Tol.   ix,  p.  176,  pi.  vi, 

figs,  6-8. 

A  transverse  section  of  a  flattened  and  furrowed  Ifilioh'na  is 
seen  in  the  slide  of  No.  571.  It  appears  to  agree  most  nearly 
with  the  above  species. 

Miliolina  aggluti7ia7is  (d'Orbigny). 

Quinqtieloculina  agghitinans,  d'Orbigny,   1839,   Foram.  Cuba,  p.  168,  pi.  xii, 

figs.  11-13. 
Miliolina   agghitinans    (d'Orb),    Brady,    1884,    Rep.   Chall.,   vol.  ix,    p.  180, 

pi.  viii,  figs.  6,  7. 

A  good  transverse  section  of  an  arenaceous  Milioliiia  comparable 
with  M.  agghitinans  occurs  in  No.  571.  The  species  is  an 
inhabitant  of  shallow- water  areas,  and  is  frequent  at  the  present 
day  in  coral-sands. 

?  Gaudryina  papoides,  d'Orbigny. 

A  young  individual  resembling  the  above  species  is  found  in 
No.  571. 


Foraminiferal  LimeHtonex.  237 

Planorhidiyia  ?  mediterranensis,  d'Orbignj-. 

Several  specimens  of  a  Planorhulina  are  seen  in  the  slides  of 
No.  .571,  in  some  cases  adherent  to  other  objects.  One  of  the 
specimens  seen  is  attached  to  the  flanged  portion  of  a  Heterostegina. 

Carpenteria,   spp. 

This  genus  seems  to  have  been  important  in  the  formation  of 
some  of  these  older  limestones.  One  form  here  noticed  closely 
resembles  C.  monticularis  of  Carter.  Another  form,  of  which  there 
are  two  specimens  present,  has  certain  of  the  walls  of  the  test 
strongly  undulated  on  the  outer  surface.  This  modification  may 
possibly  agree  with  the  coarser  form  C.  utriculans,  Carter. 

Rotalia  schroeteriana  ?,  Parker  &  Jones. 

Several  sections  of  a  Rotalia,  possibly  of  the  above  species,  occurs, 
in  No.  571. 

Gypsina  globulus  (Reuss). 
One  very  fine  section  of  this  form  occurs  here. 

Amphistegina  lessonii,  d'Orbigny. 
This  species  is  here  tolerably  common  and  typical  in  form. 

Keterodegina  depressa,  d'Orbigny. 

The  specimens  of  the  above  are  numerous  in  No.  571,  and  are 
very  complanate  or  outspread.  The  sections  of  the  isolated, 
flanged  portions  of  the  test  might  easily  be  mistaken  for 
Cycloclypeiis,  were  the  central  parts  of  the  test  not  present  in 
the  slides. 


No.  861.  Limestone  in  contact  Avith  basalt  and  palagonite  iu 
south  of  Cove.  In  the  limestone  portion  are  large  masses  of 
Lithothamnion  intergrown  with  foraminifera  [Planorhulina) ;  there 
are  also  polyzoa  and  many  foraminifera  present.  The  surface  of 
the  basalt  is  coated  with  a  layer  of  Lithothamnion  and  other 
adherent  and  encrusting  organisms.  Possibly  this  alga,  which  is 
a  peculiar  form  of  Lithothamnion,  could  grow  on  the  rock  whilst 
the  latter  was  still  warm. 

Foraminifera : 

Miliolina,  sp. 

Textularia  rugom  (Reuss).     Common. 

Olohigerina,  sp.,  near pachyderma  (Ehr.).     Veiy  rare. 


238  Christmas  Island. 

Planorlulina  mediterranensis,  d'Orb. 

Planorbulina  larvata,  P.  &  J. 

(Both  the  above  forms  of  Planorlulina  are  intergrown  in  this 
specimen  with  a  massive  Lithoth amnion.) 

Carpenteria  lithotlmmnica  ?,  TJhlig.     Frequent. 

Rtipertia,  sp.  Basal  segments  adherent  to  a  floor  consisting  of 
Lithothamnion,  which  coats  the  surface  of  the  basalt. 

Rotalia  papulosa,  var.  compressitiscula,  Brady.     Yery  common. 

Gypsina  glohulus  (Reuss).     Occasional. 

Ampin  at  erjina  lessonii,  d'Orbigny,     Frequent. 

Heterostegina  depressa,  d'Orbigny.     Several  fragments. 


Towards  the  side  of  the  Cove  whence  the  succession  of  rock 
specimens  now  being  described  were  taken,  two  specimens  were 
.(■ollected  on  either  side  of  a  basaltic  mass,  numbered  229  and 
220  respectively. 

Taking  the  specimen  Xo.  229  first,  it  is  seen  to  have  many 
points  in  common  with  the  specimen  No.  571  noticed  above, 
and  although  it  differs  from  that  rock  in  some  slight  degree  of 
minute  structure,  yet  they  contain  so  much  in  common  and  are  in 
themselves  different  from  those  rocks  immediately  below  and  above 
that  they  are  presumably  different  parts  of  the  same  bed, 

No.  229  is  a  very  hard,  pale  cream-coloured  or  whitish  limestone. 
Thin  sections  of  the  rock  show  it  to  be  composed  of  Litliotliamnion 
in  some  quantity  of  the  laminar  and  investing  type,  many  fora- 
minifcra  (but  no  Orlitoides  present),  echinoderm  plates,  and  polyzoa. 

The  foi^aminifera  in  No.  229  are  as  follows  : — 

Textidaria  riigosa  (Reuss). 
Several  typical  specimens  are  seen  in  this  section. 

Planorhidina  acervalis'^,  Brady. 

The  specimens  referred  doubtfully  to  the  above  species  are 
adherent  and  forming  a  depressed  layer,  with  thin- walled  chambers. 
They  are  fairly  common  in  the  section. 

Carpenteria,  sp.  near  C.  monticularis,  Carter. 

Mostly  fragmentary,  but  there  is  one  example  with  a  perfectly 
enclosed  chamber  -  ca\'ity.  The  separate  pieces  of  the  test  are 
numerous  in  this  section. 

Pulvimdina  repanda  (Fichtel  &  Moll). 
One  good  specimen  was  noticed  in  the  slide  of  No.  229. 


Foraminiferal  Limestones.  239 

Amphistegina  lessofiii,  d'Orbigny. 

The  specimens  of  this  species  are  both  common  and  well- 
developed.  Some  of  the  tests  are  very  thick  and  belong  to  the 
dome-shaped  variety,  which  has  been  often  noticed  under  separate 
specific  names,  from  beds  of  Miocene  age.  This  variety,  however, 
is  not  confined  to  fossil  deposits,  it  having  been  frequently  seen  in 
coral-sands  of  recent  times. 

Heterostegma  depressa,  d'Orbigny, 

This  species  is  here  numerous  and  of  a  somewhat  peculiar  type, 
the  central  portion  being  much  swollen,  whilst  the  flanged  portion 
is  not  so  expansive  as  in  specimens  noticed  earlier  in  this  paper. 


Limestone  No.  220  is  the  rock  from  the  south  side  of  the  basalt 
mass  mentioned,  and  is  entirely  different  from  the  preceding 
specimen.  It  bears  a  strong  resemblance  to  No.  924  previously 
described,  and  there  cannot  be  much  doubt  that  this  specimen  is 
an  extension  of  No.  924. 

It  is  a  pale  or  cream-coloured  limestone,  full  of  Orhitoides. 

Seen  under  the  microscope  parts  of  the  rock  appear  somewhat 
brecciated.  The  rock  is  well  crystallized,  but  nevertheless  the 
organisms  are  i:ierfectly  preserved. 

The  rock  is  composed  of  a  branching  Lithothamnion  (one  specimen 
of  Orhitoides  has  it  growing  upon  the  surface),  foraminifera, 
echinoderm  plates,  polyzoa,  and  moUuscan  shell-fragments. 

The  foraminifera  are  as  follows  :  — 

Carpenteria,  sp. 

This  genus  is  here  represented  by  numerous  fragments  of  the 
shell -wall,  but  it  is  impossible  to  say  to  what  species  it  may 
belong,  although  it  bears  the  same  general  characters  of  the  test 
as  C.  monticiilaris. 

Gypsina  inhcerens  ?  (Schultze). 

There  are  numerous  irregularly  grown  adherent  foraminifera  in 
specimen  No.  220  which  appear  to  belong  to  the  above  species. 

Gypsina  glohuliis  (Reuss). 
One  specimen  in  No.  220. 

Polytrema  miniaceum  (Pallas)  and  var.  involva,  Chapman,  nov. 

One  of  the  adherent  forms  of  the  foraminifera  in  No.  220  is 
very  similar  in  structure  to  the  laminar  or  outspreading  forms  of 


240  Christmas  Island. 

P.  miniaceutn  found  at  Funafuti  and  elsewhere  in  coral  rocl;s,  in 
which  the  foraminifer  alternates  with  other  encrusting  organisms. 
In  this  variety  the  chaniberlets  are  elongated  in  the  direction  of 
growth  or  adherence,  and  the  form  shows  little  or  no  tendencj' 
to  make  the  prolongations  so  characteristic  of  the  type  species. 
Some  of  the  .specimens  of  Polytrema  here  observed  are  more  normal 
in  appearance,  having  the  conical  branching  habit  of  growth. 

AmpMstegina  lessonii,  d'Orbigny. 
This  species  is  common  in  No.  220. 

Seterostegina  depressa,  d'Orbigny. 

This  form  is  rare,  and  not  strongly  developed  in  limestone 
No.  220. 

Orlitoides  neodispansa,  sp.  nov.     (PI.  XX,  Fig.  4.) 

This  species  is  very  common  in  the  specimen  No.  220,  constituting 
about  one-third  of  the  entire  bulk  of  the  rock.  The  specimens 
bear  exactly  the  same  characters  as  those  of  No.  924,  and  are  in 
a  similar  condition  of  preservation. 


No.  219.  "Eastern  edge  of  basalt  mass,  first  inland  cliff.  Smith 
Point."     Close  to  220. 

A  limestone  with  veins  of  basalt  and  palagonite.  This  rock 
contains  LithotJiamnion,  foraminifera,  corals,  and  polyzoa. 

Foraminifera : 

Miliolina  alveoliniformis,  Brady.     Eare. 

Carpenteria,  sp.     Fragments. 
AmpMstegina  lessonii,  d'Orb.     Eare. 
Seterostegina  depressa,  d'Orb.     Common. 

Orhitoides  {Lepidocyclina)  ephippioides,  sp.  nov.     Eare. 


No.  595.  A  fine-grained  limestone  with  included  fragments  of 
palagonitic  material  and  many  foraminifera.  This  rests  upon  the 
bed  of  palagonite  tuff  seen  in  the  face  of  the  Southern  Cliff  (Batoe 
merah^). 

Foraminifera : 

Orhulina  universa,  d'Orb.     Frequent. 
Glohigerina  hulloides,  d'Orb.     Common. 
Gloligerina  diihia,  Egger.     One  specimen. 
Discorbina,  sp.     Eare. 


1  See  p.  277. 


Foraminiferal  Limestones.  241 

Planorhulma,  sp.     Frequent. 
Truncatulina  lobatula  (W.  &  J.).     Rare. 
Polytrema  miniaceiim  (Pallas).     ITumerous  fragments. 
Amphistegiiia  lessotiii,  d'Orb.     Eare. 


No.  596.  Flying  Fish  Cove  (Batoe  merah'),  above  595  and 
below  841. 

An  organic  limestone  with  some  secondary  calcareous  (aragonitic) 
layers.  The  organic  contents  are  LitJiothamnion,  foraminifera, 
echinoderm  remains,  and  polyzoa. 

Foraminifera : 
Textularia  rugosa  (Reuss).     Rare. 
Carpenteria  utricidaris,  Carter.     Frequent. 
Rotalia  schroeteriana,  P.  &  J.     Frequent. 
Amphistegina  lessonii,  d'Orb.  (thickened  form).     Frequent. 
Seterostegina  depressa,  d'Orb.     Common. 


The  next  specimen  to  be  described  is  No.  845,  which  comes 
from  the  southern  end  of  Flying  Fish  Cove.  It  is  a  yellowish 
limestone  composed  very  largely  of  massive  LitJiothamnion. 

In  the  interstitial  portion  of  the  rock  the  following  foraminifera 
were  detected. 

Planorhulina  larvata,  P.  &  J. 

A  few  specimens  of  a  flat  adherent  form  referable  to  the  above 
species. 

Planorhulina  acervalis,  Brady. 

Some  of  the  adherent  planorbuline  forms  are  meandering  and 
thin  or  much  depressed,  and  resemble  P.  acervalis  in  all  their 
characters. 

Gypsina  inhcBrens'i  (Schultze). 

One  or  two  of  the  adherent  specimens  are  of  wandeiing  habit, 
and  the  chambers  are  large  and  inflated.  They  possibly  belong 
to  the  above  species. 

LLeterostegina  depressa,  d'Orbigny. 

Our  section  shows  one  solitary  example  of  this  species  cut 
through  somewhat  obliquely.  The  specimen  is  a  rather  large 
example  of  this  form. 


1  See  p.  277. 


242  Christmas  Island. 

Following  closely  upon  No.  845  is  No.  844,  whicli  we  next 
proceed  to  examine. 

This  is  a  white  limestone  with  numerous  large  Orhitoides 
apparent  on  both  weathered  and  fractured  surfaces.  It  is  finely 
crystallized,  and  the  rock  has  been  fractured  here  and  there  with 
the  rifts  now  infilled  with  clear  secondary  calcite. 

The  organic  contents  of  the  rock  are  Litliothamnion,  many 
foraminifera,  amongst  which  the  Orhitoides  mentioned  are  con- 
spicuous, and  numerous  polyzoa. 

The  foraminifera  are  as  follows  : — 

Spiroloculina  excavata,  d'Orbigny. 

SpirolocuUna  excavata,  d'Orbigny,  1846,  Foram.  Foss.  Vienne,  p.  271,  pi.  xvi, 
figs.  19-21;  Brady,  1884,  Eep.  Chall.,  vol.  ix,  p.  151,  pi.  ix, 
figs.  5,  6. 

A  very  fine  and  perfect  transverse  section  of  the  above  form  was 
noticed  in  No.  844. 

Miliolina  aheoliniformis,  Brady. 
One  Ladividual  in  transverse  section  appears  in  this  slide. 

Sigmoilina,  sp.  near  S.  celata  (Costa). 

Spiroloculina  celata,  Costa,  1855,  Mem.  Accad.  Napoli,  vol.  ii,  p.  126,  pi.  i, 

fig.  14 ;   1856,  Atti  dell'  Accad.  Pont.,  vol.  vii,  pi.  xxvi,  fig.  5. 
Flanispirina  celata  (Costa),  Brady,  1884,  Eep.  Cliall.,  vol.  ix,  p.  197,  pi.  viii, 

figs.  1-4. 
Sigmoilina  celata  (Costa),  Schlumberger,  1887,  Bull.  Soc.  Zool.  France,  vol.  xii, 

p.  Ill,  pi.  vu,  figs.  12-14  ;    Goes,  1896,  Bull.  Mus.  Comp.  Zool. 

Harvard  Coll.,  vol.  xxix.  No.  1,  pt.  20. 

There  is  not  much  doubt  that  our  section  (cut  transversely)  is 
referable  to  the  above  species.  Its  earliest  appearance  as  a  fossil 
has  hitherto  been  in  the  Pliocene  of  the  Mcobar  Islands. 

Textularia  rugosa  (Eeuss). 
Veiy  rare  in  rock-specimen  ISTo.  844. 

Amphistegina  lessonii,  d'Orbigny. 
The  specimens  in  No.  844  are  both  common  and  characteristic. 

Orhitoides  {Lejndocyclina)  insulce-nafalis,  sp.  nov.    (PI.  XX,  Fig.  5.) 

Near  ^^  Lepidocyclina,  spp.  c  and  c',''  Verbeek  &  Fenneraa,  1896,  Descr.  geol. 
Java  et  Madoura,  vol.  i,  pi.  xi,  figs.  166,  167  ;  vol.  ii,  p.  1177. 

This  species  is  very  conspicuous  from  the  later  Miocene  lime- 
stones of  Christmas  Island.      It  is  of  large  dimensions,  being  often 


Foraminiferal  Limestones.  243 


I  inch.  (19  mm.)  in  diameter.  The  form  resembles  a  veiy  large 
0.  dispansa,  and  it  further  resembles  this  species  in  having  the 
central  area  superficially  studded  with  bosses  of  shell-material, 
which  are  the  salient  ends  of  inverted  cones  pointing  towards  the 
median  plane.  "When  the  test  is  cut  thi-ough  tangentially  these 
conical  pillars  appear  as  fibrous  shell-substance  sun'ounding  the 
polygonal  chamberlets.  These  cones  cut  longitudinally  present 
a  striking  appearance  fi'om  their  fibrous  (but  non  -  tubulate) 
structure. 

The  chambers  of  the  median  plane  are  of  that  Lepidocycline  typo 
which,  appears  as  if  imbricated,  from  the  rounded  ends  of  the 
chambers  or  chamberlets  being  alternate  with  those  of  the  adjacent 
rows.  The  median  series  when  cut  through  transversely  is  seen 
to  be  quite  thin  in  the  centre  and  to  increase  greatly  in 
thickness  or  height  towards  the  periphery.  Another  feature  in 
the  chamberlets  of  the  median  plane  is  the  presence  of  stolon 
passages  from  one  to  another,  thus  giving  a  serrated  appearance 
to  the  inner  surfaces  of  the  walls  of  each  chamberlet.  In  this 
latter  feature  this  species  resembles  the  curious  genus  Linderina} 

Average  diameter  across  the  disc  ^  inch  (12'5  mm.) ;  thickness 
i  inch  (5  mm.). 


Next  in  order  of  succession  we  have  No.  562,  which  is  a  pale 
cream-coloured  limestone,  very  compact.  This  is  from  the  upper 
clLff  at  about  500  feet.  Viewed  under  the  microscope  the  rock 
is  seen  to  consist  of  clear  crystalline  calcite,  which  also  fills  the 
cracks  appearing  in  various  directions  throughout  the  rock.  This 
latter  fact  points  to  some  disturbance  of  the  rock  -  mass  after 
consolidation.  The  rock  is  very  full  of  organisms,  consisting  of 
Lithothamnion^  foraminifera  (amongst  which  the  genus  Orhitoides 
plays  an  important  part),  cchinoderm  plates,  and  polyzoa. 

The  following  foraminifera  were  observed  in  specimen  No.  562 : — 

SpirolocuUna,  sp. 

One  or  two  specimens  of  a  neat  Sjnrolomlina  occur  here,  but  it 
is  impossible  to  say  anything  with  regard  to  its  specific  relations 
from  the  sections. 

Miliolina  trigonula  (Lamarck). 

This  is  quite  a  common  form  in  the  sections  of  No.  562.  Its 
relationship  is  clearly  made  out  by  the  number  of  the  specimens, 
cut  in  various  directions. 


1  See   Schlumberger,  Biill.   Soc.  Geol.   France,   ser.  iii,  vol.  xxi,   p.   120, 
figs.  3-5,  ■woodcuts ;  pi.  iii,  figs,  7-9. 


244  Christmas  Island. 


Miliolina  alveoliniformis,  Brady. 

M.  alveoliniformis,  Brady,  1879,  Quart.  Journ.  Micr.  Sci.,  vol.  xix,  n.s.,  p.  54  ; 
idem,  1884,  Rep.  ClialL,  vol.  ix,  p.  181,  pi.  viii,  figs.  15-20. 

The  specimen  in  our  slides  referred  to  the  above  species  presents 
all  the  characters  of  the  typical  If.  alveoliniformis  in  transverse 
section.  It  is  interesting  to  note  this  occurrence  of  M.  alveo- 
liniformis in  the  Tertiary  rocks  for  the  first  time  as  a  fossil.  It  is- 
a  vi^ell-known  form  in  coral  sands,  to  which  deposits  it  seems 
restricted. 

Textularia  rugosa  (Eeuss). 
A  few  specimens  of  the  above  are  seen  in  section  No.  562, 

Planorlulina  mediterranensis  ?,  d'Orbigny. 

To  this  species  we  may  with  some  reservation  ascribe  the  neat 
adherent  forms  of  Flanorlulinm  seen  in  sections  of  No.  562. 

Carpenteria,  sp. 

Numerous  fragments  of  a  Carpenteria  occur  in  these  sections 
(562).  Since  they  have  invariably  been  broken  down  into  quite 
small  pieces,  it  is  not  possible  to  say  anything  with  regard  to  their 
specific  relationship,  excepting  that  they  generally  resemble  the  test 
of  Carpenteria  monticularis,  Carter. 

Amphistegina  lessonii,  d'Orbigny. 
This  is  common  in  the  limestone  now  being  described. 

Heterostegina  depressa,  d'Orbigny. 
This  species  is  frequent  in  No.  562. 

Orhitoides  {Lepidocyclina)  sumatrensis,  Brady.     (PI.  XX,  Pig.  6.) 

Orbitoides  sumatrensis,  Brady,  1875,  Geol.  Mag.,  dec.  ii,  vol.  ii,  p.  536,  pi.  xiv, 
fig.  3 ;  also  Jaarb.  Mijn.  Ned.  Ooste-Indie,  1878,  vol.  vii,  pt.  2, 
p.  165,  pi.  ii,  fig.  3. 

Orbitoides  {Lepidocyclina)  sumatrensis,  Brady :  Newton  &  Holland,  1899,  Ann. 
Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  ser.  vii,  vol.  iii,  p.  259,  pi.  x,  figs.  7-12. 

This  species  was  first  described  from  the  west  coast  of  Sumatra, 
and  Messrs.  Newton  &  Holland  have  lately  recorded  the  same  form 
from  the  Miocene  Limestone  of  Borneo. 

The  species  resolves  itself  into  two  typical  forms,  one  slightly 
different  from  the  other  in  external  shape  and  distinguished  by 
the  primordial  chamber  being  megalospheric  or  microspheric 
respectively.      In    this   rock    0.    sumatrensis    is    associated   with 


Foraminiferal  Limestones.  245 

another  form,  not  so  numerously  represented,  referable  to  the 
species  0.  verheeki.,  which,  it  is  interesting  to  note,  Newton  & 
Holland  described  from  their  Bornean  rocks  as  being  associated 
with  0.  sumatrensis. 

Orhitoides  {Lepidocyclina)  verleeki,  Newton  &  Holland. 

Orhitoides  papyracea,  Brady,  Geol.  Mag.,  1875,  dec.  ii,  vol.  ii,  p.  535,  pi.  xir, 

fig.  1. 
Lepidocyclina,  sp.  g  and  k,  Verbeek   &   Fennema,   Descr.  geol.   de  Java  et 

Madoura,  1896,  vol.  i,  pi.  xi,  figs.  173-175,  177-180  ;   vol.  ii, 

p.  1178. 
Orhitoides  [Lepidocyclina)   verbeeici,  Newton  &  Holland,  1899,  Ann.  Mag.  Nat. 

Hist.,  ser.  vii,  vol.  iii,  p.  259,  pi.  x,  figs.  7-12. 

One  or  two  compressed  forms  of  Orhitoides  belonging  to  the 
above  species  were  found  in  association  with  the  preceding  species. 

Orhitoides  {Lepidocyclina)  neodispansa,  sp.  nov.     (See  p.  235.) 

A  few  fragmentary  specimens  and  one  transverse  section  of  the 
above  form  were  found  in  this  limestone  No.  562.  They  appear 
to  be  slightly  larger,  however,  than  the  typical  forms  described 
from  rock-specimens  Nos.  924  and  220. 


No.  521  is  a  white  limestone,  somewhat  cavernous,  and  with 
a  pitted  surface  when  weathered.  Prom  pinnacles  at  summit  of 
cliff,  at  about  500  feet,  immediately  above  No.  562.  When  viewed 
microscopically  this  rock  varies  from  crystalline  to  finely  granular 
or  amoi-phous  in  different  parts  of  the  same  slide.  The  constituent 
organisms  of  this  limestone  are  Lithothamnion,  many  foraminifera, 
millepores,  and  echinoderm  spines. 

The  following  foraminifera  were  noticed  in  this  rock : — 


^o 


Miliolina  trigonula  (Lamarck). 

Some  typical  sections  of  this  form  are  present  in  our  slides  of 
No.  521. 

Miliolina  tricarinata  (d'Orbigny). 

Triloculina   tricarinata,   d'Orbigny,    1826,  Ann.   Sci.  Nat.,    vol.    vii,  p.  299, 

No.  7;  Modele,  Mo.  94. 
Miliolina   tricarinata   (d'Orb.),    Brady,    1884,   Eep.    Chall.,  vol.    ix,   p.   165, 

pi.  iii,  figs.  17«,  5. 

This  species  is  a  well  -  known  Tertiary  form  ;  it  occurs  in 
specimen  No.  521,  associated  with  the  previous  and  other  somewhat 
obscure  species  of  Miliolifice. 


246  Christmas  Island. 


Carpenteria  capitata,  sp.  nov.     (PI.  XX,  Fig.  7.) 

Test  normally  adherent,  of  a  somewhat  erect  habit  of  growth. 
The  earliest  -  formed  chambers  are  narrow  and  somewhat  like 
those  of  the  conical-shaped  CarpentericB,  and  these  are  followed 
by  a  rudely  spiral  series  of  sub- globular  chambers,  the  walls  of 
which  are  thicker  than  those  of  the  proximal  portion.  The  later 
portion  of  the  test  is  externally  rough,  appeariag  coarsely  notched 
in  section.  This  form  has  some  affinities  with  Rwpertia  and 
possibly  Haddonia.  Height  :|^inch  (6  mm.)  ;  greatest  width  -iVinch 
(4  mm.);  thickness  of  the  wall  of  the  last  chambers  -5-0-  inch 
(0*5  mm.). 

Amphistegina  lessomi,  d'Orbigny. 
This  species  is  numerous  in  No.  521. 

Heterostegina  depressa,  d'Orbigny. 

The  examples  found  in  this  limestone  (521)  are  of  extraordinary 
dimensions  and  have  very  extensive  and  thin  flanges. 


No.  646.  Summit  of  Plying  Fish  Cove  cliff  ;  from  about  the 
same  horizon  as  521.  A  limestone  largely  composed  of  LitJio- 
thamnion,  foraminifera,  and  echinoderm  remaius. 

Foraminifcra : 

Miliolina  aheoUniformis,  Brady.     Eare. 
Planorlulina  larvata,  P.  &  J.     Frequent. 
Gypsina  globulus  (Reuss).     Hare. 

Polytrema   mmiaceimi   (Pallas),  var.  involva,  nov.      (One   large 
mass  intergrown  with  LitTiothamnion.) 
Amphistegina  lessonii,  d'Orb.     Common. 
Heterostegina  depressa,  d'Orb.     Frequent. 
Orhitoides  {Lepidocyclina)  sumatrensis,  Brady.     Common. 


The  next  specimen,  No.  550,  is  a  whitish  limestone,  compact, 
rather  dense  and  amoi'phous,  owing  probably  to  the  presence  of 
granules  derived  from  calcareous  algaj.  This  is  from  about  the 
same  horizon  as  562  (p.  243). 

The  organic  remains  constituting  this  rock  are  Lithothamnion, 
foraminifera,  echinoderm  spines,  polyzoa,  and  lamellibranch  shells. 


Foraminiferal  Limestones.  247 

The  following  foraminifera  were  observed  in  this  rock  : — 

Miliolina  hicornis  ?  ("Walker  &  Jacob). 

Serpula  bieornis,  "Walker  &  Jacob,   1798,   Adams's  Essays,  Kamnaclier's  ed., 

p.  633,  pi.  xiv,  fig.  2. 
Miliolina  bicortiis  (W.  &  J.),  Brady,  1884,  Kep.  Chall.,  vol.  ix,  p.  171,  pi.  vi, 

figs.  9,  11,  12. 

A  transverse  section  of  a  specimen  closely  resembling  that  of 
M.  hicornis  is  seen  in  the  slide  of  No.  550.  It  is  impossible, 
however,  to  speak  with  certainty  as  to  the  exact  species. 

Miliolina  trigonula  (Lamarck). 
Some  examples  of  the  above  species  are  present  in  No.  550. 

Textularia  rugosa  (Eeuss). 
Several  specimens  of  this  species  occur  in  our  slide. 

Carpentaria,  near  utricularis,  Carter. 

Fragments  of  the  tests  of  Carpenteria  are  rather  numerous  in 
No.  550,  and  those  with  a  distinctly  pitted  surface  probably  belong 
to  the  above-named  species.  There  are  also  some  fragments  with 
more  even  surfaces  which  may  belong  to  C.  tnonticularis,  Carter. 

Rotalia  schroeteriana?,  Parker  &  Jones. 

A  species  of  Rotalia  is  common  in  this  rock-specimen,  which 
with  some  reservation  we  may  ascribe  to  the  above  form. 

Gypsina  globulus  (Reuss). 
This  species  occurs  here  in  some  numbers  and  is  fairly  large. 

Amphistegina  lessonii,  d'Orbigny. 
Common  in  the  slides  of  No.  550. 

Heterostegina  depressa,  d'Orbigny. 

This  species  is  represented  in  No.  550  by  very  large  specimens, 
some  of  which  show  a  raegalospheric  commencement.  The  centre 
of  the  disc  in  these  specimens  is  very  thick  and  often  curved,  giving 
rise  to  sections  showing  both  the  vertical  and  tangential  aspects 
of  the  shell. 


248  Christmas  Island. 

No.  551,  at  summit  of  cliff  at  about  the  same  horizon  as  521, 
is  a  white  limestone  with  a  somewhat  crystalline  texture.  The 
organic  contents  may  be  put  clown  as  follows  :  Lithothatmiion, 
sometimes  encrusted  with  Polytrema ;  numerous  foraminifera, 
including  Orhitoides ;  and  echinoderm  spines. 

The  foraminifera  are — 

SpirolocuUna,  sp.  near  asperula,  Czjzek. 

An  arenaceous  form  of  Spiroloculina  occurs  in  this  limestone, 
which  is  perhaps  referable  to  the  above  species.  A  similar  form 
was  noticed  in  No.  924. 

Miliolina  alveoliniformis,  Brady. 
Numerous  sections  of  the  above  species  occur  in  No.  551. 

Polytrema  miniaceum  (Pallas),  and  var.  involva,  Chapman,  nov. 

Some  free-growing  specimens  of  the  above  form  are  seen  in  the 
slide  of  No.  551.  One  of  the  specimens  is  seen  to  be  encrusting 
a  nodular  mass  of  LitJiothamnion,  after  the  manner  of  similar 
specimens  we  have  observed  in  the  material  from  the  coral  boring 
at  Funafuti. 

Seterostegina  depressa,  d'Orbigny. 
Some  occasional  specimens  were  noticed  in  No.  551. 

Orhitoides  {Lepidocyclina)  sumatremis,  Brady. 
This  species  is  common  in  No.  551. 

Orhitoides  {Lepidocyclind)  insula-natalis,  sp.  nov. 
A  fragment  or  so  of  the  above  species  occurs  in  this  slide. 


No.  841  occurs  at  the  top  of  the  cliff  section  at  Flying  Fish 
Cove,  where  the  rock  forms  projecting  pinnacles  by  weatheiing. 
It  is  a  dense  white  limestone  with  some  travertin,  and  composed 
chiefly  of  encrusting  LitJiothamnion .  Many  foraminifera  are  also 
present.  Also  many  polyzoa  and  a  Serpula  were  noticed  in  the 
section.  This  rock  has  a  more  recent  aspect  than  any  of  those  yet 
enumerated  in  the  foregoing  pages. 

The  foraminifera  are — 

Miliolina  alveoliniformis,  Brady. 

Sections  of  the  above  form  occur  in  No.  841,  associated  with 
other  species  of  the  same  genus  whose  specific  relationships  cannot 
be  easily  made  out. 


Foraminiferal  Limestones.  249 

Iladdonia  torresiensis,  Chapman. 

Saddo)na  torresiensis,  Chapman,   1898,  Joiirn.    Linn.    Soc.    Lond.,    vol.  xxvi, 
p.  452,  pi.  xxviii,  and  woodcut. 

This  interesting  generic  type  was  first  found  on  coral  rock  from 
Torres  Strait,  and  it  has  since  occurred  in  many  dredgings  from 
the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  Funafuti  Atoll.  The  specimen 
seen  in  this  section  is  a  young  individual  attached  to  a  fragment 
of  limestone,  and  consists  of  three  or  four  segments  more  or  less 
creeping,  the  last  of  which  is  erect. 

Textularia  riigosa  (Reuss). 
Several  specimens  rather  under  the  average  size  occur  here. 

Nodosaria  radicula  (Linne),  var.  grandis,  nov.    (PI.  XX,  Fig.  8.) 

A  very  fine  section  of  a  Nodosarian  form  cut  accurately  through 
the  axial  line  is  seen  in  the  slide  of  jSTo.  841.  The  apertures 
of  the  first-formed  segments  are  well  seen,  and  are  elongated  and 
tubular.  The  separate  segments  are  well-marked  by  deeply 
impressed  sutural  divisions.  There  is  no  doubt  of  the  affinity  of 
this  form.  The  thickness  of  the  test  and  its  exceptional  size  seem 
to  merit  a  distinct  varietal  name. 

Planoriulina  acervalis,  Brady. 

This  species  is  frequent  in  No.  841,  and  is  seen  to  be  attached 
to  various  fragments  of  shell  and  other  material  forming  the  rock. 

Tnmcattdina,  sp.  near  lohatula  (W.  &  J.). 

One  or  two  examples  of  a  thin-tested  Truncatulina  were  noticed 
in  this  rock. 

Carpentcria,  sp. 

Numerous  fragments  of  a  species  of  Carpenteria  similar  to 
C.  monticularis,  Carter,  occur  in  No.  841. 

Gypsina  Mterens  (Schultze). 
This  form  occurs  with  some  frequency  in  the  slide  of  No.  841. 

Polytrema  miniaceum  (Pallas),  var.  involva,  Chapman,  nov. 

This  form  of  the  encrusting  type  before  referred  to  occurs  in 
some  abundance  in  this  rock. 

Amphistegina  lessonii,  d'Orbigny. 
The  specimens  here  seen  are  both  typical  and  common. 


250  Christmas  Island. 


Meteroitegina  depressa,  d'Orbigny. 

This  species  is  rare.     One  fine  specimen,  cut  Tertically,  shows 
a  mcgalospheric  commencement. 


No.  963.  Blocks  fallen  from  High  Cliff,  south  of  Flying  Pish 
Cove  ;  probably  close  to  841. 

E,ock  composed  of  crystalline  calcite.  Some  Lithothamnion  and 
Salimeda,  numerous  foraminifera,  and  an  echinoderm  spine.  This 
appears  to  be  a  transition  rock  between  the  Miocene  and  the  recent 
limestones. 

Foraminifera : 

Glohigerina  hulloides,  d'Orbigny.     Several. 

Glohigerina  conglohata,  Brady.     One  specimen. 

PlanorluUna  larvata,  P.  &  J.     Occasional. 

Carpenteria  montiadaris,  Carter.     Fragments  numerous. 

Carpenteria  utnctdaris,  Carter.     One  good  specimen. 

Gypsma  globulus  (Keuss).     One  specimen. 

Polytrema  miniaceum  (Pallas),  var.  involva,  Chapman,  nov. 
(encrusting  form).     Numerous. 

Amphistegina  lessonii,  d'Orbigny.     Frequent. 

Orhitoides  {Lepidocyclina)  verheehi,  Newton  &  Holland.  Frag- 
ments (?  derived). 


No.  549  is  a  specimen  of  the  rock  occurring  at  the  base  of  th& 
inland  cliff  at  500  feet,  running  south  from  the  south-east  end 
of  Flying  Fish  Cove  (see  Map).  It  is  a  whitish  or  pale  cream- 
coloured  limestone,  with  some  travertin.  Besides  many  foraminifera 
(including  Orhitoides)  it  contains  Lithothamnion  and  polyzoa  in 
small  quantity. 

The  foraminifera  noticed  are  as  follows  : — 

Spiroloculina,  sp. 
Apparently  an  arenaceous  form,  but  indeterminable. 

Miliolina  auberiana  (d'Orbigny). 

Quinqueloculina  auberiana,   d'Orbigny,   1839,    Foram.   Cuba,   p.   167,    pi.   xii, 

figs.  1-3. 
Miliolina  auberiana  (d'Orb.),  Brady,  1884,  Eep.  ChalL,  vol.  ix,  p.  162,  pi.  v^ 

figs.    8,    9 ;    Goes,    1894,    Kongl.    Svenska  Vet.-Akad.  Handl., 

vol.  XXV,  p.  109,  pi.  xix,  figs.   844«-(^;    Millett,  1898,   Joui-n. 

R.  Micr.  Soc,  p.  505. 

One  specimen  was  seen  in  our  slide  of  No.  549. 


Foraminiferal  Limestones.  251 

Miliolina  ferussacii  (d'Orbigny). 

QuinqiielocuUna  ferussacii,  d'Orbigny,  1826,  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.,  vol.  vii,  p.  301, 

No.  18  ;  Modele,  No.  32. 
Miliolina  ferussacii  (d'Orb.),  Brady,  1884,  Rep.  Chall.,  vol.  ix,  p.  175,  pi.  113, 

figs.    17«,    b;    Chapman,   1891,   Journ.   R.  Micr.   Soc,  p.  574, 

pi.  ix,  fig.  8  ;   Millett,  1898,  Journ.  E.  Micr.  Soc,  p.  507,  pi.  xii, 

figs.  6a,  b,  la-c. 

A  common  form  in  coral  areas.  The  sections  seen  in  our  slide 
are  of  the  thin  costate  form.     Not  common  in  JSTo.  549. 

Textularia  rugosa  (Eeuss), 
This  species  is  here  somewhat  common. 

Textularia  gramen,  d'Orbigny. 

Textularia  gramen,  d'Orbigny,  1846,  Forara.  Foss.  Yienne,  p.  248,  pi.  xv,. 
figs.  4,  6;  Brady,  1884,  Rep.  Chall.,  vol.  ix,  p.  365,  pi.  xliii, 
figs.  9,  10. 

One  or  two  compressed  Textularice  occur  here,  which  seem 
referable  to  the  above  species. 

Planorlulina  mediierranensis,  d'Orbigny. 

Several  attached  specimens  of  the  above  Plancrhilina  were 
noticed  in  the  slide  from  jSTo.  549. 

Tnmcatnlina  refulgens  (Montfort). 

CiUcidts  refulgens,  Montfort,  1808,  Conchyl.  System.,  vol.  i,  p.  122,  SI''  Genre. 
Truncatulina  refulgens  (Montfort),  d'Orbigny,  1826,  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.,  vol.  vii, 

p.  279,  pi.  xiii,  figs.  8-11 ;    Modele,  No.  77;    Brady,  1884,  Rep. 

Chall.,  vol.  ix,  p.  659,  pi.  xcii,  figs.  7-9. 

A  Trioicatulina  with  steep  sides  occurs  with  some  frequency  in 
No.  549,  which  comes  within  the  limits  of  the  above  form. 

Amphistegina  lessonii,  d'Orbigny. 
This  species  is  common  in  No.  549. 

Orhitoides  {^Lepidocyclina)  epMppioides^  sp.  nov.     (PI.  XX,  Fig.  9.) 

This  species  is  a  parallel  form  in  the  Lepidocycline  group  with 
Orhitoides  ephippium  (Sow.),^  of  the  Discocycline  group.  It  bears 
some  general  resemblance  to  0.  insul^-natalis,  but  the  more  stronglj^ 


^  Lycophris  ephippium,  Sowerby,   1837  [1840],  Trans.    Geol.   Soc.  Lond., 
ser.  II,  vol.  v,  p.  327,  pi.  xxiv,  figs.  15  and  15a  and  b. 


252  Christmas  Island. 

bent  individuals  arc,  as  one  would  suppose,  nearer  the  parallel  types 
0.  painjracea  and  0.  verheehi. 
Average  length  ^  inch  (12-5  mm.).     Common  in  No.  549. 


No.  993.  Above  Coffee  Garden  (see  map,  p.  280),  in  talus  at 
200  feet. 

An  Orbitoidal  limestone  with  very  little  interstitial  material,  the 
greater  part  consisting  of  foraminifcra.  Some  Lithotlt amnion  and 
shell  fragments.  This  limestone  is  mottled  with  veins  and  patches 
of  a  grey  colour. 

Foraminifcra : 
Glohigerina  lulloides,  d'Orb.     Eare. 
Gypsina  glolulus  (Reuss).     Frequent. 
Heterostegina  depressa,  d'Orb.     Common. 
Orhitoides  sumafrensin,  Brady.     Very  abundant. 

,,         verleehi,  Newton  &  Holland.     Eare. 

,,         i7isiil(B-nataUs,  sp.  nov. 

„         ephippioides,  sp.  nov. 


No.  968.  Foot  of  first  inland  cliff.  Smith  Point,  about  60  feet 
above  sea. 

A  limestone  partially  crystalline.  It  is  largely  composed  of 
foraminifcra,  especially  of  the  genus  Orhitoides,  and  the  alga 
Lithothamnion. 

Foraminifcra : 
Spiroloculina,  sp.  near  S.  nitida,  d'Orbigny.     Eare. 
Miliolina  ?  auberiana,  d'Orb.     Eare. 

„         trigonula  (Lam.).     Eare. 

,,         circularis  (Born.).     Eare. 

,,         alveoliniformis,  Brady.     Several. 
Orbitolites  duplex,  Carpenter.     Several  fi'agments. 
Alveolina  melo  (F.  «&  M.).     Very  rare. 
Textularia  rugosa  (Ecuss).     Numerous. 
Discorbina,  sp.    Eare. 

Carpenteria  monticidaris,  Carter.     Fragments. 
Gypsina  inhairens  (Schultze).     Often  growing  in  alternation  with 
Lithothamnion,  forming  nodules. 

Ampkistegina  lessonii,  d'Orbigny.     Frequent,  but  small. 
Heterostegina    dejjressa,    d'Orbigny.      Numerous,    but     usually 
fragmentary. 

Orbitoides  {^Lepidocyclina)  neodispansa,  sp.  nov.     Eare. 

,,  ,,  verbeeki,  Newton  &  Holland.     Eare. 

,,  ,,  ephippioides,  sp.  nov.     Frequent. 

,,  ,,  sumatrensis,  Brady.     Very  common. 

,,  ,,  miirrayana,     sp.      nov.       (PI.     XXI, 

Fig.  10.) 


Fovaminifeval  Limestones.  253 

This  species  is  exactly  comparable  in  outline  with  the  0.  stellata 
of  d'Archiac,^  which,  however,  has  rectangular  chambers  in  the 
median  plane  and  consequently  belongs  to  the  Discocycline  series. 
On  account  of  the  difference  of  contour,  this  form  being  polygonal 
rather  than  discoidal,  it  was  placed  in  a  separate  subgenus,  Astero- 
cyclina.  As  Newton  &  Holland  have  shown,  however  {loo.  cit. 
supra,  p.  261),  the  more  natural  grouping  of  the  Orlitoides  is  with 
the  two  subgenera  Biscocyclina  and  Lepidocyclina.  The  earlier 
known  species  having  rectangular  chambers  in  the  median  plane,  we 
have  named  this  form,  which  has  the  rounded  imbricated  chambers, 
distinctively  as  Orlitoides  {Lepidocyclina)  murrayana,  after  the 
originator  of  the  expedition  to  Christmas  Island  which  resulted  in 
the  collection  of  these  specimens. 

Our  specimen  has  four  rays,  the  contour  between  the  rays  being 
greatly  incurved.  The  chambers  of  the  median  plane  have  straight 
sides  and  rounded  or  concave  ends  respectively.  The  chamberlets 
of  the  superficial  layer  are  roughly  spheroidal,  especially  towards 
the  centre  of  the  disc,  becoming  crowded,  cylindrical,  and  greatly 
flattened  towards  the  ends  of  the  rays.  The  primordial  chamber 
in  our  specimen  is  very  large,  measuring  -gV  inch  (-85  mm.)  in 
diameter;  it  probably  thus  represents  form  A  in  the  dimorphic 
sense.   Diameter  of  the  disc  from  point  to  point,  finch  (9'375  mm.). 


No.  986.     "  From  block  in  raised  beach  at  north  end  of  Flying 

Fish  Cove." 

A  limestone,  largely  composed  of  a  calcareous  mud  and  rolled 
beach  sand  with  Orbitoides,  the  latter  having  been  chipped  and 
worn,  and  afterwards  enwrapped  in  a  thick  overgrowth  of 
Lithothamnion,  sometimes  4-5  mm.  in  thickness,  which  completely 
envelops  all  the  large  forms.     (PI.  XXI,  Fig.  16.) 

The  smaller  specimens  are  free  from  the  encrusting  alga.  The 
eehinoderm  fragments,  Lithothamnion,  Glohigerince,  and  Amphi- 
stegina  may  be  of  more  recent  date. 

Foraminifera  : 

Glohigerina  bulloides,  d'Orbigny.     Rare. 

Amphistegina  lessotiii,  d'Orbigny.     Frequent. 

Heterostegina  depressa,  d'Orbigny.     Common. 

Orlitoides  {Lepidocyclina^  verleeki,  Newton  &  Holland.     Rare. 

,,  ,,  sumatrensis,  Brady.     Common. 

,,  ,,  msula-tiatalis,  sp.  nov.     Common. 


1  Calearina  stellata,  d'Archiac,  1846,  Mem.  Soc.  geol,  France,  ser.  ii,  vol.  ii, 
p.  199,  pi.  vii,  fig8.  1,  1«, 


254  Christmas  Island. 


Teetiaey  Limestones  fb,03i  Other  Localities. 

No.  347.  "High  Cliff,  Sidney's  Dale,"  soutli  edge  of  nari'ow 
gorge,  250  feet  above  sea. 

A  somewliat  reconstructed  limestone  (brecciated),  with,  many- 
adherent  foraminifera.  Probably  of  Upper  Eocene  or  Oligocene 
age,  approaching  No.  2,  described  above,  p.  226. 

.        Foraminifera  ; 

PlmiorhuUna  larvata,  P.  &  J.     Intergrown  with  LithotJiamnion. 

Carjpenteria  utricularis  ?,  Carter.     Several. 

Rupertia  stahilts,  "Wallich.  Four  specimens  attached  to  fragments 
of  limestone  coated  with  LithotJimmiion.     (PL  XXI,  Fig.  11.) 

Fidvinulina  repanda  (F.  &  M.).     Common. 

Rotalia  schroeteriana,  P.  &  J.     Frequent. 

Gypsina  gloliilus  (Reuss).     Very  fine.     Common. 

Amplmtegina  lessoniij  d'Orbigny-.     Rare. 

Orlitoides  dispansa  (Sow.).     One  specimen. 


No.  318.     Between  basalt  and  limestone,  Sidney's  Dale. 

A  limestone  with  many  organisms.  The  rock  is  somewhat 
decomposed  and  stained  with  a  limonitic  substance.  The  organic 
constituents  are  LithotJiamnion  and  many  foraminifera. 

Foraminifera : 
Puhinulina  repanda  (F.  &  M.).     Frequent. 
Rotalia  schroeteriana,  P.  &  J.     Frequent. 
Seterostegina  dep)ressa,  d'Orb.     Pare. 

Orhitoides  {JDiscocyclina)  dispansa  (Sow.).  Frequent.  [One 
fragment  shows  the  structure  of  the  median  chambers.] 


No.  835.  A  limestone  composed  chiefly  of  Orhitoides,  but  in 
which  traces  of  corals  occur  in  places.  There  are  also  fragments 
of  a  branching  Lithothamnion  present.  South  of  Flying  Fish  Cove, 
at  550  feet. 

Foraminifera  : 
Miliolina,  spp. 
Planoriulina  larvata,  P.  &  J.     Pare. 

,,  mediterranensis,  d'Orbigny.     Rare. 

Carpenteria  monticularis,  Carter.     Large  fragments. 

,,  utricularis,  Carter.     Large  fragments. 

Amphistegina  lessonii,  d'Orbigny.     Frequent. 
Seterostegina  depressa,  d'Orbigny.     Rare. 

Orlitoides  {Lepidocyclina)  insulce-natalis,  sp.  nov.,  var.  inaquaUs, 
nov.     (PI.  XXI,  Fig.  12.) 


Foraminiferal  Limestones.  255 

This  variety  differs  from  the  specific  form  in  being  altogether 
stouter,  and  more  compressed  in  internal  structure  with  regard 
to  the  peripheral  chamberlets.  It  also  differs  essentially  in  being 
strongly  undulated  along  the  median  plane,  and  sometimes  in  being 
unequally  developed  and  much  thicker  on  one  side  of  the  median 
layer.  The  undulated  contour  reminds  one  of  0.  (Z.)  ephippioides, 
but  it  is  much  thicker  in  the  central  disc  than  that  species.  Average 
diameter  f  inch  (16' 8  mm.). 

Orhitoides  (Z.)  andrewsiana,  sp.  nov.     Prequent. 


No.  955.  "  Great  block  beneath  High  Cliff,  North-East  Point." 
An  Orbitoidal  limestone  breccia,  cemented  by  recent  reef  material, 
with  the  fragments  overgrown  with  enormous  encrusting  Poly- 
tremata.  This  Polytrema  is  of  great  interest.  It  has  also  been 
met  with  by  one  of  us  in  the  recent  reef  rocks  of  the  Funafuti 
Atoll,  where  it  constitutes  a  large  proportion  of  some  of  the 
limestones,  and  often  found  intergrown  with  Litliothamnion. 

Poraminifera : 
Glohigerina  lulloides,  d'Orbigny.     Eare. 
Cymhalopora  poeyi,  d'Orb.     Eare. 

Polytrema  miniaceum  (Pallas),  var.  nov.  involva.  Chapman. 
Amphistegina  lessonii,  d'Orbigny.     Common. 
Orbitoides  {Lepidocyclina)  verbeehi.,  JSTewton  &  Holland.      Eare. 
,,  ,,  ephippioides,  sp.  nov.      One  specimen. 


Nos.  827  and  581.  "Prom  low  cliff  of  limestone  resting  on 
basalt,  at  head  of  valley,  500  feet,  two  miles  south  of  Plying  Pish 
Cove." 

A  limestone  chiefly  composed  of  Orbitoides.  The  material  of  the 
rock  is  well  crystallized,  and  was  originally  deposited  concentrically 
around  the  larger  organisms. 

Poraminifera : 

Miliolina,  sp.  near  If.  circularis  (Born.). 

Alveolina  melo  (P.  &  M.).     One  specimen. 

Tnmcatulina,  sp.  (thin-shelled),  cf.  T.  lobatuh  ("W.  &  J.)  or 
T.  ungeriana  (d'Orb.).     Prequent. 

Carpenteria  monticularis,  Carter.     Prequent. 

Carpenteria  utricularis,  Carter.     Eare. 

JRotalia  schroeteriana,  P.  &  J.     Common. 

Amphistegina  lessonii,  d'Orb.     Common. 

Heterostegina  depressa,  d'Orb.     Eare. 

Orbitoides  {Lepidocyclina)  andreicsiana,  sp.  nov.  (PI.  XXI, 
Fig.  14.) 


256  Christmas  Island. 

0.  andreivsiana  is  a  very  striking  form  in  the  Christmas  Island 
limestones.  The  test  is  very  thick  in  the  centre,  thinning  off 
rapidly  to  a  peripheral  flange  of  some  extent.  In  general 
contour  it  may  be  compared  with  Orhitoides  {Discocyclina) 
applanata,  Giimbel.^  The  chambers  of  the  median  plane  are  of 
the  Lepidocycline  character,  and  more  rounded  and  crowded 
with  one  another  than  in  some  of  the  other  forms  of  Orhitoides 
present  in  the  same  limestones.  The  chamberlets  of  the  exterior 
are  roughly  discoidal  and  flattened,  so  that  a  tangential  section 
affords  a  view  of  the  chamberlets  as  large  circular  perforations, 
which  is  a  marked  feature  in  the  sections.  Many  of  the  specimens 
noted  are  megalospheric.  The  internal  structure  of  0.  andreivsiana 
generally  resembles  0.  sumafrensis,  but  the  former  is  much,  larger, 
and  has  a  very  extensive  peripheral  flange.  Average  diameter 
finch  (9'375  mm.).     Common. 

Orhitoides  {Lepidocyclina)  insulce-natalis,  sp.  nov.  Common. 
(PI.  XXI,  Fig.  13.) 

0.  (Z.)  ephippioides,  sp.  nov.     Common.     (PI.  XXI,  Fig.  15.) 
0.  (Z.)  verheeld,  Newton  &  Holland.     One  specimen. 


Limestones  feom  Plateau  akd  Hills. 

No.  143.     Edge  of  cliff,  South  Point  Hill,  1,020  feet. 

A  finely  crystalline  and  calcareous  rock,  in  which  the  organisms 
are  almost  entirely  obliterated.  A  few  echinus  spines  and 
foraminifera. 

Foraminifera  : 
Truncatultna,  sp. 
Amphistegina  lessonii,  d'Orb. 


No.  134.     Top  of  upper  cHff,  southern  end  of  east  coast. 
Limestones  with  few  organisms ;    Lithothamnion,  foraminifera,. 
and  echinus  spines.     In  places  this  rock  appears  to  be  sheared. 

Foraminifera : 
Amphistegina  lessonii,  d'Orb, 
Poly tr etna  miniaceum  (Pallas). 


1  Abhandl.  m.-ph.  CI.  k.-baver.  Ak.  Wiss.,  vol.  x,  1868   (1870),   p.   700, 
pi.  iii,  figs.  17,  18,  35-7. 


Foraminiferal  Limestones.  257 

No.  131.     Southern  end  of  east  coast,  400  feet. 
A  dolomitized  limestone  with  foraminifera. 

Foraminif  era : 
Amphistegina  lessonii,  d'Orbigny. 
Seterostegina  depressa,  d'Orb.      Abundant  and  somewhat  broken. 


No.  378.     MiuTay  Hill  Summit. 

A  fine-grained  dolomitized  limestone,  with  traces  of  organisms 
(?  corals),  in  dull  patches. 

Foraminifera  :  Pohjtrema  miniaceum  (Pallas),  var.  nivolva, 
Chapman.     One  specimen. 


No.  935.  Pinnacles  on  plateau  at  800  feet,  l-J  miles  W.S.W. 
of  120  chain  mark  on  South-East  Road.^ 

A  semi  -  crystalline  limestone  with  branching  Lithothamnion, 
Halimeda,  and  foraminifera. 

Foraminifera  : 
Miliolina,  sp. 
Clavulina,  sp. 

Carpenteria,  sp.  Numerous  fragments  ;  some  very  fine  charac- 
teristic pieces. 


No.  658.  A  hard  dolomitic  limestone  occuning  with  chalk-like 
rock  on  plateau. 

The  material  of  this  specimen  is  finely  granular,  and  disseminated 
throughout  are  fragmentary  pieces  of  organic  origin,  which  can  be 
determined  as  branching  Lithothamnion,  with  many  foraminifera, 
usually  badly  preserved. 

The  foraminifera  are  undersized  and  thin-shelled  as  a  rule, 
and  seem  to  indicate,  together  with  the  abundant  and  partially 
decomposed  calcareous  algas,  that  this  rock  represents  the  soft 
mud  of  a  shallow  lagoon. 

Foraminifera  : 
Spiroloculina,  sp.     Frequent. 
Textularia  rtigosa  (Rss.).     Yery  rare. 
?  Nodosaria  [Bentalina),  sp.     One  example. 
LisGorlina,  sp.  (a  small  turbinoid  form).     Rare. 
Planorbulina,  sp.,  near  larvata,  P.  &  J.     Frequent. 


^  On  the  chief  road-clearings  Mr.  Ross  has  had  the  distances  blazed  on  the 
tree  trunks  every  five  or  ten  chains. 

S 


258  Christmas  Island. 

Truncatulina  lohatula  (W.  &  J.).     Several. 

Carpenter ia,  sp.     Eragmentary. 

Pohjtrema  miniacemn  (Pallas).     Small  specimens  ;  frequent. 

AmpMstegina  lessonii,  d'Orbigny.     Fragmentary  ;  frequent. 


No.  800.  "  Immediately  below  phosphates,  east  slope  of 
Phosphate  Hill,  820  feet." 

A  partially  dolomitized  limestone  with  good  crystals  of  zoned 
dolomite  and  calcite.  The  matrix  contains  foraniinifera  (unaltered) 
and  plates  of  echinoderms. 

Foraniinifera  :  Amp>histegina  lessonii,  d'Orb.     Large  and  common. 


Limestones  from  Sea-  and  Inland  Cliffs. 

No.  5.  "A  rock  filling  cracks  in  basalt  mass,  south  of  Flying 
Fish  Cove." 

A  basaltic  and  palagonitic  breccia,  with  calcareous  fragments  and 
organisms,  also  bone  fragments.     (PI.  XXI,  Fig.  17.) 

Foraminifera  : 
Cristellaria,  sp.     One  specimen. 
Glohigerina  lulloicles,  d'Orb.     Very  common. 
Carpenteria,  sp.     Fragments. 


No.  215.     Eock  on  basalt,  top  of  shore  cliff,  Flying  Fish  Cove. 

A  recent  limestone  consisting  of  large  Halimeda  and  encrusting 
LitJiothamnion ;  also  foraminifera  and  polyzoa,  cemented  by  a 
deposition  of  travertin,  probably  resulting  from  differential  currents 
or  hot  streams. 

Foraminifera  : 
Textularia  rugosa  (Reuss).     Frequent. 
Carpenteria^  sp.     Fragments. 
Gypsina  inhcerens  (Schultze).     Frequent. 


No.  862.     Foot  of  first  inland  cliff,  Smith  Point. 
A  reef  forming  limestone,  composed  of  Halimeda,  LitJiothamnion, 
foraminifera,  corals,  millepores,  and  echinoderm  remains. 

Foraminifera : 
Orbitolites,  sp. 

Gloligerina  buHoides,  d'Orb.     Very  rare. 
I'lanorbulina  acervalis,  Brady.     Eare. 
Carpenteria  monticularis,  Carter.     Rare. 


Forcaniniferal  Limestones.  259 

No.  979.     First  inland  cliff,  two  miles  beyond  Smith  Point. 
A  recent  reef-rock  with  Lithothamnion  and  foraminifcra. 

Foraminifera  : 
Orbitolites  complanata,  Lam.     One  specimen. 
Textularia  sagittula,  Dcfr.     One  specimen. 
Cristellaria,  sp.     One  specimen. 
Globigerina  bulloides,  d'Orb.     Common. 

,,  cotiglohata,  Brady.     Eare. 

Carpenteria,  sp.     Fraj^ments. 
Rotalia  papulosa,  Brady.     One  specimen. 
Polytrema  miniaceum  (Pallas).     Common. 

,,  ,,  var.  involva,  Chapman.     Common. 

Amphutegina  lessonii,  d'Orb.     Rare. 


No.  52.     East  coast,  on  volcanic  agc^lomerate  in  sea-cliff. 

A  limestone  with  branching  Lithothamnion  and  foraminifcra  in 
a  slightly  calcareous  matrix.  An  included  fragment  of  a  palagonitic 
or  basic  rock  occurs  in  this  specimen. 

Foraminifera  : 
MiUoUna  '^trigonula  (Lam.). 
Truncatulina  refulgens  (Montf.).     Common. 
Ca}pentcria,  sp.     Fragments. 
Gypsina  globulus  (Reuss).     Rare.- 


No.  116.  "Junction  of  Kmestone  and  basalt,  in  bay  south  of 
Waterfall,  east  coast." 

An  indurated  limestone  of  a  deep  yellow  colour,  in  conjunction 
with  an  intrusion  or  flow  of  basalt.  The  infilling  of  the  organisms 
in  the  limestone  is  coarsely  crystalline.  At  the  junction  of  the 
limestone  with  the  basalt  there  is  a  layer  of  minute  pellets 
(calcareous  algae  ?).  In  the  body  of  the  limestone  there  are 
numerous  clear  augite  crystals  worked  out  of  the  basalt.  The 
organic  contents  of  the  limestone  are  Lithothamnion,  foraminifera, 
echinoderm  spines,  and  molluscan  shells.  This  limestone  passes 
rapidly  into  a  fine  grained  chalky  rock,  with  delicate  foraminifera 
and  partially  decomposed  Lithothamnion. 

Foraminifera : 
Miliolina  ?  trigo7iula  {Jjam.).     Rare. 
Bolivina,  sp.  ?     One  specimen. 

Truncatulina  lobatula  (W.  &  J.),  in  chalky  portion.     Frequent. 
Carpenteria,  sp.     Rare. 
Rotalia  papulosa,  yar.  compressiuscula,  Brady.     Frequent. 


260  Christmas  Island. 

No.  625.  Eock  which  forms  knolls  on  basalt,  near  streams,  east 
coast. 

A  limestone  with  included  particles  of  basalt  and  strings  of 
palagonitic  matter.  With  Lithotham7iion,  foraminifera,  echinoderm 
fragments,  and  polyzoa. 

Foraminifera : 
Textularia  rugosa  (Reuss).     Rare. 
Truncatulina  luhatula  (W.  &  J.).     Frequent. 
Rotalia  schroeteriaiia,  JP.  &  J.     Very  abundant. 


No.  859.     At  foot  of  first  inland  cliff  at  Steep  Point. 

A  limestone  with  much  secondary  calcareous  crystallization 
(aragonitic).  The  rock  was  originally  partially  or  mainly  organic, 
but  only  traces  of  organisms  now  remain,  of  Lithothamnion  and 
foraminifera. 

Foraminifera :  Heterostegina  depressa,  d'Orb.     Fragments. 


No.  1,002.     First  inland  cliff,  soiith  of  Steep  Point. 

This  is  a  much  brecciated  rock  containing  alga?,  foraminifera, 
corals,  and  echinoderm  fragments.  It  is  cemented  by  granular  and 
clear  calcareous  matter.     A  talus  rock. 

Foraminifera : 
Alveolina  melo  (Fichtel  &  Moll).     One  specimen. 
Discorhina,  sp. 

Carpenteria  utricularis,  Carter.     Fragments  numerous. 
Polytrema  miniaceum  (Pallas),  var.  imolva,  Chapman,  encrusting 
a  cemented  brecciated  fragment. 

Amphistegina  lessonii,  d'Orbigny.     Yery  rare. 


No.  1,005.     First  inland  cliff,  south  of  Steep  Point,  250  feet. 
A  reef -limestone  with  Lithothamnion,  millepores,  and  foraminifera. 

Foraminifera : 
Carpenteria  iitriculans,  Carter.     Abundant. 
Amphistegina  lessonii,  d'Orb.     Common. 
Heterostegina  depressa,  d'Orb.     Rare. 


No.  1,006.     "  First  inland  cliff,  south  of  Steep  Point,_250  feet." 
A  limestone  showing  evidence  of  disturbance ;  a  rift  in  the  rock 
is    filled   in    with   palagonitic   mud    and   aragonite.      It   contains 
Lithothamnion,  foraminifera,  and  lamellibranch  shells. 


Foraminiferal  Limestones.  261 

Foraminifera : 
MilioUna  trigonula  (Lam.).     Several. 
Orbitolites,  sp.,  cf.  0.  margmalis  (Lam.). 
Carpenteria  monticularis,  Carter.     Numerous  fragments. 
Polytrema  miniaceum  (Pallas).     Occasional. 
?  Cycloclypeus,  sp.     Worn  fragment. 
Orhitoides  'iverbeeki,  Newton  &  Holland.     Fragments. 


No.  900.  "Foot  of  clilf  (first  inland),  inner  side  of  Steep  Point 
YaUey." 

A  limestone  composed  of  branching  Lithothamnion  and  fora- 
minifera, cemented  by  granular  and  crystalline  calcite. 

Foraminifera : 
MilioUna,  sp.,  cf.  M.  cirmlaris  (Born.).     Rare. 
Textularia  rugosa  (Peuss).     Frequent. 
Carpenteria  utricularis,  Carter.     Very  common. 
Gyp&ina  vesicidaris  (P.  &  J.).     One  specimen. 
Gypsina  inlmrens  (Schnltze).     Frequent. 

Polytrema  miniaceum  (Pallas),  var.  involva,  Chapman.  Common, 
and  very  fine  specimens. 

Amphistegina  lessonii,  d'Orb.     Yery  common. 


No.  403a.     "  Along  lines  of  fracture,  north  of  Steep  Point  Hill." 
A    fine  -  grained    dolomite    or   magnesite,    against   which   rests 
a    brecciated    rock    composed    of    reef    material    and    phosphatic 
concretions.     In  the  reef-rock  are  JIalimeda,  Lithothamnion,  fora- 
minifera, and  echinoderm  spines. 

Foraminifera  : 
Carpenteria,  sp.     Fragments  very  abundant. 
Gypsina  inhcerens  (Schultze).     Pare. 


No.  940.     Middle  cliff,  North-East  Point. 

A  partially  phosphatized  limestone,  with  branching  Lithothamnion 
and  foraminifera. 

Foraminifera  : 
Sigmo'ilina,  sp.     One  specimen. 
Bigeyierina  digitata,  d'Orb.     One  specimen. 
Glohigerina  bulloides,  d'Orb.     Numerous. 
Planorhulina,  sp.     Frequent. 
Gypsina,  sp.     Fragmentary,  occasional. 
Polytrema  miniaceum  (Pallas).     Some  fragments. 


262  Christmas  Island. 

No.  943.     "  North-East  Point,  above  reef." 
A    limestone    largely   formed   of    coral,    with   calcareous    mud 
infillings.     Also  Lithothamnion  and  foraminifera. 

Foraminifera : 
Miliolina,  sp. 

Carpenteria,  sp.     Fragmentary. 
Amphistegina  lesso7iu,  d'Orbigny.     Rare. 
?  Cycloclypeus  or  ?  Heterodegina.     Fragments. 


No.  937.     Inland  cliff,  North-East  Point. 

A  limestone  containing  polyzoa  or  coral  and  foraminifera.  The 
interspaces  filled  in  by  rapid  crystallization  with  calcareous  material 
as  aragonite.  The  infilled  portions  are  regular  or  parallel-sided, 
suggesting  local  earth-movements,  producing  rifts. 

Foraminifera : 
?  8ph(Broidina. 
Heterodegina  depressa,  d'Orbigny. 


No.  335.     "  South  Valley,  west  coast  and  cliff,  southern  side 
at  150  feet." 

A  coral-reef  rock  with  many  organisms,  somewhat  comminuted. 

Foraminifera  : 
Textularia  rugosa  (Peuss).     Frequent. 
Glohigerina  bulloides,  d'Orbigny.     Frequent. 
Glohigerina  conghhata,  Brady.     Pare. 
Truncatulina  lolatula  (W.  &  J.).     Pare. 
Carpenteria,  sp.     Fragmentaiy  ;  rare. 
Rotalia  schroeterianay  P.  &  J.     Common. 
Heterodegina  depressa,  d'Orb.     Frequent. 


No.  864.  Cliff  over  Coffee  Garden,  Flying  Fish  Cove  (see  Map), 
about  200  feet. 

A  recent  coral-reef  rock  with  branching  Lithothamnion,  fora- 
minifera, and  echinoderm  remains. 

Foraminifera : 
Miliolina  'ihicornis  (W.  «&  J.).     One  specimen. 
Truncatulina  lolatula  (W.  &  J.).     Rare. 
Carpenteria,  sp.     Fragments. 
Folytrema  niiniaceum  (Pallas).     Pare. 


Foraminiferal  Limestones.  263 

No.  200.    A  coarse  fragmental  limestone  cemented  with  aragonite. 
Some  corals,  Halimeda^  Lithothaimiion,  gastropods,  and  foraminifera. 
Probably  recent.     From  outer  part  of  a  reef. 

Foraminifera : 
Glohigerina  hiiUoides,  d'Orbigny.     Frequent. 
Carpenteria  monticulans,  Carter. 
Polytrema  miniaceum  (Pallas). 


No.  202.     '•  Zigzag,^  just  above  80  feet." 

Coral   rock   with   interspaces  infilled   with    foraminiferal  mud. 
Occasional  joints  of  Halimeda. 

Foraminifera  : 
Textularia  rugosa  (Peuss). 

Glohigerina  hiUoides,  d'Orbigny.     Very  abundant. 
Carpenteria^  sp.  ?     Frequent. 
Pulvinulina  repanda^.  (F.  &  M.).     Rare. 


No.  208.     "  Zigzag,  200  feet."      Coral  rock  with  interspaces 
filled  with  chalky  organic  mud,  with  Halimeda  and  foraminifera. 

Foraminifera : 
Glohigerina  hulloides,  d'Orbigny.     Numerous. 
Carpenteria,  sp.     Frequent. 
Gypsina  inhceretis  (Schultze).     E.are. 
Gypsina  glohulus  (Eeuss).     Rare. 
Polytrema  miniaceum  (Pallas).     Fragments. 
Heterostegina  depressa,  d'Orb.     Occasional. 


No.  209.     "  Zigzag,  210  feet." 

A  recent  reef-rock,     A  microconglomerate,  i.e.  with  large  pro- 
portion of  cement.    Contains  Lithothamnion,  Halimeda,  foraminifera, 
corals,  echinoderm  spines  and  plates,  and  polyzoa. 
Foraminifera : 

Carpenteria  monticularis,  Carter.     In  great  abundance. 

Gypsina  glohulus  (Reuss).     Occasional. 

Polytrema  miniaceum  (Pallas),  yar.  involva,  Chapman.    (Encrusting 
form.) 


No.  211.     "  Zigzag,  250  feet." 

A  recent  reef-rock  with  corals  and  foraminifera. 


1  The  "  Zigzag"  is  a  path  up  the  first  inland  cliff,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
north  of  the  settlement.     (See  Fig.  6  on  p.  280.) 


264  Christmas  Island. 

Foraminifera : 
Textularia  rugosa  (Reuss).     Yery  rare. 
Globigerina  huUoides,  d'Orb.     JSTumerous  and  well  preserved. 
Carpenteria  monticularis,  Carter.     Numerous  fragments. 


No.  1.032.  "Top  of  Zigzag,  280-300  feet."  A  limestone 
composed  of  calcareous  algae  and  foraminifera,  with  a  crystalline 
calcitic  cement,  but  in  places  amorphous  or  muddy.  The  organic 
contents  are  Lithothamnion,  Salimeda,  foraminifera,  corals,  echino- 
derm  plates  and  spines,  polyzoa,  and  lamellibranch  shells. 

Foraminifera : 
?  SpiroloGulina,  sp. 
Globigerina  hulloides,  d'Orb.     Frequent. 
Carpenteria,  sp.  near  monticularis,  Carter.     Fragments. 
Carpenteria  proteiformis,  Goes.     One  specimen. 
Poh/trema  miniaceum  (Pallas).     Frequent. 
Polgtrema  miniaceum,  var.  involva,  Chapman.     Frequent. 


List  of  Species  of  Orhitoides. 

The    species    of    Orhitoides    found    in    the    Tertiary    rocks    of 
Christmas  Island,  Indian  Ocean,  with  their  distribution : — 

/  Java,     Sumatra,     India    (Scinde), 

1.  Orhitoides  {Discocyclina)  \      Persia,     Bavarian    Alps,     Italy, 

dispansa  {^oyfevbj).     \      Spain,  South  of  France,  Antigua, 

V      Jamaica,  St.  Thomas. 

2.  0.  {Lepidocyclina)  neodispansa,  sp.  nov.     Christmas  Island. 

3.  0.  (X.)  verheeki,  Newton  &  Holland.     Sumatra,  Borneo. 

4.  0.  (Z.)  ephippioides,  sp.  nov.     Christmas  Island. 

5.  0.  (Z.)  insulcB-natalis,  sp.  nov.     Christmas  Island. 

6.  0.  (Z.)  insul(2-natalis,  var.  ineequalis,  var.  nov. 

7.  0.  (Z.)  sumatrensis,  Brady.     Sumatra,  Borneo. 

8.  0.  (Z.)  andrewsiana,  sp.  nov.     Christmas  Island. 

9.  0.  (Z.)  murrayana,  sp.  nov.     Christmas  Island. 


265 


NOTE  ON  THE 

COMPOSITION   OF   SOME  DOLOMITIC   AND    OTHER 

LIMESTONES  FEOM  CHRISTMAS  ISLAND. 

By  E.  W.  Skeats,  B.Sc,  F.G.S. 

No.  134.     Summit  of  upper  cliff  on  East  Coast.     800  feet. 

Composition  :  Ca  C  O3  =  97-56 7^,  Mg  C  O3  =  2-44  %,  Caj  P^  0^  = 
•15%.     Total  =100-15. 

A  compact  cream-coloured  limestone,  with  no  evident  crystalline 
structure  in  the  hand  specimen.  The  rock  originally  consisted  of 
organisms  and  small  lumps  of  undifferentiated  material  set  in 
a  cement  of  calcareous  silt.  Subsequent  alteration  consists  in  the 
change  of  a  small  quantity  of  the  fine  silt  into  calcite  crystals. 
Some  of  the  crystals  occur  in  the  form  of  definite  rhombohedra, 
with  angles  of  105°  approximately.  Empty  lozenge-shaped  spaces 
in  the  rock  possibly  represent  the  positions  of  rhombohedra  which 
fell  out  probably  during  the  grinding  of  the  slice. 

The  calcite  can  be  recognized  by  its  cleavage  and  polarization 
colours.  Sections  of  some  of  the  organisms  show  long  fibrous 
crystals  which  may  be  fibrous  calcite,  but  are  possibly  the  rhombic 
form  aragonite.  Minute  scalenohedral  (?)  crystals  of  calcite 
occasionally  project  into  cavities  formed  by  contraction  during 
recrystallization. 

The  organic  remains  are  comparatively  few.  They  include 
more  than  one  species  of  the  Calcareous  Alga  Lithothamnion. 
The  only  other  organisms  present  are  foraminifera,  including 
Glohigerina  (?)  and  the  Rotaliiform  genera  Truncatulina  and  Plan- 
orhulina  (?).  The  shallow- water  affinities  of  the  two  latter  organisms 
suggest  that  this  deposit  may  have  been  laid  down  in  the  lagoon. 

No.  963.  Limestone  (Miocene)  from  high  cliflP  over  Flying 
Fish  Cove.     500  feet. 

Composition  :  Ca  C  O3  =  97-29  %  ,  Mg  C  O3  =  3- 19  %.  Total  = 
100-48.     A  white,  very  compact  limestone. 

A  piece  of  unaltered  rock  (consisting  of  organic  fragments 
embedded  in  silt)  may  possibly  be  a  fallen  fragment ;  its  structure 
serves  as  a  contrast  to  that  of  the  main  mass  of  the  rock.  The 
original  silty  matrix  has  very  largely  been  replaced  (as  a  result 
possibly  of  consolidation  under  pressure  and  percolation  of  water) 
by  a  clear  mosaic  of  calcite  surrounding  the  still  unaltered  large 
organic  fragments. 

Some  of  these  fragments  are,  however,  losing  their  distinctive 
boundaries  as  a  result  of  the  extension  of  this  recrystallization 
into  the  bodies  of  the   organisms.     In  certain  parts  of  the  slides, 


266  Christmas  Island. 

empty  spaces  (with  scalenohedi-al  ?  calcite  crystals  projecting  into 
them)  occur  as  a  result  of  contraction  during  recrystallization. 
The  unaltered  organisms  are  numerous.  The  Calcareous  Alga 
Lithothmnnion  is  represented  by  several  species. 

A  section  of  a  shell  (lamellibranch  ?)  occurs  in  one  part  of  the 
slide.  The  remaining  organisms  are  foraminifera  belonging  to  the 
genera  Bolivina,  Glohigerina  {conglohata  and  hulloides),  Pulytrema, 
Gypsina,  Carpenteria,  and  AmpJiistegina. 

From  the  presence  of  Carpenteria  and  some  pelagic  forms,  this 
deposit  was  probably  formed  in  water  of  a  moderate  depth,  and  on 
the  seaward  side  of  the  reef. 

No.  179.    Top  of  second  inland  cliff,  North-East  Point.    600  feet. 

Composition:  CaC  O3  =  97-72  %,  Mg  C  O3  =  1-72%,  CasPjOg 
= '20  °/q.  Total  =  99 -Qi:.  A  very  compact  limestone,  which  in 
the  hand  specimen  does  not  show  signs  of  recrystallization. 

The  original  rock  consisted  of  organisms,  more  or  less  fragmentary, 
and  a  matrix  of  silt,  the  finely  comminuted  product  of  trituration 
of  these  organisms.  This  structure  is  still  seen  in  the  unaltered 
parts  of  the  slide,  but  in  places  the  more  finely  divided  material 
has  been  recrystallized.  The  contraction  due  to  recrystallization 
has  caused  empty  spaces  to  occur.  These  spaces  have  been  partially, 
and  in  some  cases  wholly,  filled  by  subsequently  deposited  scaleno- 
hedral  (?)  crystals  of  calcite.  Further  evidence  of  the  secondary 
formation  of  calcite  is  afforded  by  the  fact  that  cracks  which 
were  formed  in  the  rock  have  been  subsequently  filled  with 
a  calcite  mosaic.  The  partial  recrystallization  of  the  matrix  has 
in  one  or  two  instances  invaded  the  substance  of  the  contiguous 
organisms,  whose  outlines  have  consequently  been  rendered  indis- 
tinct. The  unaltered  organic  remains  constitute  a  considerable 
proportion  of  the  rock.  Several  species  of  the  Calcareous  Alga 
Lithothamnion  occur  in  abundance. 

The  Foraminifera  present  include  Carpenteria,  TruncatuUna, 
Polytrema,  Amphistegina,  and  a  doubtful  specimen  of  Oaudryina. 

The  presence  of  Carpenteria  would  seem  to  suggest  that  the 
deposit  was  formed  at  a  moderate  depth,  as  this  genus  rarely 
occurs  within  the  limits  of  wave-action. 

Specimens:  804,  800,  811,  308,  658,  378,  and  514.  These  are 
all  dolomitic  limestones  whose  microscopical  structure  is  very 
similar.  The  rocks  are  more  or  less  poi'ous  :  empty  spaces  having 
arisen  as  a  result  of  recrystallization.  The  cavities  are  lined  by 
dolomite  crystals,  which  are  usually  clear,  and  show  as  blunt 
rhombohedra  having  angles  of  105°  approximately. 

These  dolomitic  limestones  are  described  in  a  definite  order,  the 
first  (804)  having  the  largest  percentage  of  calcium  carbonate  and 
the  last  (514)  the  largest  percentage  of  magnesium  carbonate. 
Dolomite  consists  of  54  °/q  Ca  C  O3  and  46  %  Mg  C  O3,  consequently 
in  the  rocks  first  described  there  is  an  excess  of  unchanged  calcite 


Dolomitic  Limesfo7ws.  267 

amounting  to  more  than  20  %,  while  in  the  last  this  excess  is 
no  more  than  6  °/q.  Ptecognizable  crystals  of  calcite  are  few  in 
number,  but  it  is  possible  that  this  excess  of  calcite  may  occur 
in  the  semi-opaque  material  which  is  found  in  all  the  slides,  either 
as  a  dark  zoning  to  the  rhombohedra  of  dolomite  or  irregularly 
distributed  throughout  the  rock. 

No.  804.     Cliff  forming  east  flank  of  Phosphate  Hill. 

Composition  :  Ca  C  O3  =  67-88  %,  Mg  C  Oj  =  31-96  %. 
Total  =  99"84.  A  white  limestone  compact  in  parts,  but  some 
portion  is  porous. 

The  slice  is  taken  through  the  porous  region,  and  the  cavities 
are  so  large  and  numerous  that  it  is  difficult  to  explain  their 
presence  entirely  by  assuming  that  they  were  formed  during 
recrystallization.  Many  of  these  cavities  are  lined  with  colourless 
dolomite  crystals.  The  amount  of  semi-opaque  material  is  large, 
and  consists  either  of  zones  in  dolomite  crystals,  or  more  usually 
it  occiirs  irregularly  distributed  througliout  the  slide. 

ISTo  recognizable  traces  of  organisms  are  present. 

No.  800.  Pock  immediately  beneath  bed  of  phosphate  on 
Phosphate  Hill.     850  feet. 

Composition :  Ca  C  O3  =  65-05,  Mg  C  O3  =  34-77.  Total  -  99-82. 
A  very  compact,  recrystallized,  hard  rock. 

The  usual  cavities  occur  and  are  sometimes  lined  by  clear 
crystals.  A  large  quantity  of  semi-opaque  material  is  present, 
and  is  occasionally  seen  forming  long  acute  crystals  (calcite  ?), 
but  is  usually  enclosed  as  zones  in  dolomite  rhombohedra.  Many 
of  the  crystals  show  two  or  three  zones  parallel  to  the  external 
boundary.  A  few  remains  of  organisms  such  as  Lithothamnion 
occur  in  places. 

No.  811.  Immediately  below  phosphate  at  the  summit  of 
Phosphate  Hill. 

Composition  :  Ca  C  O3  =  61-79,  Mg  C  O3  =  37-96.  Total  =  99-75. 
A  hard,  compact,  recrystallized  dolomite  limestone. 

Cavities  are  fairly  numerous,  and  are  usually  lined  with  clear 
dolomite  crystals.  There  is  a  fair  quantity  of  irregularly  distributed 
semi-opaque  material,  but  most  of  the  slide  consists  of  clear  crystals 
of  dolomite  with  small  centres  of  semi-opaque  material. 

No.  308.     From  low  cliff  in  valley  on  West  Coast,  at  350  feet. 

Composition  :  Ca  C  O3  =  60-63,  Mg  C  O3  =  39-27,  Caj  Pj  Og  =  -15. 
Total  =  100-05.  A  fine-grained  white  rock,  with  many  minute 
regular-shaped  cavities. 

The  main  part  of  the  slide  consists  of  small  rhombohedral 
crystals  of  dolomite,  a  few  of  which  are  zoned.  Nearly  all  traces 
of  organisms  are  obliterated,  but  occasionally  the  dark  remains 
of  fragments  of  organisms  which  have  resisted  recrystallization 
are  seen. 


268 


Christmas  Island. 


No.  658.     A  hard  rock  associated  with  chalk-like  rock  on  plateau. 

Composition  :  Ca  C  O3  =  60-27,  Mg  C  O3  =  39-57.  Total  =  99-84. 
A  crumbling,  porous,  white  limestone. 

The  slide  consists  almost  entirely  of  idiomorphic  zoned  crystals 
of  dolomite.  The  irregular  empty  spaces  and  cracks  which  occur 
are,  however,  usually  bordered  by  clear  crystals.  Most  of  the 
organisms  have  been  obliterated,  but  one  or  two  specimens  of 
Amplmtegina  and  possibly  Polytrema  occur.  The  dolomite 
crystals  usually  have  dark  centres,  from  which  small,  dark,  acute 
crystals  (?  calcite)  are  projecting  in  some  cases.  In  other  places 
organic  fragments  are  recrystallizing  in  the  form  of  these  long 
dark  (?  scalenohedral)  crystals  of  (?  calcite). 

No.  378.  Highest  rock  collected  from  Murray  Hill,  at  about 
1,100  feet. 

Composition :  Ca  C  O3  =  60-34,  Mg  C  O3  =  40-02.  Totals  100-36. 
A  cream-coloured,  hard,  compact  rock. 

Irregular  cavities  and  cracks  occur,  and  both  are  filled,  or 
partially  filled,  with  large  clear  rhombohedral  crystals.  A  fair 
amount  of  semi-opaque  material  remains  irregularly  distributed 
over  the  slide.  Very  few  of  the  rhombohedra  are  zoned,  and  most 
are  very  small.  A  few  organisms  remain,  especially  a  meandrine 
form  (?  Polytrema),  and  some  organic  fragments  are  recrystallizing, 
showing  acute  crystals  of  calcite  (?)  projecting  at  right  angles  to 
the  length  of  the  fragment. 

No.  514.     Near  the  summit  over  Flying  Fish  Cove,  at  880  feet. 

Composition:  Ca  C  03=  59-33,  Mg  C  03  =  40-88.  Total  =  lQQ-2\ . 
A  cream-coloured  spongy  limestone. 

Yery  similar  to  No.  378,  but  the  dolomite  crystals  are  larger 
and  less  semi-opaque  material  is  present,  but  zoning  is  not  well 
seen.  The  only  remaining  organisms  are  meandrine  forms 
(?  Polytrema)  and  fragments  undergoing  recrystallization. 

Analyses  or  Eock- Specimens  from  Cheistmas  Island. 


Nuniher. 
134 
179 
308 
378 

514  I  \^\  ^^""P}^ 
(  2nQ  sample 

658 

800 

804 

811 

963 


CaGO^. 

McjCO.,. 

Ca^FoOs. 

Total 

97-56     . 

..       2-44 

..     -15     .. 

100-15 

97-72     . 

..       1-72 

..     -20     .. 

99-64 

60-63     . 

..     39-27 

..     -15     .. 

100-05 

60-34     . 

..     40-02 

— 

100-36 

59-33     . 

..     40-88 

— 

100-21 

61-12     . 

..     39-36 

— 

100-48 

60-27     . 

..     39-57 

— 

99-84 

65-05     . 

..     34-77 

— 

99-82 

67-88     . 

..     31-96 

— 

99-84 

61-79     . 

..     37-96 

— 

99-75 

97-29     . 

..       3-19 

■     100-48 

269 


GEOLOGY. 

By  C.  W.  Andrews,  B.Sc,  F.G.S. 

Feom  the  description  of  the  physical  features  of  Christmas  Island 
given  at  the  beginning  of  this  volume,  it  will  be  gathered  that  the 
island  may  be  considered  as  probably  an  ancient  atoll  which  has 
been  raised  to  a  considerable  height  above  the  level  of  the  sea. 
The  chief  reasons  for  so  regarding  it  are,  firstly,  the  general  form 
of  the  plateau  with  its  outer  border  of  slightly  higher  land,  and 
secondly,  the  nature  of  some  of  the  rocks  occumng  on  the  more 
elevated  points.  In  the  present  section  a  brief  sketch  of  the 
general  geological  structure  is  given,  a  fuller  account  being  deferred 
till  the  nature  of  the  rocks,  especially  of  the  later  limestones,  has 
been  more  completely  investigated,  both  with  the  microscope  and 
by  chemical  analysis. 

The  difiicuities  in  the  way  of  a  detailed  examination  of  the 
geology  of  the  island  were  considerable.  The  density  of  the 
vegetation  both  rendered  locomotion  slow  and  difficult,  and,  at 
the  same  time,  concealed  much  that  it  was  desirable  to  see  (Fig.  1). 
Moreover,  the  want  of  sufficient  men  for  can-ying  water  made  it 
impossible  to  stay  more  than  a  day  or  two  in  places  remote  from  the 
settlement  or  from  the  streams  on  the  east  coast.  In  consequence 
of  this  the  south  of  the  island  was  not  fully  examined ;  but  since 
in  those  parts  which  were  traversed  it  was  like  the  northern  and 
eastern  regions,  and  since  the  appearance  of  its  seaward  slopes  was 
the  same  as  that  of  the  other  coasts,  it  seems  improbable  that  the 
structure  of  this  region  differs  in  any  important  respect  from  that 
of  the  rest  of  the  island.  Much,  however,  remains  to  be  done,  and 
now  that  several  roads  have  been  cut  and  a  number  of  men  could 
be  employed,  further  exploration  would  be  comparatively  easy. 

One  of  the  chief  objects  of  the  expedition  to  Christmas  Island 
was  to  find  out  whether  its  structure  would  throw  any  light  upon 
the  vexed  question  of  the  nature  of  the  foundations  of  atolls.  The 
various  views  that  have  been  put  forward  in  this  controversy  are 
so  well  known  that  it  is  unnecessary  to  give  any  account  of  them 
here.  From  the  description  which  follows,  it  will  be  seen  that  at 
Christmas  Island  at  least  we  do  not  find  the  great  thickness  of 
reef-limestone  required  by  the  Darwinian  theory  of  atoU-foi'mation, 
and  although  there  may  be  some  evidence  that  subsidence  did  occur 
in  the  earlier  history  of  the  island  it  is  clear  that  it  was  neither 
continuous  for  any  long  period  nor  of  any  great  extent.  It  may, 
of  course,  be  objected  that  Christmas  Island  was  never  a  typical 


270 


Christmas  Island. 


atoll,  and  to  this  objection  no  answer  is  possible,  but  since  it  can  be 
shoTvn  that  at  one  time  it  must  have  consisted  of  reefs  and  islands 
approximating  very  nearly  to  tbose  seen  in  atolls  which  are  regarded 
as  typical,  the  determination  of  the  nature  of  the  foundations  upon 
which  those  reefs  and  islands  rested  is  at  least  a  step  in  the  right 
direction.  From  the  account  that  follows,  it  will  be  scon  that 
in  this  case  the  basis  of  the  island  is  almost  certainly  a  volcanic 


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Fig.  1. — Forest  on  the  Plateau. 


peak  the  foot  of  which  is  now  some  2,400  fathoms  below  the  level 
of  the  sea,  and  that  on  its  summit  and  flanks  great  accumulations 
of  Tertiary  limestones  have  been  deposited,  and  in  some  cases  are 
interstratified  with  the  products  of  the  eruptions,  probably  for  the 
most  part  submarine,  which  took  place  from  time  to  time.  The 
oldest  of  the  volcanic  rocks  are  trachytic,  the  newer  basaltic.     The 


Geology.  271 

last  of  the  eruptions  was  accompanied  by  the  formation  of  thick 
beds  of  volcanic  ash  (palagonite  tuffs),  and  it  is  upon  these  that  the 
great  mass  of  the  Miocene  (Orbitoidal)  limestones  rests. 

The  later  deposits  which  have  accumulated  on  the  basis  thus 
constituted  are  very  dificult  to  describe.  They  may  be  said  to 
consist  of  reef-limestones  and  detrital  limestones  formed  on  the 
submarine  slopes  of  the  island,  but  since  after  each  movement 
of  elevation  fresh  reefs  seem  to  have  grown  round  more  or  less 
of  the  new  shore-lines,  the  whole  stnicture  is  very  complex. 
Another  sou.rce  of  difficulty  is  the  almost  complete  obliteration  of 
all  organisms  in  many  of  the  limestones,  chiefly  in  consequence 
of  dolomitization. 

Perhaps  the  most  remarkable  of  the  rocks  of  Christmas  Island 
are  the  thick  deposits  of  nearly  pure  phosphate  of  lime  which  cap 
several  of  the  higher  hills.  This  substance  is  probably  derived 
from  ancient  ( ?  Pliocene)  guano  beds  formed  on  the  low  islets 
which  existed  before  the  first  elevation  of  the  island,  and  is 
the  insoluble  residue  of  beds  of  limestone  altered  by  this  guano. 
On  Murray  Hill  there  is  a  bed  of  rock,  consisting  largely  of  phos- 
phates of  alumina  and  iron,  which  has  perhaps  been  produced  by 
the  alteration  of  a  bed  of  volcanic  ash  by  an  overlying  mass  of 
guano,  since  completely  disappeared. 

It  will  be  convenient  to  describe  the  geology  of  the  island  under 
the  following  heads  : — 

1.  The  central  nucleus. 

2.  The  plateau  and  hills. 

3.  The  inland  cliffs. 

4.  The  sea  cliff". 

At  the  same  time  it  will  be  impossible  to  keep  these  sections 
entirely  distinct  from  one  another,  e.g.  in  cases  where  the  inland 
cliffs  have  been  cut  back  into  the  central  nucleus  and  consist  of 
tertiary  rocks. 

Tlie  Ceiitral  Nucleus. — By  far  the  most  important  exposure  of 
the  central  core  of  the  island  is  at  Flying  Pish  Cove  (see  Map). 
In  this  locality,  behind  the  platform  upon  which  the  settlement 
is  situated,  a  steep  slope  rises  to  a  height  of  from  400  to  500  feet. 
In  its  northern  portion  it  consists  of  a  succession  of  cliffs  separated 
by  steep  talus  slopes,  while  towards  the  southern  end  there  is 
a  talus  slope  up  to  about  250  feet,  and  above  this  a  vertical  or 
even  overhanging  cliff  of  from  200  to  250  feet.  At  the  northern 
end  of  the  cove  the  cliffs  run  nearly  iST.  to  S.,  but  as  thcj-  are 
followed  southward  their  direction  changes  first  N.N.E.-S.S.W., 
then  N.E.  to  S.W.,  E.IS^.E.  to  W.S.W.,  and  finally  S.E.-N.W. 
(see  Figs.  2  and  6). 

The  general  structure  of  the  cliff  is  shown  on  the  sections  in 
Figs.  2  and  5  (pp.  272  and  276).  The  oldest  limestone  visible 
(A  in  sections)  is  exposed  at  the  southern  end  of  the  cove,  at  the 


272 


Christmas  Island. 


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.  Geologtj.  273 

commencement  of  the  sea  cliff  which  forms  the  southern  boundary 
of  the  bay.  It  is  a  very  hard  compact  yellow  limestone,  showing 
little  or  no  traces  of  bedding  or  jointing.  Its  upper  surface  dips 
at  about  40°  a  little  to  the  W.  of  IST.,  and  it  disappears  beneath 
the  beach  of  coral  fragments  that  has  been  thrown  up  at  this  point 
on  the  landward  side  of  the  narrow  fringing  reef.  On  the  land 
side  it  can  be  traced  up  the  cliff  for  about  sixty  yards,  when  it 
disappears  under  the  talus  which  entirely  conceals  its  base.  This 
limestone  is  described ,  above  (ISTo.  2,  p.  226),  and  is  of  Eocene  or 
Oligocene  age ;  it  was  probably  deposited  in  comparatively  shallow 
water,  and  before  the  great  accumulations  of  the  Miocene  and  later 
limestones  of  the  higher  parts  of  the  island  could  have  been 
formed  considerable  subsidence  must  have  taken  place.  In  the 
rocks  of  corresponding  age  in  Java,  several  species  of  Nummidites 
are  said  to  occur  in  abundance,  but,  strangely  enough,  according 
to  Messrs.  Jones  &  Chapman  this  genus  is  entirely  wanting  in 
Christmas  Island  ;  its  place  seems  to  have  been  taken  by  large 
Heterostegincs. 

Above  this  limestone  is  a  thick  bed  of  compact  black  basalt 
(jSTo.  1  ;  see  Fig.  3  and  G  in  Fig.  2,  A).  The  junction  is  marked 
by  a  bed  of  soft  rock  some  five  or  six  inches  thick,  in  which  harder 
nodules  are  embedded.  These  nodules  consist  of  limestone  containing 
foraminifera  like  those  of  the  rock  below,  together  with  fragments 
of  much  altered  basic  glass  (No.  3,  p.  23 1 ).  The  soft  matrix  in  which 
these  nodules  are  embedded  is  a  much  decomposed  rock  consisting 
mainly  of  fragments  of  basic  glass.  The  basalt  mass  measured 
along  the  shore  is  about  40  feet  thick;  it  is  roughly  jointed  into 
spheroidal  masses,  and  seems  to  have  been  exposed  on  the  sea 
bottom,  the  joint  cracks  being  filled  with  a  hard  yellow  rock, 
consisting  of  lime  and  fine  detritus,  derived  from  basic  volcanic 
rocks  and  including  numbers  of  various  species  of  Glohigerina. 
This  rock  (No.  5)  is  described  on  p.  258,  and  is  figured  on  PI.  XXI, 
Fig.  17. 

The  basalt^  itself  is  a  compact  black  rock,  veiy  fresh-looking. 
The  ground-mass  consists  of  microliths  of  plagioclase,  many  small 
prisms  of  purple  augite,  and  much  magnetite.  There  are  porphyiitic 
crystals  of  olivine,  more  or  less  altered  into  serpentine  and  viridite. 
The  skeleton  crystals  of  magnetite  are  often  arranged  parallel  to 
one  another,  and  at  right  angles  to  the  axis  of  the  olivines.  There 
are  numerous  rounded  cavities,  lined,  and  in  some  cases  filled,  with 
a  strongly  pleochroic  green  mineral,  forming  radial  aggregates 
which  show  a  black  cross  between  crossed  nicols. 

The  upper  surface  of  this  basalt  flow  is  covered  with  thick  masses 
of  Miocene  Orbitoidal  limestone  (C  in  Figs.  2  and  5),  which,  near 
the  junction,  contains  numerous  fragments  of  the  basalt  overgrown 


'  In  the  description  of  the  volcanic  rocks  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  G.  T.  Trior, 
of  the  Department  of  Mineralogy,  for  much  assistance. 


1^ 
o 

in 


§' 


< 


Geology.  275 

with  Lithotliamnion  and  Polytrema  :  this  circumstance  indicates 
that  this  basalt  was  exposed  upon  the  sea  bottom  in  early  Miocene, 
or  perhaps  pre-Miocene  times.  On  the  right  hand  of  section  A 
on  p.  272  this  basalt  is  marked  G,  and  is  made  to  coiTespond  to 
the  upper  basalt  overlying  the  limestone  B  in  the  rest  of  the 
section ;  this  is  perhaps  a  mistake,  since  it  agrees  very  nearly 
with  the  basalt  F  underlying  that  limestone,  which,  together  with 
the  overlying  basalt  and  ash  beds,  seems  to  be  wanting  on  this 
southern  end  of  the  cove.  It  may,  however,  be  remarked  that 
the  limestone  A  is  very  similar  in  character  to  B  (jS'o.  522,  p.  231), 
and  if  it  were  not  that  its  fossil  contents  (see  No.  2,  p.  226)  are 
said  to  be  rather  chfferent  and  point  to  a  possibly  somewhat  greater 
age,  I  should  have  regarded  it  as  the  southern  continuation  of  B  : 
in  that  case  the  basalt  would  be  correctly  lettered.  Indeed, 
I  believe  this  last  interpretation  to  be  correct. 

The  upper  yellow  limestone  (B)  just  referred  to  fonns  a  prominent 
cliff  throughout  about  the  middle  two-thirds  of  the  cove.  At  its 
southern  end  it  seems  to  have  been  cut  out  hj  the  fault  marked 
Y-Y  (Fig.  2,  A),  but  its  termination  is  largely  concealed  by  the 
talus  derived  from  the  lofty  cliffs  of  Miocene  limestone  (C).  A  little 
farther  to  the  north  this  cliff  is  again  interrupted  by  another  fault, 
X-X  (Fig.  2,  A),  the  downthrow  side  of  which  is  towards  the  north  ; 
this  causes  the  limestone  to  terminate  abruptly  against  basalt  and 
ash,  and  to  reappear  at  a  lower  level,  where  it  again  forms  a  nearly 
continuous  cliff',  low  at  first,  but  increasing  in  height  towards  the 
north,  Avhere  it  sometimes  reaches  60  feet.  At  its  northern 
extremity  it  becomes  broken  up  into  minor  cliffs  (P,  Fig.  2,  B) 
separated  by  soil-clad  slopes,  beneath  which  it  finally  disappears. 
The  foot  of  the  cliff  is  from  200  to  250  feet  abuve  the  sea,  but 
except  in  one  or  two  places  where  it  rests  on  volcanic  rocks  (e.g. 
at  L  and  F),  the  base  of  this  limestone  is  concealed  beneath  talus 
which  forms  a  steep  rock-strewn  slope  to  the  shore  j)latform.  This 
limestone  is  described  on  p.  231  as  IS'o.  522;  it  is  remarkable  for 
the  absence  of  Orhitoides,  which  is  found  in  the  rocks  both  above 
and  below.  The  beds  dip  slightly  seaward  (at  from  5°  to  10°), 
and  are  broken  up  by  joint  planes  into  great  cubical  masses,  manj^ 
of  which  strew  the  platform  below,  of  which,  moreover,  they 
probably  form  the  chief  foundation ;  blocks  of  the  same  limestone 
also  appear  on  the  foreshore  in  the  middle  of  the  cove. 

As  already  mentioned,  the  base  of  this  limestone  is  mostly 
concealed  beneath  talus,  but  at  a  few  points  it  can  be  seen  to  rest 
upon  volcanic  rocks ;  in  all  cases  it  seems  to  have  been  deposited 
upon  these  rocks  long  after  their  consolidation,  and  near  the  junction 
often  contains  fragments  of  them.  Of  these  volcanic  rocks  there 
are  two  series— an  older,  trachytic,  and  a  later,  basaltic.  The  chief 
exposure  of  the  former  occurs  near  the  middle  of  the  cove  (at  L  on 
the  right-hand  side  of  section  B  in  Fig.  2),  where  it  forms  a  great 
boss  projecting  into  the  overlying  limestone.  The  extent  of  the 
mass  cannot  be  determined,  since  its  borders  are  mostlj-  concealed 


276 


Christmas  Island. 


by  talus.  The  surface  of  this  rock  in  contact  with  the  limestone 
seems  to  have  been  greatly  altered  before  the  latter  was  deposited. 
In  the  centre  of  the  mass  the  rock  (No.  929)  is  light-grey,  fine- 
grained, and  made  up  of  a  felt  of  small  lath-shaped  felspar  crystals, 
giying  straight  extinctions  and  showing  flow  structure  round 
vesicular  cavities  which  themselves  show  a  more  or  less  linear 
arrangement.  There  are  some  traces  of  a  much  altered  ferro- 
magnesian  mineral  between  the  meshes  of  the  felspars.  Professor 
Judd  has  kindly  had  the  specific  gravity  of  this  rock  determined 
for  me  ;  it  is  2-45. 


-SOQ   FT 


Figure   5. 

Sections  showing  the  Structure  of  the  Cliff  at  Flying  Fish  Cove. 

A.  At  middle  of  section  B,  Fig.  2. 

B.  At  right-hand  end  of  section  B,  Fig.  2. 

For  explanation  of  lettering  see  Fig.  2  (p.  272). 


A  few  chains  farther  north  trachytic  rock  again  appears,  but 
in  this  case  under  peculiar  conditions.  Here  the  trachyte  forms 
two  or  three  large  masses,  apparently  completely  included  in  the 
great  bed  of  basalt  which  there  immediately  underlies  the  yellow 
limestone.  The  trachyte  is  here  much  altered,  and  consists  of 
angular  nodules  separated  by  a  brown  powdery  substance,  apparently 
produced  by  the  decomposition  of  the  rock  along  cracks.  In  one 
place  the  basalt  sends  a  finger-like  process  into  the  midst  of  one  of 
the  trachytic  masses,  and  in  another  it  appears  to  have  penetrated 
the  trachyte  horizontally  for  some  distance,  so  as  to  appear  to  be 
interbedded  with  it.     The  whole  structure  seems  to  be  the  result 


Geolog7j.  277 

of  the  eruption  of  a  mass  of  basalt  along  the  same  line  as  that  along 
which  an  eriiiition  of  trachyte  had  taken  place  at  an  earlier  date, 
and  the  inclusion  of  portions  of  the  older  lava  in  the  newer.  The 
trachyte  at  this  point  is  made  iip  of  a  felt  of  small  lath-shaped 
felspar  crystals,  giving  straight  extinctions  and  sometimes  showing 
traces  of  a  radial  arrangement  in  groups.  There  are  no  porphyritic 
constituents  and  there  are  scattered  grains  of  magnetite. 

The  basalt  (marked  F  in  section  B,  Figs.  2  and  5)  varies  much 
in  character  in  different  parts  of  the  mass.  For  the  most  pait  it 
is  a  fine-grained  rock,  consisting  of  small  lath-shaped  crystals  of 
felspar,  a  little  granular  augite,  and  much  magnetite.  Flow 
structure  is  shown  in  the  arrangement  of  the  felspar  crystals  ; 
there  are  no  porphyritic  crystals.  Where  this  rock  forms  a  narrow 
tongue  penetrating  the  trachyte  it  becomes  more  glassy.  In  one 
place  the  mass  of  fine-grained  basalt  is  traversed  by  a  vein  or 
dyke  of  a  basalt  with  large  porphyritic  crystals  of  pinkish-brown 
augite,  often  showing  the  characteristic  octagonal  sections,  large 
fragments  of  olivine  sometimes  showing  traces  of  crystal  forms 
and  altered  into  viridite  along  cracks  only,  and  finally  large  lath- 
shaped  crj'stals  of  felspars  with  traces  of  zoning  ;  in  one  or 
two  instances  felspars  are  included  in  the  augite  crystals.  The 
ground-mass  consists  of  felspar  microliths,  small  augites,  and  much 
magnetite.  This  coarser  rock  was  probably  injected  into  a  fissure 
from  the  deeper  portion  of  the  mass. 

South  of  the  fault  X-X  the  limestone  B  rests  on  the  upper 
end  of  a  great  mass  of  basalt  (F),  which  can  be  traced  down  nearly 
to  the  sea-level.  At  its  upper  end  it  penetrates  the  limestone, 
and  is  repeated  twice  owing  to  slight  faulting  parallel  to  the  main 
fault  X-X. 

Wherever  the  talus  is  wanting  it  can  be  seen  that  the  yellow 
limestone  (B)  is  overlaid  by  a  bed  of  glassy  basalt  (G),  varying 
greatly  in  thickness  and  attaining  its  greatest  development  towards 
the  southern  end  of  the  bay  (nearly  above  the  letters  N.E. -S.W.  in 
section  A,  Fig.  2).  At  this  point  it  forms  the  lower  portion  of 
a  lofty  overhanging  cliff,  which,  from  the  red  staining  of  the  lime- 
stone forming  its  summit  and  the  colour  of  the  volcanic  ash 
beneath,  is  called  by  the  people  the  "  liatoe  merah"  or  the  "red 
rock."  To  the  north  of  this  point  the  basalt  bed  can  be  seen 
at  intervals  only,  and  to  the  south  it  is  interrupted  (see  Fig.  2) 
by  the  fault  X-X  and  is  finally  cut  out  by  the  slip  Y-Y,  the 
l\[iocene  Orbitoidal  limestones  (C)  resting  on  its  end. 

The  basalt  of  this  bed  is  a  somewhat  glassy  rock,  the  ground-mass 
of  which  is  full  of  microliths  of  felspar  and  granules  of  magnetite  ; 
there  is  a  considerable  quantity  of  olivine,  which  except  in  a  few 
cases  is  entirely  altered  into  serpcntinous  material.  jS'umerous 
rounded  vesicles  more  or  less  comijletely  filled  with  a  bottle -gi'een 
substance  are  present.  In  the  higher  part  of  the  bed  this  rock 
has  undergone  further  alteration,  the  whole  of  the  olivine  being 
replaced  by  serpentine  and  the  green  material  filling  the  vesicles 


278  Christmas  Island. 

apparently  altered  into  a  similar  substance,  while  the  glassy  base 
has  become  palagonitic.  The  higher  parts  of  the  bed  also  seem 
to  have  been  more  glassy  than  the  lower. 

The  thickness  of  this  basalt  is,  as  already  noticed,  very  variable, 
and  the  tipper  surface  is  nowhere  clearly  defined.  It  is  covered 
by  beds  of  palagonite  tuffs,  Avhich  in  places  attain  a  thickness  of 
at  least  50  feet.  The  passage  from  the  basalt  to  the  ash  beds 
seems  to  be  marked  by  an  ill-defined  band  of  a  peculiar  rock 
consisting  of  angular  fragments  of  basic  glass,  some  an  inch  across, 
embedded  in  a  copious  cement  of  crystalline  calcite  or,  in  places, 
of  non-crystalline  lime,  containing  fragments  of  palagonite  (^probably 
merely  the  smaller  fragments  of  glass  completely  altered),  and 
occasionally  foraminifera  ;  the  cementing  substance  sometimes 
makes  up  a  great  portion  of  the  rock.  Seen  on  a  fractured  surface 
the  basic  glass  is  black  in  colour,  of  a  resinoid  lustre,  and  has 
an  irregular  splintery  fracture.  In  thin  sections  it  is  seen  to  be 
a  yellowish  brown,  and  the  fragments  are  usually  altered  along 
their  edges  to  an  orange-yellow  palagonite  ;  embedded  in  the  glass 
are  many  small  nodules  and  imperfect  crystals  of  olivine  and  some 
very  small  crystals  of  augite.  This  rock  was  not  actually  seen 
in  situ,  but  it  invariably  occurred  in  the  talus  immediately  beneath 
the  beds  of  palagonite  tuff,  which  it  almost  certainly  separated  from 
the  basalt  below. 

The  palagonite  tuffs  (H,  Figs.  2  and  5),  like  the  underlying  basalt, 
vary  considerably  in  thickness  in  different  parts  of  the  section. 
Between  the  faults  X-X  and  Y-Y  (see  Fig.  2)  they  probably  attain 
a  thickness  of  quite  50  feet.  Ftxrther  towards  the  middle  of 
Flying  Fish  Cove  they  are  mostly  concealed  by  talus,  but  here  and 
there  fonn  a  low  cliff  of  red  or  red  and  green  mottled  rock,  which 
crumbles  beneath  the  feet.  Under  the  microscope  it  is  seen  that 
the  rock  consists  of  small  fragments  of  a  highly  vesicular  basic 
glass,  which  has  been  completely  converted  into  palagonite ;  the 
whole  is  cemented  together  into  a  compact  mass  by  crystalline 
calcite,  and  here  and  there  the  shells  of  foraminifera  occur.  The 
palagonite  forms  bands  of  different  colours  parallel  to  the  outlines 
of  the  fragments  or  of  the  vesicles,  and  there  are  often  zones 
clouded  with  immense  numbers  of  small  granules,  which  under 
a  low  power  appear  perfectly  opaque.  Sometimes  these  dark  zones 
are  numerous,  but  usually  there  is  one  within  a  narrow  band  of 
clear  palagonite.  In  a  few  instances  the  whole  of  the  interior 
of  the  fragments  is  clouded  with  the  opaque  granules.  According 
to  Mr.  Chapman  the  foraminifera  which  occur  scattered  through 
the  mass  are  usually  species  of  Pulvinulina. 

The  glassy  basalt,  the  rock  composed  of  fragments  of  basic  glass, 
and  the  thick  masses  of  palagonite  tuff  above  described  seem  to 
have  been  the  products  of  a  submarine  eruption,  the  fragments 
of  basic  glass  being  derived  from  the  shattering  of  the  chilled 
upper  surface  of  the  basalt  flow,  and  the  palagonite  tuffs  being 
composed  of  the  finer  fragments  of  vesicular  glass  derived  from  the 


Geology.  279 

same  source  and  mingled  to  some  extent  with  sediment  containing 
marine  organisms.  These  rocks  are  verj-  similar  to  specimens 
described  by  .Murray  and  Kenard  in  the  "Challenger"  Report  on 
Deep-sea  Deposits  as  forming  the  nuclei  of  manganese  nodules 
dredged  from  depths  of  more  than  2,000  fathoms  in  the  Indian 
and  Pacific  Oceans.  Thus  the  more  altered  portion  of  the  glassy 
basalt  is  very  similar  to  that  figured  in  the  volume  quoted  on 
pi.  xix,  fig.  4  ;  the  palagonite  tutf  to  those  shown  on  pi.  xviii, 
figs.  1,  2,  3  ;  and  the  basic  glass  (No.  400)  to  that  figured  on 
pi.  xvii,  fig.  3  ;  and  no  doubt  they  were  produced  under  similar 
conditions.  The  degree  to  which  the  palagonite  tuffs  are  exposed 
on  the  cliff  is  shown  in  Fig.  2,  where  also  it  will  be  seen  that,  like 
the  basalt,  these  ash  beds  are  cut  off  by  the  fault  Y-Y  and  have 
Miocene  Oi'bitoidal  limestones  resting  on  their  southern  extremity. 

Inland,  about  half  a  mile  south  of  Flying  Fish  Cove  (Fig.  6),  we 
come  upon  an  extensive  exposure  of  this  upper  basalt.  The  eastern 
edge  of  the  exposure  runs  a  little  to  the  west  of  south,  approxi- 
mately along  the  500  feet  contour-line ;  to  the  westward  (that  is, 
the  seaward)  side  the  basalt  forms  a  series  of  steep  rounded  slopes 
separated  by  narrow  valleys  and  running  down  to  about  the 
300  feet  contour-line  ;  here  it  again  disappears  beneath  limestones, 
chiefly  Miocene  and  containing  Orhiioides,  but  in  some  places 
of  more  recent  origin.  This  belt  of  basalt  is  about  a  third  of 
a  mile  wide  at  its  northern  end,  and  can  be  followed  south  for  about 
a  mile,  beyond  which  it  is  completely  covered  with  Miocene  lime- 
stones :  this  is  the  most  extensive  exposure  of  volcanic  rock  in  the 
islaod.  As  already  mentioned,  the  upper  surface  of  the  exposure 
roughly  follows  the  500  feet  contour-line  where  it  disappears 
beneath  the  overlying  Miocene  limestones.  The  pahigonite  tuffs 
found  in  the  cliff  section  are  here  almost  entirely  absent  and  usually 
represented  only  by  a  bed  of  impure  limestone,  often  stained  and 
banded  red  and  yellow  by  water  percolating  along  the  surface  of 
the  volcanic  rock,  and  containing  fragments  of  palagonite  and 
basalt,  sometimes  in  such  quantities  as  to  form  a  kind  of  breccia. 

Towards  the  southern  end  of  this  exposure  of  basalt  there  are 
several  patches  of  Orbitoidal  limestone  at  from  500  to  550  feet 
above  the  sea ;  these  rest  directly  on  the  basalt,  many  fragments  of 
which  are  included  in  their  basal  portion,  which  may  present  the 
appearance  of  a  breccia  of  basalt  fragments.  Some  of  these  lime- 
stones (jSTos.  835,  827,  581)  are  described  on  pp.  254  and  255. 

Returning  to  the  cliff  section,  we  find  that  the  upper  surface 
of  the  palagonite  tuff  bed  may  be  covered  directly  by  Miocene 
Orbitoidal  limestone,  or  in  a  few  places  (e.g.  at  the  points  where 
the  sections  in  Fig.  2  were  taken)  a  thin  band  of  basalt,  which  is 
often  highly  vesicular  and  contains  large  crystals  of  augitc ;  above 
this  maj'  be  a  thin  band  of  palagonite  tuff,  or  in  places  a  volcanic 
breccia  consisting  of  fragments  of  highly  altered  basic  glass  and 
basalt  embedded  in  a  ground-mass  of  yellowish  limestone  which  may 
contain  foraminifera. 


FLYING  nSH  COVE 


M/jiZe  beach  # 


Scal& 


^  ^Kvle 


5mvlh.  Point 


'^^^^,■^0. 


''^^"^^^ 


-iSJtof 


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■f-^CL^ 

1 

\          ' 

f  \  50^         1          1 

1           (            » 

J  ,  i~rL 


,_  1     ' 


HZLZZE 


r~^  1     ! 


T~     '      V    ' 


Vjifitr 
Inland  Ckfj 


•Shore  Terrace 

^ Late  Pielstocen-e 

I^ctised  reef  and  beach 
Limestone  otaer  than  last 

liaised  reef  anterior 

to  last 


Miocene  Limestone 
of  central  nucleus 

^asall 
Volcanic  ash 


J  ,    I 


X      < 


Fig.  6. — Geological  Map  of  the  Neighbourhood  of  Flying  Fish  Cove. 


Geology.  281 

The  Miocene  Orbitoidal  limestones,  which  rest  upon  the  upper 
volcanic  series,  take  a  very  large  part  in  the  formation  of  the  basis 
upon  which  the  higher  and  later  limestones  rest,  and  extensive 
exposures  of  them  occur  in  several  localities.  Along  the  summit  of 
the  northern  half  of  the  Elying  Fish  Cove  cliff  they  form  a  vertical 
face,  varying  from  10  to  30  feet  in  height.  On  the  terrace 
above  they  are  exposed  in  low  pinnacles  roughly  ranged  in  rows 
parallel  to  the  clitf  edge,  and  at  the  fault  X-X  (Fig.  2)  they  form 
a  prominent  cliff  running  inland  for  about  the  third  of  a  mile  and 
terminating  at  its  southern  end  against  the  basalt  mass  described 
above  (see  Fig.  6).  This  clitf  occurs  on  the  downthrow  side  of 
the  fault,  the  limestone  on  the  upthrow  side  having  apparently 
slipped  down  the  seaward  slope ;  the  line  marked  Y-Y  indicates 
the  position  of  a  portion  of  the  slip.  ISoutb  of  Y-Y  (Fig.  2,  A) 
these  limestones  thicken  out  greatly  and  form  cliffs  at  least 
200  feet  in  height,  the  mass  being  split  bj'  a  series  of  vertical 
fissures  roughly  parallel  to  the  coast  soiith  of  Smith  Point.  These 
fissures  mark  small  slips,  which  on  the  terrace  above  are  indicated 
by  a  series  of  small  step-like  displacements ;  the  high  cliff  on  the 
south  of  the  cove  (Fig.  2,  A,  between  the  letters  "W.S.W.  and 
!N".W.)  is,  in  fact,  a  section  across  the  ends  of  these  terraces.  In 
the  extreme  south  of  the  cove  these  limestones  have  been  affected 
by  two  or  three  small  faults,  which  involve  the  underlying  basalt 
(G)  and  cause  the  repetition  of  the  basalt  bed  in  two  places  in  the 
base  of  the  cliff;  the  limestones  from  either  side  of  one  of  these 
faults  are  described  above  under  the  numbers  229  (p.  238),  220 
(p.  239),  219  (p.  240),  861  (p.  237).  The  last  specimen  shows 
conclusively  that  these  limestones  were  deposited  on  a  basalt 
surface  exposed  beneath  the  sea  and  thickly  coated  with  Litho- 
thamnion  and  other  encrusting  organisms.  Nos.  229  and  571 
(p.  236)  are  probably  from  the  same  bed,  both  being  taken  close 
to  the  underlying  basalt,  and  both  being  devoid  of  Orlitoides ; 
571,  however,  is  from  a  point  about  480  feet  above  the  sea,  in 
the  middle  of  the  cove,  while  229  is  from  only  about  100  feet  at 
the  south  end,  the  difference  of  height  being  accounted  for  partly 
by  the  slope  on  which  the  beds  are  deposited  causing  a  general 
dip  seaward  and  partly  by  the  slipping  that  has  occurred.  No.  924 
(p.  233)  closely  resembles  220,  and  is  likewise  taken  from  close 
to  the  basalt,  but  in  this  Orhitoides  are  present,  and  the  same  is 
the  case  with  9b8  (p.  252),  from  a  little  farther  west,  at  a  height 
of  about  60  feet  above  the  sea.  Of  the  rest  of  the  limestones 
from  this  locality  described  above  by  Messrs.  Jones  &  Chapman, 
595  (p.  240)  and  845  (p.  241)  are  from  immediately  above  the 
line  of  slip  Y-Y;  596  (p.  241)  and  844  (p.  242),  from  above  the 
last;  and  841  (p.  248)  and  963  (p.  250)  are  from  the  summit 
of  the  high  cliff'  at  this  point.  The  two  last  are  stated  to  be 
probablj^  of  more  recent  origin  than  the  Miocene  rocks  below,  and 
may  represent  a  remnant  of  some  much  later  deposit  which  formerly 
covered  them.     From  the  north  of  the  fault  X-X  the  specimens 


282  Chridmas  Island. 

5.'i0  (p.  246)  and  562  (p.  243)  were  taken  close  to  the  underlying 
volcanic  rock,  and  521  (p.  245),  551  (p.  248),  and  646  (p.  246), 
from  pinnacles  at  the  summit  of  the  cliff  (about  500  feet).  It 
will  be  seen  that  rocks  nearly  on  the  same  horizon  may  exhibit 
considerable  diversity  in  their  fossil  contents,  but  since  in  most 
cases  the  fossils  were  determined  from  a  single  section  the  diversity 
may  be  more  apparent  than  real. 

The  whole  of  these  Miocene  Orbitoidal  limestones  were  probably 
deposited  in  shallow  water  on  the  summit  and  flanks  of  a  sub- 
marine bank.  I  never  found  Orhitoides  on  any  rock  more  than 
about  600  feet  above  the  sea,  although  corals  of  Miocene  age  are 
said  to  occur  at  much  greater  elevations  (see  p.  208).  before 
these  higher  rocks  could  have  been  formed  probably  a  certain 
amount  of  subsidence  had  taken  place. 

It  will  be  convenient  to  describe  here  the  northern  end  of  the 
Flying  Fish  Cove  section  (left-hand  end  of  B  in  Fig.  2),  although 
in  so  doing  it  will  be  necessary  to  refer  to  some  of  the  later  rocks. 
It  has  already  been  mentioned  that  at  its  northern  end  the  cliff  of 
yellow  limestone  (marked  B)  becomes  broken  into  minor  cliffs  (P), 
which  dip  somewhat  downward  and  are  soon  concealed  beneath 
a  soil- clad  talus  slope.  At  a  point  slightly  to  the  north  of  where 
the  main  cliff  of  limestone  breaks  up,  the  basalt  likewise  disappears, 
being  partly  concealed  by  soil,  but  mostly  by  a  consolidated  talus 
composed  of  blocks  of  Miocene  Orbitoidal  limestone,  with  some 
pebbles  of  volcanic  rock.  This  forms  a  cliff  (see  N  in  section) 
which  can  be  seen  to  rest  upon  basaltic  and  trachytic  rocks.  At 
its  southern  end,  which  is  at  a  rather  higher  level  than  the  main 
face,  the  talus  blocks  are  angular,  but  throughout  the  greater  part 
of  its  extent  they  are  perfectly  rolled  and  rounded,  and  there  can 
be  no  doubt  that  we  have  here  a  section  of  an  old  beach  which  was 
formed  when  the  sea  was  80  or  100  feet  higher  than  now.  Still 
farther  north  this  disappears  under  a  coral-reef  rock,  probably  formed 
about  the  same  time.  Above  the  point  in  the  section  marked  I^-S 
traces  of  beds  of  Miocene  Orbitoidal  limestone  occur  only  about 
200  feet  up  the  cliff,  showing  that  here  also  rocks  of  this  age  overlap 
the  earlier  rocks  as  in  the  soutli.  These  in  tura  are  concealed 
beneath  a  great  mass  of  cemented  talus  (M  in  section),  which  has 
been  cut  back  into  a  lofty  cliff,  M  (80-100  feet  in  places).  The 
rocks  comprising  this  talus  include  blocks  of  Orbitoidal  limestone, 
but  seem  to  be  mostly  of  later  date.  At  its  northern  end  this 
cliff  disappears  beneath  the  limestones,  forming  the  first  inland 
cliff  at  tbe  Zigzag  (see  note  on  p.  263),  and  its  foot  is  concealed 
by  a  reef-rock  (E)  which  partly  covers  the  slope  below  it.  In  the 
talus  beneath  the  high  cliff  are  numerous  blocks  of  basalt  and 
palagonite  tuffs,  showing  that  the  beds  of  these  rocks  are  continued 
to  the  northern  end  of  the  cove,  where  they  also  pass  beneath 
M  and  E,  The  lowest  part  of  the  section  shows  the  face  of  the 
sea  cliff  (D),  consisting  of  late  Pleistocene  or  possibly  recent 
limestones. 


Geologij.  283 

In  this  section  we  appear  to  have  a  fair  representation  of  what 
would  be  seen  in  vertical  sections  through  the  island  at  right 
angles  to  the  coast  at  any  point,  the  succession  being  as  follows  : 
(1)  A  central  core  of  older  volcanic  and  Eocene  or  Oligocene  lime- 
stones ;  (2)  beds  of  basalt,  volcanic  ash,  and  thick  masses  of 
Orbitoidal  limestones  enwi'apping  1  ;  (3)  masses  of  talus,  derived 
mainly  from  the  Miocene  rocks  and  covered  by  (4)  a  thick  detrital 
limestone,  which  is  derived  from  the  wear  of  the  reefs  which  cover 
the  higher  portions  of  the  island;  (5)  a  raised  reef  of  much  later 
date,  which  covers  the  foot  of  the  cliffs  and  slopes  composed  of  4 ; 
and  (6)  finally,  the  late  Pleistocene,  or  even  recent,  limestones  of 
the  sea  clifF,  which  cling  to  the  base  of  any  of  the  older  formations 
which  may  be  exposed. 

Rochs  of  the  Central  Nucleus  in  otlvr  localities. — As  far  as  I  know, 
the  only  other  locality  in  the  island  where  there  is  an  exposure 
of  the  Eocene  or  Oligocene  limestone  containing  Discocycline 
Orlitoides  is  in  Sidney's  Dale  (see  Map),  a  deep  gorge  on  the 
west  coast.  This  valley  is  one  of  several  which,  beginning  at 
a  height  of  between  400  and  500  feet,  runs  down  to  the  sea  in 
a  generally  south-west  direction.  In  some  cases  (e  g.  Sidney's 
Dale)  they  cut  through  the  sea  cliff  and  terminate  at  the  sea-level 
(Fig.  7),  in  others  (e.g.  Hugh's  Dale)  they  open  out  on  the  top  of 
the  lowest  terrace.  These  valleys  seem  to  have  been  originally 
formed  along  lines  of  cracking  and  faulting ;  as  a  rule,  on  one  side 
they  are  shut  in  by  vertical  cliffs,  on  the  other  by  steep  slopes. 
The  floor  is  often  formed  by  basaltic  rock,  and  in  one  or  two 
instances  (e.g.  in  the  lower  part  of  Sidney's  Dale  Valley)  it 
appears  to  form  an  upper  edge  of  a  narrow  dyke  running  along 
the  direction  of  the  valley  and  showing  signs  of  columnar  structure 
at  right  angles  to  it  (see  Fig.  8).  In  all  cases  there  are  signs 
that  in  the  rainy  season  a  considerable  torrent  runs  down  these 
valleys,  and  no  doubt  has  contributed  to  a  considerable  extent  to 
their  present  form.  I  believe  that  where  the  sea  cliff  has  been 
cut  through  to  the  sea-level  this  is  entirely  the  Avork  of  the 
running  water,  and  that  the  movements  which  first  gave  rise  to 
these  gorges  did  not  affect  the  lowest  terrace,  which  in  fact  was 
formed  subseqiiently  to  them  (see  Fig.  7). 

In  Sidney's  Dale,  at  about  250  feet  above  and  25  chains  from  the 
sea,  the  southern  wall  of  the  gorge  is  formed  hj  cliffs  varying  from 
60  to  100  feet  in  height;  the  northern  side  is  very  steep  and  in 
places  cliif-like,  while  the  total  width  of  the  floor  is  not  more  than 
20  or  30  feet,  and  is  mostly  occupied  by  the  rounded  and  water- 
worn  rocks  which  indicate  the  existence  of  a  rapid  stream  at  some 
seasons.  When  I  visited  the  valley  in  October  it  was  perfectly 
dry.  The  cliffs  to  the  south  consist  of  a  basal  portion  of  basalt, 
about  10  feet  high,  then  a  narrow  band  of  soft  rock  some  18  inches 
thick,  and  above  this  to  the  summit  of  the  cliff  hard  yellow 
Eocene  or  Oligocene  limestone.  The  basalt  has  a  ground-mass 
crowded  with  lath-shaped  crystals  of  plagioclase,  some  augites,  and 


284 


Christmas  Island. 


numerous  skeleton  crystals  of  magnetite  ;  there  is  some  glass)'  base. 
A  few  porphyritic  crystals  of  pale  purple  augite  and  some 
porpliyritic  felspars  replaced  by  calcite  occur.  This  basalt  is 
extensively  exposed  in  tbe  neighbourhood  and  is  different  from  the 
basalt  above  referred  to  as  forming  a  dyke  on  the  floor  of  the  dale. 
The  soft  rock  (JS'o.  318)  forming  the  thin  band  separating  the 
basalt  from  the  limestone  above,  and  the  massive  limestone 
(ISTo.  347),  are  described  on  p.  254.  In  both,  the  Lower  Tertiary 
type  of  Orhitoides  is  present.  Unfortunately  the  relations  of  this 
bed  of  ancient  limestone  were  not  worked  out,  because  in  the  first 


Fig.  7. — Mouth  of  Sidney's  Dale,  "West  Coast 


place  my  stay  in  the  neighbourhood  was  very  brief,  and  in  the 
second  without  microscopic  examination  the  age  of  the  beds  was 
not  recognizable.  It  will  be  noted  that,  as  at  Flying  Fish  Cove, 
this  old  limestone  occurs  at  a  comparatively  low  level,  not  being 
more  than  about  250  feet  above  the  sea. 

The  volcanic  rocks  are  exposed  over  a  considerable  area  on  the 
east  coast  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  fresh-water  stream  and 
waterfall  marked  on  the  Map.  There  they  do  not  occur  more 
than  about  150  feet  at  most  above  the  sea-level;   but  towards  the 


Geology.  285 

southern  end  of  this  coast,  a  little  north  of  Eoss  Hill,  I  found  basalt 
pebbles  up  to  400  feet. 

In  the  neighbourhood  of  the  fresh-water  stream  are  some  rounded 
knolls,  and  in  a  shallow  valley  between  these  1  found  an  exposure 
of  a  trachytic  rock  similar  to  that  described  from  Flying  Fish  Cove. 
This  exposure  was  of  small  extent,  and  seemed  to  be  completely 
surrounded  by  basalt,  of  which  the  knolls  are  composed  ;  the 
relations  of  the  two  could  not  be  made  out,  the  ground  being  for 
the  most  part  covered  with  a  dense  jungle  of  screw-pines,  veiy 
difficult  to  penetrate.  The  basalt  at  this  point  forms  a  great  part 
of  the  shore  terrace,  and  appears  on  the  shore  in  the  waterfall 
bay  and  in  another  bay  a  little  to  the  south.  At  the  stream  it  is 
covered  by  thick  beds  of  red  palagonite  tuffs,  and  it  is  to  the 
presence  of  these  volcanic  rocks  that  the  existence  of  the  two  or 
three  small  brooks  is  due.  The  palagonite  tuffs  are  covered  with 
coral  limestones,  the  age  of  which  is  not  known.  At  the  waterfall 
(Panchoran  Bay)  the  basalt  fonns  an  extensive  sea- worn  platfoiTu 
(Fig.  9),  and  on  the  beach  forms  a  projecting  ledge  over  which 
a  pei'enuial  stream  of  excellent  water  flows.  The  basalt  at  this 
point,  which  is  near  the  centre  of  the  mass,  contains  porphyritic 
crystals  of  felspar,  augite,  and  olivine.  There  seem  to  be  two 
kinds  of  porphyritic  felspars,  one  in  well-defined  twinned  crystals, 
probably  labradorite,  the  other  less  well-defined  and  with  distinct 
zonal  banding  ;  this  is  probably  more  acid.  The  olivine  is  usually 
altered  into  a  pleochroic  fibrous  serpentinous  mineral.  Ground-mass 
of  microliths  of  felspars,  augite,  and  magnetite.  Above  the  basalt 
at  this  point  is  a  bed  of  volcanic  conglomerate,  consisting  of  blocks 
of  basic  rock,  some  vesicular,  some  compact  and  glassy,  mostly 
more  or  less  rounded  ;  these  are  embedded  in  a  ground-mass  of  red 
volcanic  ash  with  much  lime ;  in  fact,  at  the  top  of  the  bed  the 
pebbles  of  basaltic  rock  are  embedded  in  hard  limestone.  The 
greatest  thickness  of  this  bed  measured  was  about  1 0  feet.  Upon 
it  is  a  bed  of  hard  yellow  limestone,  the  age  of  which  is  doubtful. 
The  absence  of  Orhitoides  (see  iS'o.  52,  p.  259)  is  against  its 
Miocene  age,  but  on  the  other  hand  Dr.  Gregoiy  has  doubtfully 
referred  a  coral  from  this  bed  to  a  species  ( Orbicella  murrayi^ 
p.  216)  found  elsewhere  in  the  Orbitoidal  limestone.  Upon  it 
is  a  thick  mass  of  limestone  breccia,  the  blocks  composing  which 
are  of  all  sizes  and  cemented  by  finer  mateiial,  often  filled  with 
phosphatic  nodules ;  probably  the  whole  is  a  submarine  talus  of 
comparatively  recent  date  derived  from  the  cliffs  behind.  This 
is  capped  in  turn  by  a  reef-limestone  of  quite  recent  date  (probably 
late  Pleistocene).  The  cliff  at  the  north  and  south  of  this  bay 
is  therefore  formed  (from  below  up)  by  (1)  basalt,  (2)  volcanic 
agglomerate,  (3)  yellow  limestone  (4  or  5  feet),  perhaps  of 
Miocenea  ge,  (4)  limestone  breccia,  an  old  talus,  (5)  late  reef- 
limestone  with  corals  like  those  now  living  on  the  coast. 

A  few  hundred  yards  farther  south  the  sea-washed  platform 
is  composed  of  a  basalt  of  a  very  different  character  from  that 


Fig.  8.— Dyke  of  Basalt,  Floor  of  Sidney's  Dale,   We.st  Coast. 


Fig.  9.— Sea-avoux  Basalt  ix  Waterfall  (Panchoran)   Bay,  East  Coast. 


Geology.  287 

just  described.  This  is  a  much,  altered  glassy  basalt  with  small 
poiiDhyritic  felspars  and  augites.  The  base  has  been  for  the  most 
part  altered  into  a  yellowish  and  greenish  brown  palagonite-like 
substance  which  contains  many  microliths  of  plagioclase.  There 
are  some  vesicles  filled  with  concentric  layers  of  a  transparent 
substance  showing  a  black  cross  between  crossed  nicols.  The  lower 
part  of  the  bed  is  divided  into  fairly  regular  hexagonal  vertical 
prisms,  the  summits  of  which  have  been  broken  into  small  angular 
fragments  and  recemcnted  with  crj'stalliue  caleite,  the  resulting 
rock  having  a  remarkable  appearance  owing  to  the  sharp  contrast 
between  the  black  basalt  and  the  white  lime.  This  extends  up 
the  cliff  for  about  40  feet,  and  is  in  some  places  capped  by  a  foot 
or  two  of  a  tine- grained  brown  rock,  apparently  an  ash,  and  on 
the  top  of  the  cliff  there  is  a  thick  bed  of  red  palagonite  tuff.  In 
a  cliff  a  little  to  the  south  a  clean  section  of  the  ■  basalt  shows 
that  it  is  divided  into  four  or  five  beds  separated  by  indurated  and 
brecciated  limestone.  The  whole  is  covered  by  a  conglomerate  of 
blocks  of  limestone,  some  of  great  size,  probably  a  consolidated 
talus  from  the  inland  cliffs. 

South  of  Steep  Point  the  base  of  the  sea  cliff  is  formed  of  basalt 
divided  into  hexagonal  columns,  in  one  case  apparently  curved. 

Still  farther  south  there  are  extensive  exposures  of  basalt,  which 
may  be  distinguished  at  a  long  distance  from  the  summits  of  the 
inland  clifts  by  the  great  size  of  the  sago-palms  {Arenga  Usteri) 
which  grow  upon  them ;  in  this  locality  volcanic  rocks  may  occur 
up  to  400  feet  above  the  sea. 

In  some  localities  on  the  east  coast  the  Miocene  Orbitoidal  lime- 
stones are  magnificently  developed.  The  most  notable  exposure  is 
near  jS^orth-East  Point,  where  the  whole  of  the  first  inland  cliff  for 
more  than  half  a  mile  consists  of  limestones  of  this  age,  crowded 
with  the  characteristic  fossils.  This  cliff  is  about  250  feet  high, 
and  it  appears  to  have  been  formed  by  a  slipping  away  of  a  portion 
of  the  eastern  flank  of  the  island.  A  little  farther  south  a  much 
more  extensive  slip  has  taken  place,  giving  rise  to  a  cliff  upwards 
of  500  feet  in  height  and  consisting  apparently  almost  wholly  of 
^Miocene  rocks.  Towards  the  summit  (about  400  feet)  is  found 
the  rock  which  Messrs.  Jones  &  Chapman  have  described  above 
(No.  955,  p.  255)  as  a  breccia  of  fragments  of  Orbitoidal  limestone 
cemented  by  recent  reef  material,  but  I  am  inclined  to  doubt 
whether  the  brecciation  and  recementing  of  the  rock  may  not  both 
be  of  Miocene  date. 

The  base  of  these  cliffs  is  concealed  by  a  talus  of  great  blocks 
and  also  in  the  northern  part  by  comparatively  recent  reef-lime- 
stones which  once  formed  a  narrow  fringing  reef  along  their  foot; 
it  cannot  therefore  be  seen  whether  here,  as  at  Flying  Fish  Cove, 
these  Miocene  limestones  rest  on  a  volcanic  basis  or  not ;  but  since 
in  the  immediate  neighbourhood  pebbles  of  basaltic  rock  occur 
in  the  shore  platform,  and  since  at  the  same  level  and  only  about 
a  mile  further  south  the  basalts   and   tuffs   are   present    and   of 


288  Christmas  Island. 

considerable  thickness,  it  seems  almost  certain  tliat  this  is  the  case. 
Cliffs  composed  of  these  Orbitoidal  limestones  are  easily  dis- 
tinguishable from  those  formed  of  later  reef-limestones,  by  their 
flat  smooth  faces  and  the  straightness  of  all  their  lines,  which  is  the 
consequence  of  the  system  of  jointing  which  splits  the  mass  up 
into  roughly  cubical  blocks.  The  magnificent  range  of  cliffs 
(first  inland)  which  forms  the  fine  headland,  Egeria  Point,  are  no 
doubt  of  this  age,  and  so  perhaps  are  those  of  South  Point. 

On  the  plateau  and  higher  cliffs  no  Orbitoidal  limestones  at  all 
occur,  but  according  to  Dr.  Gregory  some  of  the  corals  (e  g. 
Orhicella  herklotsi)  collected  from  the  reefs  on  the  central  plateau 
are  of  Miocene  type.  If  this  is  so  it  indicates  that  in  these 
localities  the  basis  of  older  rocks  has  been  exposed  by  denudation  ; 
but  since  no  rocks  containing  Orhitoides  were  seen  and,  on  the  other 
hand,  traces  of  volcanic  rocks  were  found,  it  seems  probable  that  the 
Orbitoidal  limestones  never  completely  covered  the  volcanic  basis, 
for  had  they  done  so  traces  of  them  should  remain  on  the  plateau. 

The  Eocks  of  the  Centeal  Plateau  and  Hills. 

The  general  characters  of  the  central  plateau  and  of  the  hills 
which  occur  on  its  borders  are  described  above  in  the  introductoiy 
section  (pp.  11-13).  As  already  mentioned,  some  of  the  limestones 
exposed  in  the  interior  contain  corals  of  Miocene  type  (see  p.  208), 
and  therefore  most  probably  form  part  of  the  central  nucleus 
which  has  been  exposed  by  the  very  extensive  denudation  that 
the  island  must  have  undergone.  Other  reasons  for  supposing 
that  this  may  be  the  case  are,  that  in  the  middle  of  the  island 
occasional  pebbles  of  volcanic  rock  may  be  found,  and  that,  as 
mentioned  on  p.  18,  the  great  depth  of  the  reddish-brown  soil 
covering  much  of  the  central  region  has  certainly  been  derived  from 
the  decomposition  of  volcanic  rock,  at  least  in  great  part.  It  is 
unfortunate  that  the  Miocene  age  of  some  of  the  rocks  of  the  plateau 
could  not  be  determined  by  me  while  on  the  island,  since  a  careful 
examination  of  their  relations,  and  fuller  collections  of  their  fossils, 
might  have  thrown  much  light  on  the  age  of  the  highest  limestones 
and  on  the  date  of  the  first  elevation  of  the  island  above  the  sea. 
This  event  was  no  doubt  post-Miocene,  but  that  it  was  not  long 
subsequent  to  that  period  seems  to  be  rendered  probable  by  the 
fact  that  since  it  took  place  a  series  of  negative  movements  of  the 
shore-line  has  occurred,  a  succession  of  inland  cliffs  has  been  cut 
back,  and  enormous  masses  of  calcareous  rock,  both  reef-limestones 
and  more  especially  detrital  limestones  which  cover  much  of  the 
fianks  of  the  island,  have  been  formed. 

The  latest  of  the  limestones  covering  the  highest  parts  of  the 
island  and  forming,  in  my  opinion,  an  atoll  reef  and  island,  have 
been  either  to  a  large  extent  removed  by  denudation  or  have 
undergone  groat  alteration,  which  has  led  to  the  destruction 
of  the   contained  organisms.      The  rocks  composing  the   summit 


Geologij.  289 

of  Murray  Hill,  Phosphate  Hill,  and  the  highest  land  over  Flying 
Fish  Cove  are  dolomitic  limestones,  containing  34  to  41  per  cent, 
of  carbonate  of  magnesia.  Descriptions  and  analyses  of  these  rocks 
(I^os.  378,  514,  800,  811)  are  given  above  by  Mr.  E.  W.  Skeats 
(pp.  267-268) ;  and  Messis.  Jones  &  Chapman  have  described  the 
organisms  contained  in  378  (p.  257)  and  800  (p.  258),  and  also 
in  1^0.  143  (p.  256),  a  similar  rock  from  the  summit  of  Ross  Hill. 
In  all  cases  the  fossils  are  nearly  obliterated,  and  only  imperfect 
remains  of  a  few  foraminifera  and  fragments  of  Lithothamnion, 
which  resists  destruction  to  the  last,  are  to  be  seen  :  in  the  rock 
from  Murray  Hill  there  may  be  traces  of  coral  structure.  The 
rocks  forming  the  rim  between  the  hills  are  of  a  similar  character 
both  on  the  seaward  side  and  on  the  landward  slope,  or  low  cliff, 
which,  according  to  the  view  expressed  above,  faced  the  lagoon. 
In  these,  although  their  general  appearance  and  mode  of  occurrence 
point  to  an  origin  from  a  coral  reef,  yet  traces  of  coral  are  rarely 
seen.  In  some  places,  where  the  limestones  contain  little  carbonate 
of  magnesia,  the  foraminifera  are  fairly  distinct :  an  example  of 
such  a  rock  is  IS'o.  134  (pp.  256  and  265),  which  was  collected 
a  little  below  the  summit  of  the  upper  cliff  on  the  east  coast. 

The  rocks  of  the  central  plateau  have  been  examined  only  in 
part.  One  of  the  most  interesting  is  from  pinnacles  projecting 
from  the  soil  at  about  800  feet  above  the  sea  (JS'o.  935,  p.  257)  : 
it  is  a  crystalline  limestone  crowded  with  fragments  of  Lithothamnion 
and  Salimeda,  together  with  a  few  foraminifera,  and  it  seems 
to  be  a  shallow-water  rock,  such  as  might  well  accumulate  in 
a  lagoon.  At  no  great  distance  from  this  there  is  another  rock 
which  points  more  strongly  to  lagoon  conditions.  This  is  a  fine 
white  limestone,  which  for  the  most  part  is  of  a  powdery  chalk-like 
consistency,  is  composed  entirely  of  carbonate  of  lime,  and  usually 
contaias  no  organisms  :  scattered  in  it  are  irregular  hardened  masses 
which  include  numerous  foraminifera,  which  are  described  above 
(jSTo.  658.  p.  257)  as  being  undersized  and  thin-shelled,  and  the 
nature  of  the  rock  as  a  whole  is  stated  to  indicate  that  it  was  once 
the  soft  mud  of  a  shallow  lagoon,  an  interpretation  which  the 
position  in  which  it  is  found  strongly  supports.  Some  of  the  hard 
masses  closely  associated  with  this  rock  are  dolomitized  and  the 
organisms  obliterated.     (See  No.  658,  p.  268.) 

The  most  important  evidence  that  the  higher  points  on  the 
northern  and  eastern  rim  of  the  plateau  once  formed  islets  is 
the  existence  upon  several  of  them  of  thick  beds  of  phosphate 
of  lime,  for  it  is  difficult  to  account  for  the  great  accumulation 
of  this  substance  at  these  points  otherwise  than  by  supposing  that 
it  is  derived  from  thick  beds  of  guano  deposited  on  these  elevations 
under  conditions  very  different  from  those  now  prevailing.  The 
necessary  conditions  would  seem  to  have  been  fulfilled  if  these 
hills  formed  low  treeless  islets,  whether  these  consisted  merely 
of  accumulations  of  coral  thrown  upon  the  reef  by  the  action  of 
the  waves,  or  were  the  highest  points  along  the  line  of  reefs  which 

V 


290  Christmas  Island. 

had  been  exposed  by  a  change  in  the  relative  levels  of  the  land 
and  sea.  Another  condition  favourable  for  the  accumulation  of 
guano  is  absence,  or  at  least  scantiness,  of  rainfall,  and  the  low 
and,  as  they  must  at  first  have  been,  treeless  islets  would  certainly 
have  a  much  smaller  rainfall  than  at  present  occurs.  Moreover, 
at  the  time  when  the  first  upward  movement  took  place,  the 
conditions  prevailing  in  the  Malay  Archipelago  were  very  different 
from  at  present.  In  Java,  for  instance,  late  Miocene  or  early 
Pliocene  deposits  are  found  at  an  elevation  of  900  metres,  so 
that  a  smaller  land-area  was  then  exposed,  and,  furthermore,  the 
volcanic  mountains  were  much  less  elevated  than  now.  These 
circumstances  may  have  considerably  modified  the  meteorological 
conditions  of  Christmas  Island,  which  lies  near  the  southern  edge 
of  the  region  affected  by  the  monsoon  (see  p.  17). 

The  phosphates,  as  they  now  exist,  are  probably  the  remains 
of  beds  of  limestone,  which  have  been  altered  by  the  overlying 
guano,  the  carbonate  of  lime  being  replaced  by  phosphate.  The 
phosphatization  occurred  somewhat  irregularly,  and  the  removal 
of  the  more  soluble  portions  of  the  beds  by  the  action  of  perco- 
lating water  has  left  behind  a  thick  bed  of  blocks  and  nodules  of 
phosphate,  which  covers  a  large  area  and  extends  to  a  considerable 
depth  (upwards  of  10  feet  in  places).  The  most  important  of 
these  deposits  is  at  Phosphate  Hill,  where  a  large  area  is  covered 
by  them,  but  other  beds  are  to  be  found  on  some  of  the  hills  on 
the  east  coast.  Moreover,  at  the  present  day  small  nodules  of 
phosphate  of  lime  are  scattered  widely  over  the  plateau,  and 
particularly  on  the  outer  slopes  of  the  island.  These  nodules  also 
occur  embedded  in  the  later  limestones,  and  sometimes  may  have 
been  formed  in  situ  by  segregation,  but  in  most  cases  are  simply 
derived  from  the  higher  beds.  In  any  case  the  terraces,  particularly 
the  shore  terrace,  are  in  places  thickly  strewn  with  a  sort  of  shingle 
of  nodules  of  phosphate  of  lime,  which  have  either  weathered  out 
of  the  limestones  or  fallen  from  the  beds  above. 

In  many  places  on  the  plateau  the  level  surface  of  the  soil  is 
thickly  strewn  with  small  round  black  bodies  varying  in  size  from 
that  of  No.  10  shot  to  that  of  small  peas.  Mr.  E,.  Irvine  informs 
me  that  these  pellets  consist  of  a  central  nucleus  of  phosphate 
of  lime,  surrounded  by  a  fairly  thick  coat  of  manganese  dioxide, 
the  whole  being  again  covered  with  a  thin  layer  of  phosphate  ; 
they  contain  about  18  per  cent,  of  manganese  dioxide.  This  is 
probably  derived  from  the  volcanic  tuffs  which  were  extensively 
exposed  on  the  higher  parts  of  the  island,  and,  as  already 
mentioned,  must  be  to  a  large  extent  the  parent  rock  from 
which  the  thick  soil  of  the  island  is  derived.  Their  decomposition 
may  have  given  rise  to  mud  deposits  on  the  lagoon  bottom. 

The  phosphate  itself  is  a  very  peculiar  substance.  It  is  intensely 
hard  (between  6  and  7),  and  this,  combined  with  the  waxy  lustre 
of  a  newly  fractured  surface,  gives  the  impression  that  it  is  siliceous, 
though  as  a  matter  of  fact  it  contains  little  or  no  silica  (less  than 


Geology.  291 

1  per  cent.).  Under  the  microscope  it  can  be  seen  that  the  rock, 
which  has  been  phosphatized,  was  a  fragmental  one  ;  obscure  traces 
of  contained  organisms  (foraminifera)  may  be  observed  occasionally, 
and  in  some  specimens  fragments  of  bone  occur.  There  are  numerous 
irregular  cracks  and  cavities,  which  are  usually  lined  with  nearly 
transparent  phosphate  of  lime,  showing  a  beautifully  banded  agate- 
like structure.  The  colour  of  the  rock  is  as  a  rule  a  brownish 
white,  but  some  specimens  are  of  a  darker  tint.  In  some  cases  the 
rock  is  found  to  consist  of  fragments  of  dark  and  light  coloured 
phosphatized  rock,  embedded  in  a  cement  of  transparent  yellowish 
phosphate  of  lime,  apparently  deposited  from  solution  in  concentric 
layers  round  the  fragments.  Under  crossed  nicols  this  banded 
substance  is  found  to  be  doubly  refractive,  polarizes  feebly  in 
tints  of  grey  and  shows  traces  of  the  black  cross,  the  banded 
structure  being  rendered  very  prominent.  In  many  respects  this 
phosphatic  rock  closely  resembles  in  its  structure  some  of  the 
phosphatic  nodules  from  deep  water  described  by  Murray  &  Renard 
in  the  "  Challenger"  Eeport  on  Deep-sea  Deposits  (p.  391  et  seq.). 
These  nodules  are  described  as  having  been  formed  as  segregations 
of  phosphate  of  lime  replacing  carbonate  in  certain  marine  deposits. 
This  mode  of  origin  may  perhaps  account  for  the  presence  of  some 
of  the  small  nodules  found  scattered  over  the  island,  but  cannot  be 
responsible  for  the  formation  of  the  great  masses  occurring  at 
Phosphate  Hill  and  elsewhere.  The  average  composition  of  the 
phosphate  is  about  39  per  cent,  phosphoric  acid;  51-5  per  cent, 
lime ;  3*5  per  cent,  carbonic  acid ;  2  per  cent,  iron  and  alumina ; 
the  remaining  4  per  cent,  being  made  of  magnesia,  water,  fluorine, 
and  other  substances ;  there  is  only  about  '2  per  cent,  of  silica. 
The  brown  soil  in  the  neighbourhood  of  these  deposits  also  contains 
a  considerable  amount  of  phosphoric  acid,  often  amounting  to  more 
than  30  per  cent. 

On  Murray  Hill  is  a  bed  of  a  remarkable  rock  which  seems  to 
have  been  produced  by  the  phosphatization  of  a  volcanic  rock, 
probably  a  bed  of  tuff.  It  consists  of  small  brown  spherules  of 
phosphatic  matter  cemented  by  doubly  refractive  phosphate  of 
(?)  lime  :  under  the  lens  it  presents  somewhat  the  appearance  of  an 
oolite.  It  contains  39  per  cent,  of  phosphoric  acid,  only  2*5  per  cent, 
of  lime,  32-5  per  cent,  of  iron  and  alumina,  nearly  5  per  cent,  of 
silica,  the  remainder  being  almost  all  water,  either  free  or  combined. 

The  rock  upon  which  the  phosphate  beds  rest  is,  in  most  places, 
a  dolomitic  limestone,  which,  in  the  specimens  examined,  curiously 
enough  seems  to  contain  no  trace  of  phosphate  of  lime.  Descriptions 
and  analyses  of  some  of  these  dolomitic  rocks  from  Phosphate  Hill 
(Nos.  800,  804,  811)  are  given  on  p.  267. 

The  Upper  Cliffs  and  Teeeaces. 

The  rocks  composing  the  upper  inland  cliffs  have  not  been  fully 
examined,  but  enough  has  been  done  to  show  that  in  different 
•places  rocks  of  very  different  characters  occur.     These  upper  cliffs 


292  Christmas  Island. 

would  perhaps  be  more  fitly  called  talus  slopes,  since  it  is  rare 
or  an  actual  cliff  face  to  be  seen,  the  usual  form  being  a  steep 
(30°-40°)  slope  strewn  with  jagged  blocks  of  limestone  sometimes 
arranged  more  or  less  in  a  succession  of  small  terraces.  A  general 
account  of  them  has  been  given  on  p.  11.  The  upper  cliff 
consists  entirely  of  white  and  cream-coloured  limestones,  which 
towards  the  summit  are  often  more  or  less  dolomitized,  and 
are  nearly  always  more  or  less  cavernous,  owing  partly  to  the 
crystallization  which  has  usually  taken  place  to  a  greater  or  less 
extent.  Traces  of  coral  are  rare,  but  in  one  or  two  cases  I  found 
a  rock  apparently  made  up  of  broken  pieces  of  a  branching  coral. 
Some  of  the  beds  consist  largely  of  foraminifera,  fragments  of 
moUusca,  and  other  organisms.  At  725  feet  over  West  White 
Beach  I  found  a  bed  composed  almost  exclusively  of  a  small  lamelli- 
branch,  but  this  was  on  the  south-west  side  of  Murray  Hill  and 
perhaps  belongs  rather  to  the  plateau  than  the  upper  cliff.  Many 
of  the  rocks  are  clearly  of  fragmental  origin,  and  consist  of  angular 
fragments  of  older  limestones  in  a  later  calcareous  matrix.  No 
Orbitoides  were  seen.  The  rocks  on  the  whole  are  such  as  might 
have  accumulated  on  the  submarine  slopes  outside  a  living  reef, 
and,  in  fact,  are  probably  largely  composed  of  the  debris  derived 
from  the  wear  of  the  rocks  described  above  as  forming  the  rim  of 
the  plateau.  This  upper  slope  is  separated  from  the  one  below  by 
a  level  terrace  of  varying  width,  usually  soil-clad,  but  occasionally 
studded  with  blocks  and  pinnacles  of  limestone. 

The  second  inland  cliff,  like  the  upper  one,  is  generally  reduced 
to  a  mere  slope  covered  with  talus,  but  in  a  few  places,  e.g.  to 
the  north  of  Steep  Point  on  the  east  coast,  it  forms  a  vertical  face. 
In  it  coral  is  found  much  more  often  than  in  the  upper  cliff,  and 
at  the  locality  just  referred  to  numerous  masses  of  it  can  be  seen 
embedded  in  the  limestone.  Fragmental  limestones  are  again 
common,  and  pieces  of  echinoid  spines  and  moUuscan  shells  are 
frequently  met  with  ;  in  some  cases  foraminifera  are  very  numerous. 
The  limestones  are  occasionally  more  or  less  dolomitic  (see  131, 
p.  257),  and  in  a  few  cases  are  partly  phosphatized  (940,  p.  261). 
In  this  last  case  the  limestone  in  question  occurs  below  Phosphate 
Hill,  and  the  contained  phosphate  was  no  doubt  derived  from  that 
covering  the  slopes  above.  No.  131  is  from  a  narrow  valley  on 
the  summit  of  the  first  inland  cliff,  between  its  outer  edge  and 
the  foot  of  the  second  inland  cliff. 

First  Inland  Cliff, 

The  general  characters  of  this  cliff  have  been  described  above 
on  p.  10 :  both  in  its  mode  of  origin  and  composition  it  is  much 
more  complex  than  the  slopes  above.  It  may  consist  either  of 
(1)  limestones  of  the  central  nucleus,  containing  Orbitoides,  as  at 
North-Easfc  Point,  or  (2)  limestones  of  later  date,  largely  made  up 
of  corals,  molluscan  shells,  echinoid  fragments,  foraminifera,  and 


Geology.  293 

other  organisms,  whicli  together  with  other  reef  debris  have 
accumuhited  on  the  flanks  of  the  island;  this  is  the  prevailing 
type,  and  is  found  on  all  sides  of  the  island  where  this  cliff  is  well 
developed.  The  cases  where  the  Miocene  rocks  are  exposed  have 
been  noticed  above.  Eocks  forming  a  cliff  of  the  second  type  are 
described  by  Professor  Kupert  Jones  and  Mr.  Chapman  under  the 
numbers  979  (p.  259),  859,  1002,  1005,  1006  (p.  260),  900,  403a 
(p.  261),  937,  864  (p.  262),  200,  202,  208,  209  (p.  263),  and 
1032  (p.  264).  It  will  be  seen  that  some  of  these  are  described 
as  being  brecciated  or  as  forming  a  '  microconglomerate,'  and  as 
a  matter  of  fact  they  all  seem  to  me  to  be  mainly  of  detrital  origin. 
Again,  several  are  described  as  'recent,'  but  this  can  only  be 
regarded  as  a  relative  term,  since  they  are  probably  older  than 
the  Pleistocene.  It  should  be  noticed,  however,  that  the  corals 
described  by  Dr.  Gregory  from  this  cliff  are  either  recent  forms  or 
very  closely  allied  to  recent  forms  (see  p.  210  et  seqq.),  and  usually 
occur  also  in  the  sea  cliff,  but  on  this  point  see  below  (p.  294). 
Nos.  1002,  1005-6  may  be  taken  as  fairly  typical  of  the  rocks  of 
the  vertical  face  (200  feet  high)  of  this  cliff'  as  developed  on  the 
east  coast.  No.  900  was  from  the  bottom  of  a  cliff  forming  the 
western  side  of  the  deep  cleft  by  which  Steep  Point  Hill  has  been 
cut  off  from  the  main  mass,  and  may  be  taken  as  typical  of  deeper 
parts  of  this  limestone ;  in  this  specimen  minute  fragments  of  bone 
are  not  nncoramon.  Nos.  200,  202,  208,  209,  211,  and  1032  are 
from  the  first  inland  cliff,  just  north  of  Flying  Fish  Cove,  and 
form  part  of  a  series  of  specimens  collected  every  few  feet  from 
the  bottom  to  the  top.  jSlo.  1032  is  crowded  with  organisms,  and 
must  have  been  formed  close  to  a  living  reef.  This  series  may 
be  taken  as  giving  a  fairly  good  idea  of  the  kind  of  rocks  of  which 
this  cliff  is,  as  a  rule,  composed. 

The  first  inland  cliff  appears  to  owe  its  origin  to  two  different 
causes  in  different  localities.  In  the  first  place  it  may  be  a  fault 
cliff  formed  by  the  foundering  of  some  portion  of  the  outer  edge 
of  the  island,  as  described  above ;  this  type  is  as  a  rule  confined 
to  places  where  the  Miocene  limestones  are  exposed,  e.g.  east 
coast  near  jSTorth-East  Point  and  probably  Egeria  Point  (south 
side),  where  the  cliff  can  be  seen  to  have  been  formed  by  one 
main  slip  and  a  number  of  subsidiary  ones,  some  of  which  may 
extend  for  a  short  distance  only,  and  form  a  number  of  short  low 
cliffs  at  different  levels  above  the  main  face.  In  the  second  case 
the  cliff  is  the  result  of  wave  action ;  this  is  the  commonest  type, 
and  the  cliffs  of  the  north  and  east  coast  are  excellent  examples 
of  it.  In  many  places  it  is  clear  that  it  has  been  formed  by  wave 
action  at  two  or  three  levels  (see  p.  10),  and  that  the  sea  has  stood 
at  several  horizons  along  this  cliff  is  abundantly  proved  by  the 
fact  that  in  places  where  the  cliff  is  wanting  raised  reefs  occur 
at  different  elevations. 

For  instance,  south  of  Smith  Point  (see  Fig.  6,  p.  280)  there  is 
such  a  reef  terrace  on  the  180  feet  contour-line,  and  at  the  foot  of 


294  Christmas  Island. 

this  a  still  later  one  at  about  100  feet.  Again,  between  Flying  Fisb 
Cove  and  Xorth-East  Point,  for  the  greater  part  of  the  distance 
the  single  high  cliff  which  is  found  at  the  Zigzag  (see  Fig.  6)  is- 
replaced  by  two  or  three  irregular  step-like  cliffs  of  reef-limestone, 
often  interrupted  by  talus  slopes,  gaps,  and  channels,  and  in  fact 
representing  the  remains  of  a  series  of  fringing  reefs,  each  of 
which  in  turn  was  raised  and  cut  back  by  the  sea,  while  at  its  foot 
its  successor  grew  up  on  the  talus  derived  from  the  cliffs  above. 
Whether  a  single  vertical  cliff  face  or  a  succession  of  terraces  was 
formed  depended  upon  the  steepness  of  the  submarine  slopes. 
If  these  were  gentle  enough  to  allow  talus  material  to  accumulate 
and  afford  a  foundation  for  a  fringing  reef  the  terraced  condition 
followed,  but  if  on  the  other  hand  the  slopes  were  steep  and 
no  reef  could  grow,  a  vertical  cliff  was  formed.  It  should  be 
noted  that  all  intermediate  conditions  occur,  the  commonest  being 
that  in  which  the  upper  150  feet  or  so  form  a  vertical  face,  while 
the  foot,  from  the  shore  terrace  up  to  about  100  feet  above  the  sea, 
is  formed  by  a  narrow  belt  of  reef.  This  corresponds  to  the  terrace 
between  the  100  feet  and  180  feet  contour-lines  in  Fig.  6,  and 
is  the  most  persistent  of  these  minor  terraces.  In  some  places 
shore  conglomerate  was  observed  on  its  surface,  and  great  limestone 
blocks  fallen  upon  it  from  the  cliffs  above  rest  on  a  sort  of  pedestal 
of  cemented  coral  fragments  like  that  which  is  found  at  the  base  of 
the  blocks  lying  on  the  present  fringing  reef.  Of  course  these 
raised  fringing  reefs  are  of  later  date  than  the  rocks  in  which  the 
first  inland  cliff  has  been  carved  by  the  sea,  and  the  lower  ones 
may  be  but  little  older  than  the  reef  forming  the  present  sea  cliff 
and  terrace.  This  probably  accounts  for  the  fact  that  some  of  the 
corals  labelled  as  from  the  first  inland  cliff  are  similar  to  those 
found  in  the  sea  cliff  and  to  recent  forms. 

Tee  Shoee  Cliff  and  Teeeace. 

The  shore  terrace  and  cliff  (see  pp.  6-10)  are  formed  by  the 
elevated  fringing  reef  that  grew  round  the  island  before  the  last 
negative  movement  of  the  shore-line  took  place.  It  is  the  most 
persistent  of  the  teiTaces,  and,  with  the  exception  of  about  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  in  two  localities,  it  runs  round  the  whole  island.  In 
some  places,  as  above  mentioned,  it  may  be  in  part  formed  by  the 
volcanic  and  other  rocks  of  the  centi-al  nucleus,  but  elsewhere  it 
may  be  described  as  consisting  of  a  thin  capping  of  coral  limestone, 
resting  on  a  foundation  of  consolidated  talus  derived  from  what  are 
now  the  inland  cliffs,  and,  of  course,  varying  in  characters  as  the 
rocks  composing  those  cliffs  vary.  For  instance,  on  the  east  coast, 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  fresh-water  stream  both  the  talus 
foundations  and  the  reef  -  limestone  overlying  it  are  full  of  blocks 
of  basalt  derived  from  the  exposure  on  the  slopes  behind. 

The  shore  cliff  forming  the  southern  boundary  of  Flying  Fish 
Cove  may  be  taken  as  fairly  typical  of  the  shore  cliff  in  general.    It 


Geology.  295 

will  be  seen  (Pig.  2  A,  p.  272)  that  the  basalt  marked  A,  which  runs 
down  beneath  the  sea-level,  has  its  upper  surface  covered  with  an 
old  talus  consisting  of  blocks  derived  from  the  cliffs  of  Miocene 
limestone  behind,  lying  in  a  matrix  of  smaller  limestone  fragments 
mingled  with  the  debris  of  the  basalts  and  palagonite  tuffs  which 
occur  in  the  neighbourhood,  and  often  including  the  shells  of 
foraminifera.  A  similar  talus  forms  the  foot  of  the  cliff  (see 
Pig.  2  A,  above  the  letters  S.E.-N.W.),  where,  being  very  hard, 
it  forms  a  projecting  ledge  which  is  some  9  or  10  feet  high. 
Upon  it  is  about  50  feet  of  very  fresh-looking  coral  limestone,  in 
which  the  individual  coral  stocks,  in  the  position  of  growth,  may 
often  be  distinguished.  One  mass  of  Porites  is  between  20  and 
30  feet  high  and  nearly  as  broad  (see  Pig.  4,  p.  274).  A  fine  section 
of  the  sea  cliff  is  exposed  where  it  is  cut  through  at  the  mouth  of 
Sidney's  Dale  (Fig.  7,  p.  284).  Here  also  it  is  seen  to  consist  very 
largely  of  recent  species  of  corals,  some  of  which,  both  from  this 
and  other  localities,  have  been  noticed  by  Dr.  J.  W.  Gregory 
(pp.  206-225). 

If  the  terrace  at  the  top  of  the  sea  cliff  be  examined  it  will  be 
found  in  many  places  to  consist  of  two  parts,  an  outer  broader 
zone,  which  is  the  summit  of  the  raised  reef,  and  wherever  the 
rock  is  free  from  soil  and  vegetation  can  be  seen  to  consist  mainly 
of  fresh-looking  corals,  and  an  inner,  much  narrower  zone,  running 
along  the  foot  of  the  inland  cliff  and  consisting  of  the  same  material, 
being,  in  fact,  the  base  of  the  portion  which  has  been  cut  back  by 
the  waves. 

The  present  fringing  reef  forms  a  narrow  shelf  round  the  island, 
being  only  interrupted  where  deep  water  occurs  close  to  the  foot 
of  the  sea  cliff ;  and,  if  a  further  negative  movement  of  some  fifty 
feet  were  to  take  place,  it  would  form  a  cliff  and  terrace  much 
like  that  just  described. 

SUMMAEY   AND    CONCLUSION'S. 

From  the  foregoing  account  it  will  be  seen  that  Christmas  Island 
presents  some  important  peculiarities  which  differentiate  it  from 
other  oceanic  islands,  and  are  difficult  to  explain.  The  island  is, 
in  fact,  the  flat  summit  of  a  submarine  mountain  more  than  15,000 
feet  high,  the  depth  of  the  platform  from  which  it  rises  being  about 
14,400  feet,  and  its  height  above  the  sea  being  upwards  of 
1,000  feet.  The  submarine  slopes  are  steep,  for  depths  of  1,100 
fathoms  occur  less  than  four  (in  one  case  less  than  three)  miles,  and 
the  foot  of  the  mountain  (about  2,400  fathoms)  within  twenty 
miles  of  the  coast  of  the  island.  As  far  as  the  soundings  go,  they 
show  that  the  slopes  of  the  upper  part  of  the  peak  are  nearly  alike 
on  all  sides,  being  about  2  in  5.  Soundings  made  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  the  island  at  depths  of  more  than  1,000  fathoms  usually 
show  the  bottom  to  be  covered  with  Glohigerina  ooze  ;  off  the 
south-east  corner  of  the  island  coral-sand  was  met  with  in  depths 


^96  Christmas  Island. 

of  more  than  900  fathoms,  and  this  sand  is  no  doubt  derived  from 
the  wear  of  the  cliffs  of  this  part  of  the  island,  which  is  exposed  to 
the  full  force  of  the  swell  of  the  Southern  Ocean.  Round  the  rest 
of  the  coast  fragments  of  volcanic  rocks  and  pieces  of  manganese 
dioxide  are  recorded  from  various  depths  up  to  1,100  fathoms :  two 
soundings  of  385  and  925  fathoms  respectively  brought  up  calcareous 
algoe.  Between  the  island  and  Java  lies  a  long  narrow  trough, 
which  is  one  of  the  abysses  of  the  Indian  Ocean,  being  upwards  of 
3,000  fathoms  deep  in  places.  Its  long  axis  lies  parallel  to  the 
south  coast  of  Java,  the  submarine  slopes  of  which  appear  to  be 
formed  by  a  great  fault  and  are  very  steep,  the  2,000-fathom  line 
being  only  a  few  miles  from  the  land. 

Forming  the  flat  summit  of  the  Christmas  Island  peak  we 
meet  with  a  succession  of  limestones  ranging  from  the  Eocene 
(or  Oligocene)  up  to  recent  reef  deposits,  and  accompanying 
the  older  Tertiary  deposits  are  various  volcanic  rocks,  most 
important  of  which  are  basalts  and  trachytes  lying  beneath  the 
Eocene  (or  Oligocene)  limestone,  while  above  it  are  basalts  and 
basic  tuffs  separating  it  from  the  Miocene  Orbitoidal  limestone 
which  seems  to  make  up  the  great  mass  of  the  island.  The  total 
thickness  of  these  older  Tertiary  and  the  interstratified  volcanic 
rocks  is,  as  far  as  can  be  ascertained,  about  600  feet,  but  it  is 
probable,  as  above  stated,  that  some  of  the  rocks  exposed  on  the 
plateau  may  be  Miocene,  in  which  case  the  series  is  considerably 
thicker.  The  occurrence  of  such  a  series  of  Tertiary  deposits  on 
an  oceanic  island  is,  I  believe,  unknown  elsewhere,  although 
Wallace  mentions  that  Upper  Miocene  deposits  occur  in  the  Azores. 
Another  point  of  importance  in  the  case  of  these  Tertiary  rocks 
is  that  they,  especially  the  Miocene  Orbitoidal  limestones,  end 
abruptly  on  the  coast  in  vertical  cliffs  sometimes  250  feet  high, 
so  that  it  is  clear  that  the  area  which  they  originally  covered  must 
have  been  much  larger  than  the  present  island,  and  that  it  has 
been  cut  down  to  its  present  dimensions  by  repeated  faulting 
and  slipping  down  of  its  peripheral  region.  All  these  limestones 
must  have  been  deposited  in  shallow  water,  probably  less  than 
100  fathoms  deep.  At  present  the  Eocene  limestones  are  found 
up  to  about  250-300  feet,  the  Miocene  Orbitoidal  limestones  up  to 
about  550  feet,  while  the  summit  rises  1,200  feet  above  the  sea. 
If  we  suppose  the  Eocene  limestones  to  have  been  deposited  in 
100  fathoms  (and  it  was  probably  much  less),  the  range  of  the 
oscillation  with  reference  to  the  sea-level  which  the  island  can  be 
proved  to  have  undergone  is  between  200  and  300  fathoms, 
a  small  proportion  of  the  total  depth  to  the  ocean  floor. 
Speaking  generally,  this  oscillation  appears  to  have  consisted, 
first,  of  a  gradual  depression,  allowing  of  the  accumulation  of 
the  Miocene  Orbitoidal  limestones  and  those  composing  the  higher 
land,  then  a  period  of  rest,  followed  by  a  succession  of  movements 
of  elevation  (or  better,  negative  movements  of  the  shore-line), 
which  have  given  rise  to  the  terraced  structure  of  the  island  and 


Geology.  297 

continued  to  the  present  time.  The  period  of  rest  between  the 
upward  and  downward  movement  of  the  sea-level  must  have  been 
a  prolonged  one,  for  it  was  during  this  time  that  the  atoll  condition 
existed,  and  the  great  bulk  of  the  detrital  limestone  derived  from 
the  destruction  of  the  living  reefs,  and  now  forming  the  mass 
of  the  first  inland  cliff,  was  deposited :  the  great  accumulation  of 
guano  that  must  have  taken  place  would  also  have  required  a  vast 
period  of  time  for  its  formation. 

In  Java  the  later  Eocene  deposits  include  limestones,  in  which  is 
found  the  Discocycline  Oriitoides  dispansa  as  in  Christmas  Island, 
but  accompanied  by  numerous  INummulites,  which,  curiously 
enough,  according  to  Messrs.  Jones  &  Chapman,  are  entirely 
wanting  in  the  limestones  described  by  them,  while  on  the  other 
hand  large  Heterostegines  occur  abundantly.  Above  these  Eocene 
deposits  comes  a  great  mass  of  volcanic  rocks,  including  andesites, 
diabases,  and  other  lavas,  some  derived  from  submarine  eruptions. 
This  volcanic  series  seems  to  correspond  in  time  to  the  basalts  and 
tuffs  which  overlie  the  older  limestone  at  Flying  Eish  Cove. 
The  Miocene  rocks  consist  of  three  divisions,  the  lower  made  up 
chiefly  of  volcanic  breccias,  the  middle  of  soft  marls,  the  upper 
oi  calcareous  rocks  with  some  dolomites  and  marls.  In  f^hristmas 
Island  these  are  probably  all  represented  by  the  massive  Orbitoidal 
limestone,  the  absence  of  terrigenous  material  being  only  what 
might  be  expected.  In  both  areas  the  calcareous  rock  is  crowded 
with  Lepidocycline  Orbitoides,  but  although  some  of  the  Christmas 
Island  forms  occur  in  Sumatra  and  Borneo  none  are  recorded  from 
Java,  and  most  are  described  as  new ;  the  fact  that  the  Orbitoides 
of  the  two  areas  have  been  described  by  different  authors  may 
in  part  account  for  the  discrepancy. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  rocks  of  South  Java,  if  we  make  allowance 
for  the  proximity  to  land  at  the  time  of  their  deposition,  resemble 
in  their  general  characters  and  succession  those  of  Christmas  Island, 
and  like  them  they  often  terminate  on  the  south  coast  in  abrupt 
faces,  or  show  other  indications  that  they  formerly  extended  farther 
south,  but  have  been  cut  back  by  faulting  and  slipping.  As  to  the 
possibility  that  these  rocks  in  the  two  localities  were  deposited 
in  a  continuous  area,  it  can  only  be  said  that  the  difficulties  in  the 
way  of  supposing  this  to  have  been  the  case  are  very  great.  If  it 
w^ere  so  it  must  be  imagined  that  the  enormous  depth  between  the 
two  islands  has  been  attained  since  the  Miocene  by  a  general 
depression  of  the  sea  bottom  south  of  the  fault  line  forming  the 
southern  margin  of  the  Malayan  platform  ;  and  further,  that 
during  this  depression  the  small  area  which  forms  the  elevation 
on  which  Christmas  Island  now  stands  escaped  thQ  movement,  and 
in  fact  forms  a  'horst,'  on  all  sides  of  which  the  sea  bottom  has 
been  faulted  down  about  2,400  fathoms.  These  suppositions, 
however,  appear  untenable,  and  most  of  the  difficulties  are  avoided 
by  regarding  the  base  of  Christmas  Island  as  a  volcanic  peak  which 
has  accumulated  in  consequence  of  repeated  eruptions.    In  this  case, 


298  Christinas  Island, 

since  upon  its  summit  shallow- water  deposits  of  Eocene  age  occur^ 
the  depth  of  the  liour  of  the  ocean  in  the  neighhourhood  can  hare 
undergone  little  alteration  since  "the  Eocene  times,  unless,  indeed, 
it  has  been  lowered  equally  round  the  foot  of  the  mountain  by 
a  system  of  cross  faults.  This  volcano,  like  those  of  Java  and 
Sumatra,  etc.,  probably  owes  its  origin  to  the  movements  along  the 
line  of  the  great  fault  forming  the  south  boundary  of  the  Malayan 
area  in  pre-Eocene  times.  Some  post-Eocene  movements  probably 
caused  the  eruptions,  the  products  of  which  form  the  base  of  the 
Miocene  both  in  Christmas  Island  and  Java,  and  may  have  resulted 
in  the  deepening  of  the  abyss  between  the  two  areas.  Movements 
are  still  in  progress,  as  the  eruptions  of  the  Malayan  islands  show, 
and  in  Christmas  Island  also  two  slight  earthquakes  have  been 
recorded  by  Mr.  A.  Clunies  Eoss  within  the  last  few  years  :  the 
last  of  these,  on  October  20th,  1895,  was  sufficiently  severe  to 
loosen  great  masses  of  rock  from  the  cliff.  This  seems  to  have  been 
felt  in  the  Cocos-Keeling  Islands  also,  a  point  of  some  interest, 
since  these  islands  almost  certainly  rest  on  a  volcanic  peak  which 
may  owe  its  origin  to  the  same  causes  as  that  of  Christmas  Island. 

In  the  foregoing  pages  I  have  frequently  spoken  of  the  elevation 
and  depi'ession  of  the  island.  This  is,  of  course,  merely  elevation 
and  depression  in  reference  to  the  sea-level,  and  it  would  probably 
have  been  better  to  have  employed  the  terms  suggested  by  Suess,. 
namely,  "  negative  and  positive  movements  of  the  shore-line," 
since  in  some  cases,  at  least,  particularly  in  the  formation  of  the 
later  cliffs,  it  seems  very  probable  that  it  is  the  general  level  of 
the  surface  of  the  sea  that  has  been  altered,  and  not  merely  a  local 
upheaval  of  a  limited  land-area  that  has  taken  place. 

The  above  description  of  the  geology  of  Christmas  Island  must 
be  regarded  merely  as  a  first  essay,  for  owing  to  the  fact  that 
the  age  of  many  of  the  limestones  could  not  be  recognized  by 
me  on  the  spot,  and  to  other  difficulties  referred  to  above,  much 
remains  to  be  done,  and  in  the  light  of  my  present  knowledge, 
both  of  the  localities  and  of  the  rocks,  if  it  were  possible  to  revisit 
the  island  for  even  a  few  days,  many  questions  could  be  definitely 
settled  which  during  my  former  visit  puzzled  me  greatly,  after 
repeated  examination.  One  point  of  special  interest  may  be 
referred  to,  namely,  the  possibility  of  finding  still  earlier,  perhaps 
Cretaceous,  limestones  beneath  the  Eocene  (or  Oligocene)  limestone 
in  Sidney's  Dale  on  the  west  coast. 


299 


THE    GEOGRAPHICAL    RELATIONS    OF 
THE   FLORA  AND   FAUNA   OF   CHRISTMAS   ISLAND. 

By  C.  W.  Andeews,  B.Sc,  F.G.S. 

Among  the  most  interesting  subjects  of  inquiry  in  connection  with, 
an  oceanic  island  are  the  relations  of  its  flora  and  fauna  to  those  of 
the  neighbouring  lands,  the  means  by  which  it  has  been  colonized, 
and  the  degree  to  which  the  changed  conditions  under  which  the 
colonists  are  placed  have  led  to  modifications  and  have  given  rise 
to  new  species.  In  the  present  section  these  points  are  briefly 
discussed,  and  a  list  of  all  the  recorded  species  is  appended, 
together  with  their  approximate  distribution  or  that  of  their  allies. 

The  fauna  and  flora  of  Christmas  Island  are  on  the  whole,  as 
might  be  expected,  most  nearly  related  to  those  of  the  Indo- 
Malayan  islands,  but  to  this  there  are  some  exceptions  in  the 
case  of  certain  groups.  Of  the  319  species  of  animals  recorded, 
145  or  about  45  per  cent,  are  described  as  endemic  :  this 
remarkably  high  percentage  of  peculiar  forms  is,  however,  no 
doubt  largely  due  to  the  fact  that  in  some  groups,  particularly 
the  insects,  the  species  inhabiting  Java  and  the  neighbouring, 
islands  are  still  imperfectly  known,  and  many  now  described  for 
the  first  time  from  Christmas  Island  will  no  doubt  probably  be 
found  to  exist  also  in  other  localities. 

Of  the  mammals  all  are  peculiar  species  except  one,  and  that  is 
a  well-marked  variety  of  a  species  inhabiting  Further  India.  The 
nearest  allies  of  the  Rats  and  Fruit-bat  are  found  in  the  Austro- 
Malayan  islands,  a  circumstance  for  which  an  explanation  is 
offered  below. 

The  birds  may  be  divided  into  four  groups,  (1)  The  resident 
land  birds,  which  are  all  peculiar  species,  more  nearly  allied  to 
Austro-ilalayan  than  to  Indo-Malayan  forms  (Lister,  Proc.  Zool. 
Soc,  1888,  p.  530).  (2)  The  sea  birds,  mostly  widely  spread  forms, 
but  in  one  case,  Sula  ahbotti,  previously  recorded  from  Assumption 
Island  only,  and  in  another,  Phaetho)i  fulvus,  described  from 
specimens  of  which  the  locality  is  not  known.  (3)  The  migrants, 
which  reach  the  island  during  the  rainy  season,  corresponding  to 
the  northern  winter.  (4)  Accidental  visitors,  to  which  division 
Chalcococojx  basalis  and  ITyyisticivonis  bicolor  may  probably  be 
referred. 

Of  the  six  reptiles  four  are  peculiar,  but  belong  to  widely 
distributed  genera,  and  the  other  two  occur  in  Java. 


<}00  Christmas  Island. 

Of  the  fourteen  species  of  land-shells  described,  six  are  peculiar, 
but  allied  forms  are  widely  distributed  in  the  neighbouring  lands. 
The  same  may  be  said  of  most  of  the  other  species,  but  two  or 
three  are  not  known  from  the  Indo-Malayan  islands,  and  may  have 
reached  the  island  from  the  eastward  in  the  same  way  as  some  of 
the  mammals. 

WmQ  species  of  butterflies  are  recorded,  of  which  three  are 
peculiar,  while  another  is  a  distinct  variety  of  a  Javanese  species. 
The  others  are  Indo  -  Malayan,  except  two,  which  may  be 
Australian. 

Of  the  larger  moths  sixty-five  species  are  described,  ten  of  which 
are  peculiar.  Of  the  remainder,  most  occur  in  the  neighbouring 
islands,  but  there  is  a  considerable  group  of  species  found  in 
Ceylon,  and  another  from  the  Austro-Malayan  and  Pacific  islands. 
Out  of  nine  species  of  Microlepidoptera  six  are  new,  two  of  the 
others  belong  to  the  Australian  region,  while  the  third  is  recorded 
from  Africa. 

Of  the  Hymenoptera  nine  out  of  eleven  species  are  said  to  be 
peculiar.     All  belong  to  widely  distributed  genera. 

The  Coleoptera  are  represented  by  a  much  greater  number  of 
species  than  any  of  the  other  orders  of  insects,  eighty-four  in  all 
being  described,  while  ten  others  have  been  referred  to  their  genera 
only.  Fifty-six  species  are  said  to  be  peculiar  to  the  island,  but 
this  remarkably  high  proportion  (nearly  67  per  cent.)  is  no  doubt 
due  to  the  fact  that  the  beetles  of  tfava  are  still  incompletely 
known.  The  remaining  species  are  mostly  either  widely  dis- 
tributed forms  or  are  Indo-Malayan.  As  in  the  case  of  the  moths, 
a  few  are  identical  with  species  from  Ceylon. 

All  the  Homoptera  are  described  as  new.  Several  are  related 
to  Austro-Malayan  forms.  Of  the  Hemiptera  four  out  of  six  are 
new,  the  remaining  two  are  pelagic.  The  two  new  species  of 
Neuroptera  belong  to  widely  distributed  genera,  and  the  three 
remaining  species  are  common  in  the  Oriental  region. 

Of  the  Orthoptera  twenty-two  species  are  described,  fourteen 
being  endemic,  but  nearly  all  belonging  to  widely  distributed 
genera.  The  remainder  are  either  cosmopolitan,  or  at  any  rate 
Oriental  forms. 

Of  three  species  of  Chilopoda,  one  is  PalDearctic  (this  was  not 
collected  by  me),  the  other  two  Oriental.  Two  out  of  three 
species  of  Diplopoda  are  peculiar,  the  third  being  a  cosmopolitan 
form.  Twelve  species  of  Arachnids  have  been  described,  three 
being  new.  The  remainder,  with  the  exception  of  one  Australian 
form,  are  Oriental,  mostly  occurring  in  the  Indo-Malayan  islands. 
The  land  Crustacea  are  all  widely  distributed  on  the  Indo-Pacific 
coasts. 

Finally,  of  the  four  species  of  earth-worms  two  are  peculiar, 
one  having  allies  in  the  Aru  Islands  and  Ceylon,  the  other  in 
Sumatra.  The  otlier  two  species  occur  both  in  the  Oriental  and 
Australian  regions. 


Distribution  of  Fauna  and  Flora.  301 

One  hundred  and  eleven  species  of  Dicotyledonous  plants  an^ 
recorded,  and  of  these  ten  only  are  referred  to  as  new,  but 
a  considerable  number,  while  not  epecifically  distinct,  differ 
markedly  from  specimens  from  other  localities,  and  may  be 
regarded  as  local  varieties.  In  fact,  as  has  been  pointed  out  on 
the  authority  of  Professor  Oliver,  we  are  probably  here  dealing 
with  species  in  the  making  [6,  10].  Most  of  the  other  plants 
either  occur  in  the  Indo-Malayan  islands  or  are  widely  distributed 
tropical  forms. 

Of  the  Monocotyledons  seven  out  of  eighteen  species  are  endemic, 
the  remainder  being  either  Indo-Malayan  or  widely  distributed. 

The  single  Gymnosperm,  Cycas  circinalis,  is  found  both  in  the 
Indo-  and  Austro-Malayan  islands.  The  ferns  are  either  Indo- 
Malayan  or  common  tropical  forms  :  only  two  are  described  as 
endemic.  The  remaining  Cryptogams  are  all,  with  the  exception 
of  one  peculiar  species  of  fungus,  either  Indo-Malayan  or  widely 
distributed  species. 

The  causes  which  have  been  instrumental  in  the  introduction 
of  the  fauna  and  flora  have  been,  as  usual,  the  winds  and  ocean 
currents,  the  work  of  the  former  being  much  the  more  important. 
The  prevailing  wind  is  the  south-east  trade,  which  blows  on  an 
average  300  days  in  the  year.  The  nearest  land  in  the  direction 
from  which  it  comes  is  the  north-west  coast  of  Australia,  about  900 
miles  away,  so  that,  as  might  be  supposed,  the  number  of  species 
possibly  introduced  by  this  means  is  very  small ;  perhaps  one  or 
two  of  the  butterflies  may  have  reached  the  island  in  this  way.  In 
fact,  as  AVallace  ^  long  ago  pointed  out  in  the  case  of  the  Azores,  the 
introduction  of  plants  and  animals  into  remote  islands  is  due  not 
so  much  to  ordinary  or  normal  as  to  extraordinary  or  exceptional 
causes.  These  latter,  in  the  case  of  Christmas  Island,  are  the 
storms  which,  during  the  rainy  season,  blow  occasionally  from  the 
northern  quarter,  and  it  is  after  these,  or  sometimes  even  after 
a  few  days'  steady  breeze  from  this  direction,  that  birds  of  passage, 
dragon-flies,  various  moths  and  butterflies,  and  other  insects 
reach  the  island.  It  is  no  doubt,  therefore,  to  these  occasional 
northern  winds  and  storms,  that  by  far  the  greater  number  of  the 
species  of  plants  and  animals  owe  their  introduction,  and,  indeed, 
considering  that  new  arrivals  were  observed  after  nearly  every  gale, 
it  seems  rather  remarkable  that  a  greater  number  of  forms  have 
not  gained  a  permanent  footing.  In  the  case  of  the  birds  most 
of  the  newcomers  were  migrants  coming  south  to  avoid  the 
northern  winter,  and  would  not,  in  any  case,  be  likely  to  remain 
permanently  ;  the  rails,  of  which  at  least  two  species  were  seen, 
would  probably  find  it  impossible  to  breed  in  the  island  on  account 
of  the  rats.     Several  of  the  species  recorded  were  only  represented 


1  i( 


Island  Life,"  2nd  ed.,  p.  2G1. 


302  Christmas  Island. 

by  single  individuals,  which  were  picked  up  in  a  dying  condition ; 
this  was  the  ease  with  the  specimens  of  Chalcococcyx  hasalis  and  of 
Hirnndo  gutturalix.  Since  T  left  the  island  several  individuals 
of  a  black  and  white  fruit-pigeon  {Myristicivorus  hicolor)  have  been 
observed  on  the  island,  and  I  heard  reports  that  similar  cases  had 
occurred  previously;  but  it  seems  unlikely  that  this  species  could 
become  a  permanent  inhabitant,  for  it  would  probably  come  into 
direct  competition  with  the  native  fruit  -  pigeon,  which  itself 
sometimes  dies  in  large  numbers  for  want  of  sufficient  food  and 
water.  Several  other  birds,  of  which  1  did  not  obtain  specimens, 
have  been  observed.  Mr.  Andrew  Ross  told  me  he  had  shot 
a  small  duck  and  that  a  fishing  hawk  had  been  seen  on  the  coast. 
I  myself  saw  a  number  of  white-headed  swifts  which  remained 
for  some  days.  Whatever  the  reason  may  be,  it  is  certain  that  for 
an  extremely  long  period  of  time  no  bird  has  become  a  permanent 
denizen  of  the  island,  for  all  the  land  birds  which  breed  there  are 
peculiar  species,  whose  ancestors  must  have  arrived  long  ago.  It 
should  be  noted,  moreover,  that  according  to  Mr.  Lister,  who  has 
ably  discussed  the  geographical  relations  of  the  Christmas  Island 
birds  [5],  they  are  more  nearly  related  to  Austro-Malayan  than 
to  Javanese  types.  This  circumstance  may  be  accounted  for  by 
supposing  that  when  their  ancestors  reached  the  island  different 
meteorological  conditions  prevailed,  or  that  they  may  owe  their 
introduction  to  some  other  cause,  e.g.  drifting  on  rafts  of  floating 
trees  such  as  not  uncommonly  occur  in  these  seas. 

Of  the  insects  the  dragon-flies,  which  arrive  in  swarms,  usually 
disappear  in  a  few  days,  most  likely  because  of  the  absence  of 
standing  water.  The  butterflies  and  moths  were  generally  much 
battered  during  their  transit,  and  it  can  only  rarely  happen  that 
the  conditions  necessary  for  their  establishment  as  permanent 
inhabitants  are  fulfilled.  Of  the  other  less  conspicuous  insects  it 
is  impossible  to  speak,  because  I  was  unable  to  distinguish  the  new 
arrivals  from  the  natives,  but  no  doubt  many  species  must  from 
time  to  time  be  blown  across  from  Java  during  these  gales. 

Of  the  plants,  according  to  Mr.  Ridley  [8],  very  few  are 
introduced  by  the  wind,  the  most  important  being  the  various 
Cryptogams,  of  which  the  small  spores  are  easily  blown  long 
distances;  orchids,  of  which  the  seeds  are  very  small;  Hoi/a  and 
Blumea,  the  seeds  of  which  are  plumed;  and  to  these  perhaps  may 
be  added  Berria  and  Bipterocarpus,  the  winged  fruits  of  which 
are  sometimes  carried  high  into  the  air  and  may  be  blown  long 
distances. 

The  ocean  current  which  passes  the  island  is  the  equatorial  drift, 
which  comes  down  from  the  Timor  Sea  and  receives  tributaries 
through  the  Straits  between  the  islands  of  the  Archipelago  (Bali, 
Lombok,  etc.).  It  is  to  the  transport  of  rafts  of  trees  by  this 
current  that  the  rats,  the  fruit-bat,  and  possibly  some  of  the  land 
birds,  very  probably  owe  their  introduction  to  the  island,  and  this 
circumstance  would  account  for  the  similarity  of  many  of  them  to 


Distribution  of  Fauna  and  Flora.  303 

Austro-Malayan  forms.  Some  at  least  of  the  Reptilia  and  Land 
Mollusca  no  doubt  reached  the  island  by  the  same  means. 

In  the  case  of  the  plants  this  means  of  transport  is  perhaps  the 
most  important  of  all,  as  is  shown  by  the  very  large  number  of 
species  which  have  seeds  capable  of  resisting  long  immersion  in 
sea-water.  To  this  division  belong  most  of  the  sea-loving  trees 
(e.g.  Calophylhim,  Hibiscus,  Sccevola,  Cordia,  etc.),  as  well  as 
many  of  those  found  in  the  forests  generally  (e.g.  Barringtonia, 
Cryptocarya,  Inocarpus,  OcJirosia,  etc.).  Many  of  the  smaller 
plants  also  may  have  been  introduced  by  this  means  either  as 
seeds  or  perhaps,  in  the  case  of  epiphytic  plants,  attached  to 
floating  trees. 

Several  other  means  by  which  plants  may  reach  an  oceanic 
island  are  excellently  illustrated  in  the  flora  of  Christmas  Island. 
Thus  a  considerable  proportion  of  the  trees  bear  fruits  which  are 
eaten  by  the  pigeons  and  other  birds,  and  may  have  been  brought 
across  the  sea  by  them.  It  is  by  no  means  necessary  that  the 
birds  themselves  should  survive  in  order  that  the  seeds  may  get 
a  footing,^  so  that  from  time  to  time  plants  may  have  been  intro- 
duced by  species  of  birds  which  are  not  now  found  in  the  island. 

Another  mode  of  distribution  is  by  seeds  and  fruits,  which,  either 
by  means  of  a  sticky  secretion  or  by  hooks,  can  cling  to  the  plumage 
of  birds.  Several  species  have  no  doubt  been  introduced  in  this 
manner,  the  most  notable  being  Pisonia,  the  fruits  of  which  are 
extremely  sticky,  and  sometimes  clog  the  feathers  of  the  sea  birds 
to  such  an  extent  as  to  impede  their  movements. 

The  plants  and  animals  already  introduced  by  man  are  referred 
to  on  p.  20,  but  considerable  additions  to  these  will  no  doubt 
quickly  follow.  In  the  case  of  plants  especially  the  reduction  in 
the  number  of  rats  near  the  settlement  will  render  possible  the 
cultivation  of  many  species  which  hitherto  have  been  destroyed 
before  the  fruits  could  ripen. 


The  following  table  consists  of  a  list  of  the  species  of  animals 
and  plants  at  present  recorded  from  Christmas  Island,  together 
with  their  distribution  or,  in  the  case  of  peculiar  species,  the 
distribution  of  their  nearest  allies.  Species  peculiar  to  the  island 
are  marked  '  x  '  in  the  first  column,  and  the  regions  in  which  their 
nearest  allies  occur  are  indicated  in  the  succeeding  columns  by- 
numbers  distinguished  by  an  asterisk ;  in  the  case  of  species  not 
peculiar  to  the  island  the  same  numbers  are  employed  without  the 
asterisk.     The  geographical  divisions  adopted  are  those  employed 


1  p 


fee  Clement  Eeid,  "  Cr'gin  of  the  British  Flora,"  p.  30,  1899. 


304  Christmas  Island. 

by  Wallace  in  his  "Distribution  of  Animals,"  and  the  numbor& 
refer  to  his  subdivisions  of  those  areas,  as  follows  : — 

(a)  Oriental  Eegion. 

1.  Hindostan. 

2.  Ceylon. 

3.  Indo -China. 

4.  Indo-Malaya. 

(b)  Australian  Region. 

1.  Austro -Malaya. 

2.  Australia. 

3.  Polynesia. 

4.  New  Zealand. 

(c)  Ethiopian  Region. 

1.  East  Africa. 

2.  West  Africa. 

3.  South  Africa. 

4.  Madagascar. 

In  the  last  column  the  occurrence  of  species  in  localities  other 
than  those  indicated  in  the  preceding  columns  is  noted,  and 
various  remarks  are  appended.  The  whole  of  the  regions  in  which 
a  species  or  its  allies  occur  are  not  in  all  cases  mentioned,  but  as 
far  as  possible  the  district  nearest  to  Christmas  Island  in  which 
they  are  found  is  noticed. 


305 


FAUXA  OF   CHRISTMAS   ISLAND. 

LIST  OP   SPECIES. 


5^ 

a 

c 

. 

^  B. 

J  fl 

.S    £3 

•2  a 

7i  l-H 

a. 2 

tral 
gio 

Various  localities  and  remarks. 

S   aJ 

to   a> 

.a  <» 

OP^ 

PCS 

gPS 

MAMMALIA. 

Pteropus  natalis    ... 

X 

*1 

Lombok. 

PipisfyeUm  mitrrayi 

X 

..* 

Allies  widely  distributed. 

Crocidura  fuUginosa,    var. 

trichura 

var.  X 

3 

Mus  nativitatis     ... 

X 

?*1 

Mus  macleari        

X 

*4 

*1 

AVES. 

Carpophaga  whartoni 

X 

*1,  *3 

Myristicivorus  bicolor 

i'i 

1 

Chalcophaps  natalis 

X 

*1,2,  3,  4 

*1 

Limnobcenns  fuscus 

.*  • 

1,  2,  3,  4 

1 

Anous  stoliclus 

. .  . 

Tropical  and  sub -tropical  seas. 

Glareola  orientalis 

... 

... 

... 

Migrant  wintering  in  Malay 
Archipelago  and  Australia. 

Charadriiis  dominicus 

... 

*  <  • 

Ditto. 

Ochthodromms  geoffroyi     ... 

Ditto. 

Numenius  variegatus 

Ditto. 

Heteractitis  brevipes 

•  •  ■ 

Ditto. 

Tringoidcs  hypoleucus 

... 

Migrant  wintering  in  S.  Africa, 
India,  and  Australia. 

Calidris  arenaria  ... 

... 

... 

... 

Nearly  cosmopolitan. 

Limonites  riificoUis 

... 

... 

Migrant  wintering  in  Burmab, 
Malay    Archipelago,    and 
Australia. 

Gallinago  sthenura 

... 

... 

... 

Migrant  wintering  in  India  and 
Malay  Archipelago. 

Demiegrctta  sacra 

... 

1,3,4 

1,2,3 

Fregata  aquiia 

Tropical  and  sub-tropical  oceans. 

Fregata  ariel 

Indian  and  Pacific  Oceans. 

Sula  sula   ... 

•  • . 

Tropical  and  sub-tropical  oceans. 

Snla  abbotti          ...         ...  . 

... 

... 

Assumption  Island. 

Sula  piscatrix 

•  •  > 

... 

Tropical  and  sub-tropical  oceans. 

Phaethon  riibncaiida 

... 

... 

Tropical  regions  of  Indian  and 
Pacific  Oceans. 

Phaethon  fulvus . . . 

... 

... 

Other  localities  unknown. 

Astur  natalis 

X 

... 

*1 

Ninox  natalis 

X 

*1,  *2 

Gollocalia  natalis  ... 

X 

*1 

Chalcococcyx  basalis 

4 

1,2 

Motacilla  melanope 

... 

Palaearctic  in  summer,  going 
south  in  winter. 

Motacilla  flava     

... 

... 

... 

... 

Ditto. 

306 


Christmas  Island. 


^-6 

^-4 

a 

g   . 

pl-H 

rienta 
egion 

stralic 
egion, 

.2  rt 
.2U 

Various  localities  and  remarks. 

Ph5 

OPh 

Zoster  ops  na  talis  ... 

X 

*1 

Merula  erythroplenra 

X 

?*4 

?*3 

Hirundo  gutturalis 



... 

... 

... 

Nests  in  N.E.  Asia ;  migrates  as 
far  south  as  Australia  in  winter. 

EEPTILTA. 

Gymnodactylus  marmorat 

us 

4 

Gecko  Ksteri 

X 

*l 

Lygosoma  atrocostatum 

4 

1 

Lygosoma  nalivitatis 

X 

Ahlepharus  egerice 

X 

■  •  • 

•  •• 

Allies  widely  distributed. 

Typhlops  exocmti  ... 

3; 

LAND  MOLLrSC. 

A. 

Lamprocystis  normani 

X 

*4 

*1,*2,*3 

Lamproeystis  inabela' 

X 

*4 

*1,  2,  3 

Lamprocystis  mildred(e 

X 

*4 

*1,  2,  3 

Succinea  solidula  ... 

•  •• 

Habitat  previously  unknown. 

Succinea  solitaria  . . . 

X 

•  •■ 

Allies  widely  distributed. 

Succinea  Usteri 

X 

•  •  • 

.  •  ■ 

Ditto. 

Opeas  stihula 

... 

... 

... 

Probably  introduced. 

Fythia  scarahceus  . . . 

... 

4 

1,3 

Melampus  hiteus   . . . 

... 

•  •  • 

1,  2,  3 

Melampiis  fasciatus 

... 

.     ... 

1,2,3 

Melampus  castaneus 

.. 

... 

3 

Leptopoma  mouhoti 

... 

3 

Trtmcatella  valida 

. .  • 

... 

1,3 

... 

Allies  Oriental. 

Assiminca  andrewsiana 

X 

*1 

LEPIDOPTERA 

RHOPALOCERA. 

Limnas  petilia 

4 

2 

Vadebra  macleari ... 

X 

*4 

Melanitis  ismene,  var.  dete 

)•- 

minata  ... 

4 

.. . 

"Wide  range. 

Charaxes  andrewsi 

X 

... 

*i 

Junonia  villida 

... 

■  •  • 

2 

Jlypolimnas  misippus 

.. 

4 

Hypolimnas    nerhia,    va 

r. 

listeri     ... 

. .     var.  X 

*4 

Nacaduba  aluta     ... 



3,4 

1 

Terias  amplexa     ... 

X 

... 

... 

Allies  widely  distributed  in  Asia 
and  Africa. 

LEPIDOPTERA 

PHAL^N^. 

Euchromia  horsjieldi 



4 

1 

Nola  distributa 

1,3,4 

4 

. 

Deiopeia  ptclchella 

•  .  • 

Old  World. 

Argina  cribraria  ... 



3,' 4 

1 

4 

1 


List  of  Species. 


307 


Lepidoptera,  continued. 
3Imieutemia  econia 
Dipterijgia  vagivitta 
Amyna  sclenampha 
Atnyna  octo 
Prodenia  littoralis 

Leocyma  tibialis   ... 
Armactia  columbina 
Brana  calopasa 
Patula  macrops     ... 
Ophiusa  honesta    ... 
Ophiusa  coronata  . . . 
Ophiusa  serva 
Boeula  limbata 
AcantJiolipes  similis 
Thtrmesia  rubricans 
Ophideres  salaminia 
Ophideres  ancilla  ... 
Ophideres  fuUonica 
Ophideres  materna 
Costnophila  erosa  . . . 
Cosmophila  vitiensis 
Eutelia  delatrix    . . . 
Stictoptera  describens 
HydriUodes  ve.vilUfera 
Maliattha  signifera 
Erastria  griseoinixta 
Tarache  olivacea  ... 
Earias  chromataria 
Porthesia  pulverea 
Orgyia  postica 
Chcerocamjja  erotus 
Chcerocampa  vigil 
Theretra  Ittcasi 
Psendosphinx  discistriga 
Cephonodcs  hylas  ... 

Hyperythra  lutea ... 
Boarmia  acaciaria 
Boarmia  seotozonea 
Sauris  hirudinata 
Thalassodes  veraria 
Graspedia  optivata 
Craspedia,  sp. 
Epiplema  inhians . . . 
Doloessa  castanella 
Corcyra  cephalonica 

Homceosoma  nimbella 
Ephestia  scotella   ... 
Seterograpliis  singhalella 
Euzophera  cinerosella 
Epicrocis  cegnusalit 


OS  ^ 


.2  &fl 


*4 

3,4 

1,  2,  3,  4 


1,3 

2' 

1,:2,  3 

1,  2:,  3,  4 

1,  2,  3,  4 

1,  2,  3,  4 

1,4 
1,  2,  3,  4 
1,  2,  3,  4 

1,  2,3 
I,  2,  3,  4 


1,  2,  3,  4 

2,4 

1,  2,  3,  4 


1,  2,  3,  4 

*4 
1,  2,  3,  4 

3 
1,2,3,4 
1,  2,  3,  4 
1,3,3,4 
1,  2,  3,  4 

1,  2,  3,  4 
1,  2,  3,  4 

*1,*2 
1,  2,  3,  4 

1,2,4 
2 

3 
2 
2 


.2  U 

3  * 


Various  localities  and  remarks. 


1,  2,  3,  4 


3,4 

1,3 

2 

1 

1,2,3,4 

2 

1,2 

1,3 

1,2,3,4 

1,  2,3 

4 

1,2 

1,2,3 

'3' 

... 

2 

2 

1,2,3 

1,2 

2,3 

1,2 

,1,2 

■   2 

, 

2,3 

2,3 

1,2 

1,2 

2,3,4 

2,3 

3 

... 

3 

2 

4 

Tropics. 

Mediterranean      sub-reg-ion, 
tropics,  sub -tropics. 


Tropical  Africa. 
Widely  distributed. 


Japan. 

Specimens   of   a  type  recorded 
only  from  S.  Africa. 


Europe,  "West  Indies.   Probably 

introduced. 
United  States,  Europe,  Spia. 


Europe.     Probably  introduced. 


308 


Christmas  Island. 


-2^ 

a 

C     . 

ienta 
gion 

tralie 
gion 

.2  Sc 

Various  localities  and  remarks. 

(-  a* 

«   aj 

—     <D 

CP4 

Lepidoptera,  continued. 

Endotnch  a  listeri 

X 

JHercuUa  nannodes 

..  • 

3,4 

Zinckenia  mgerrimalk 

X 

Zinckenia  fascialis 

... 

... 

... 

... 

Nearly  cosmopolitan. 

Dichocrocis  surusalis 

... 

2,4 

1 

Dichocrocis  anritincta 

.  •  . 

4 

1 

Sylepta  hinalis 

,  ,  , 

1,  2,  3,  4 

1 

Glyphodes  holophcealis 

X 

■  .  ■ 

,. 

Nearest  allies  neotropical. 

GJyphodes  indica  ... 

... 

1,  2";  3,  4 

1,2,  3 

1,2,3,4 

Glyphodes  suralis 

3 

1,  3 

Hellnla  nndalis     ... 

... 

1,  2,  3,  4 

1,2,3,4 

United  States  and  Mediterranean 
sub -region. 

MICRO- 

LEPIDOPTERA. 

Oxychirota  paradoxa 

... 

2 

Cosmoclostis  qvadriqitadra 

1,2 

Brenthia  elachista 

X 

■  >  • 

Eesembling  American  forms. 

Simaetkis  ornaticornis 

X 

•  •• 

Near  a  European  species. 

Phyeodcs  adjecteUa 

..  . 

.  •  • 

2 

Tortricomorpha  chlorokins 

X 

Epagoge  halysideta 

X 

*4 

*1,*2 

*2 

Cacnognosis  incisa ... 

X 

■  .  > 

*2 

Dendroneura  punctata 

X 

... 

Genus  widely  distributed,  said 
to  accompany  banana  and 
sugar -cane. 

HYMET^OPTERA. 

Mantibaria  anoniala 

X 

Ophion  flavocephalus 

X 

•  •  • 

... 

Genus  widely  distributed. 

Lobopelta  dwiinuta 

•  •• 

•  .^k 

>  >  . 

Oriental. 

Camponotns  melichloros    ... 

X 

•  •• 

Genus  widely  distributed. 

Notogonia  alecto    ... 

... 

>  ■  . 

Ditto. 

Odynerus  polyphemus 

X 

*4 

..  * 

Ditto. 

Polistes  holder 

X 

*1,  *3,  *4 

... 

.  •  ■ 

Ditto. 

Halietus  andrewsi 

X 

*3 

... 

Ditto. 

Halictns  binghami 

X 

... 

... 

... 

Ditto. 

Megachile  rotimdipennia  ... 

X 

*1 

... 

... 

Ditto. 

Megachile  nivescens 

X 

... 

... 

Ditto. 

COLEOPTERA. 

I 

Morio  orientalis 

3,4 

Harpalm,  sp 

... 

Genus  widely  distributed. 

Trechus,  sp. 

>  >  ■ 

... 

Ditto. 

Gyroplmna,  sp 

• .  • 

Ditto. 

Fhilonthus,  sp 

a  •  ■ 

... 

Ditto. 

Zithocharis,  sp.     ... 

•  •  • 

... 

... 

Ditto. 

Pecderus  listeri      

X 

*4 

Zispinus  castanms 

... 

... 

1 

List  of  Species, 


309 


-2^- 

13^ 

a. 2 

^     CO 
0^ 

2  So 

OP:) 

COLEOPTERA,  COIltiniWd. 

BactylDsternum  ahdominalis 

... 

•2,  3,  4 

Hololepta  inalleata 

X 

*1 

Platysoma  Ugnarium 

X 

Paromalus,  sp. 

Frometopia  giiadrlmaeulata 

2,4 

Stelidota  orientaUs 

Hhoguna  polita 

X 

*3 

Shoguna  striata     ... 

X 

*3 

Oniscomorpha  marmorata... 

X 

S.uthia  maura 

... 

■  ■  • 

Bothrideres  sfrigatus 

X 

2,3,4 

FsammcecHS  co>ici)inida 

Dcrmestcs  felinus  ... 

... 

... 

Epilachim  ii/dica  ... 

... 

•  ■  • 

Epilachna  nativitatis 

X 

Scijmnus,  sp. 

Aphanoccphalus,  sp. 

Euxestits  parki 

... 

•  •• 

Farccgus  listen 

X 

Figulus  rossi 

X 

Lcptaulax,  sp. 

Rhyssemus  inscitiis 

2 

Trichyorhyssemus  hirsutu$ 

X 

Fhileiirus  coHvexHs 

X 

*1,*2 

Frotmtia  andrevosi 

X 

*4 

Chrysodcma  simplex 

X 

Chrysobothris  andreicsi    ... 

X 

Fornax,  sp. 

Tetrigus  murrayi ... 

X 

*1,  *2 

Anchastus  discoidalis 

X 

*2 

Megapenthes  andreivsi 

X 

*3 

Melam.tanthm  dolosus     ... 

2 

Melanoxantlms  llftira 

2 

Zaius  tibialis 

X 

Lasioderma  testacea 

Neoptiniis parvus  ... 

X 

Faraiwbi/im  posticum 

X 

*3 

Aspidiphorits  orbiculatus... 

... 

4 

Dinoderits  minidus 

4 

Minthea  ragicollis 

2 

Opatrum  dubium  ... 

X 

Bradymerus  soninilidus  ... 

X 

Alphitobius  piceus 

... 

Falorus  depressus  ... 

Toxiciim  antilope  ... 

X 

*4 

Nyctobates  carbonaria 

X 

AmarygmKs  funebris 

X 

... 

Sessinia  andrewsi . . . 

X 

Sessinia  lister i       ...         ... 

X 

Mhyneholobus  rossi 

X 

Rhyncholobtis  discoidalis  ... 

X 

♦1 
*1 


*l 

*3 


1,3,4 


*4. 
*4 


*3 


Various  localities  and  remarks. 


Brazil,   Madeira,   Cape    Verde, 
and  Canaries. 


Cosmopolitan. 
Asiatic. 


Madeira. 


Genus  Oriental  and  Australian. 
Nearly  cosmopolitan. 


"Widely  distributed. 

Say  lee. 

Genus  cosmopolitan. 

Genus  Oriental  also. 

Cosmopolitan. 

Ditto. 
Genus  widely  distributed. 

Genus  Oriental  and  Australian. 
Genus  widely  spread. 


310 


Christmas  Island. 


CoLEOPTERA,  Continued. 
HhynchoJohm  viftatus 
Rhyncholobvs  atidreivsi     ... 
Acicnemis  andrewsi 
Camptorhinus  cr wipes 
Mccopus  bispinosus 

Trochorh  opalus  strangulatns 
Rhabdocnemis  fmisti 

Cossojiiis  variipennis 
Phlceophagosoma  dubium  ... 
Pachyops  incertus ... 
Dryophthorus  assimilis  ... 
Platypus  solidus  ... 
Xyleborus  ferforans 
Xyleborus  parvulus 

Oryehodes  andrewsi 
Xenocerus  nativitatis 
Litocerus jordani  ... 
Apatenia  apicalis ... 
Arceocertts,  sp. 
Prinobius  coxalis  ... 
Ceresium  quadrimacidatmn 
Ceresium  nigrum  ... 
JSxamnes  affinis 
Monohaminits  nativitatis  ... 
Olenecamptus  basalis 

Pterolophia  perplexa 
Prosoplus  banksi  ... 
Apomecyna  nigritarsis 
yEgocidnns  ezigmis 
Crioceris  impressa 
Rhyparida  rossi    ... 
Rhyparida  modesta 
Bemotina  lateralis 

Scelodonta  nitidula 
Psylliodes  temiepunetata  . . . 


HOMOPTEEA. 

Pcecilopsaltria  calypso 
Ricania  Jlarifrontalis 
Paurostanria  delicata 
Varcia  flavicostalis 
Nogodina  affinis    ... 
Nogodina  hyalina 
Nogodina  subviridis 
Bidis  aristella 


X 

X 
X 
X 


X 
X 

X 
X 
X 


a. 2 
OPh 


3,4 


X 

X 

X 

X 

■  •  •  • 

•• 

2 

2,3 

X 

X 

*4 

X 

*4 

X 

X 

*3 

X 

X 

X 

*4 

X 

X 

'    •■• 

1,  2,  3,  4 
4 

1,  2,  4 


CD   a> 


*3 


*1 


X 

*1,*2,*3,*4 

X 

... 

X 

•  •  • 

X 

... 

X 

.  .  • 

X 

X 

X 

... 

1,  2,  3 
1 


*2 
*2 
*1 


.2  a 

PL,  O 

.2 'fee 


n,^ 


Various  localities  and  remarks. 


Widely  spread  in  Malay  Archi- 
pelago. 

Allies  in  Oriental  region  and  in 

the  Pacific  Islands. 
Genus  cosmopolitan. 


Probahly     widely     spread      in 

Oriental  region. 
Oriental  region. 


Genus  Oriental. 


Allied  to  0.  bilobus,  ranging  from 

China  to  N.  Australia. 
Genus  Oriental. 

Genus  African  and  Oriental. 
Genus  Malayan. 


Genus  ranges  from  China  and 
Japan  to  Ncav  Guinea. 

Allies  Oriental. 


Allies  widely  distribated. 


List  of  Species. 


311 


HoMOPTERA,  continued. 
Clovia  eximia        ... 
Issus  andrfwsi 
Idioceriis  punctatus 


HEMIPTEEA 
HETEKOPTERA. 

u^t/ms  nitens 

Pentatoma  grossepiinctatiim 
LygccHS  subrufescens 
Brachyrhynchus  lignicolus 
Halobates  princeps 
Halobates  proavus... 


NEUROPTERA. 

jfantala  flavescens. . . 
Trithemis  triviaUs 

Anax  gtittatus 
Formicaleo  morpheus 
Myrmeleon  iridescens 
Termes,  sp. 


ORTHOPTERA. 

Labidnra  nigricornis 
Flatylabia  dimidiata 
Anisolabis  stdli  ... 
Labia  murragi 
Labia  ineerta 
Labia  indistincta  ... 
Labia  subarmata  ... 

Awchura,  sp. 
Tcmnopteryx  fnlra 
Phyllodromia  supellectilittm 
Feriplaneta  americana      ... 
Leucophoea  sunnamensis  ... 
Panesthia  javanica 
Hieroditla  dinpar  ... 

ClitHmnus  stilpnoides 
Ectadoderus  Jlavipalpis     . . . 

Gryllacris  rufovaria 
Pseudorhynchus  lessoni     ... 
Phisis  listtri 


OS  ^ 


X 
X 
X 


X 
X 
X 
X 


X 
X 


X 
X 
X 
X 


X 
X 


X 
X 


^  el 


*4 
*1 


*1,  *2,  *3 


1,2 


1,  2,  3,  4 


4 
4 


4 

*^ 

*1,*2,*3,*4 


*1 
n,  *2 


1.  3 


*4 
4 
*2 


1 

*1,  *3 


.2  a 
ft.  2 

.2  550 


Various  localities  and  remarks. 


Genus  widely  distributed. 
Ditto. 
Ditto. 


"Widely  distributed  in  Tropics. 
"Widely  distributed  in  Oriental 

Eegion. 
Ditto. 
Genus  widely  distributed. 

Ditto. 

Ditto. 


Genus  widely  distributed. 

Genus  widely  distributed. 
Genus  cosmopolitan. 


Eesembles       some       American 

species. 
Genus  cosmopolitan. 

Ditto. 
Cosmopolitan. 

Ditto,  carried  by  ships. 

Ditto,  ditto. 

Genus  in  warmer  parts  of  Old 
World. 

Nearest  allyin  Mauritius.  Genus 

widely  distributed. 
Genus  widely  distributed. 


312 


Chnstmas  Island. 


.—1 

a 

d    . 

^     CO 

Orienta 
Region, 

Australif 
Region, 

Ethiopia 
Region 

Various  localities  and  remarks. 

Orthoptera,  continued. 

Psyra  pomona 

X 

*4 

*1 

Oxya  orie»  talis 

X 

*  •  • 

•  •  • 

.  *  • 

"Widely  distributed. 

Cyrtacanthacris  disparilis 

X 

*4 

... 

>  •  . 

Ditto. 

Epacromia  nifostriata 

X 

... 

... 

... 

Ditto. 

CHILOPODA. 

Cryptops  hortensis 

Palaearctic. 

Cryptops  inermipes 

• . . 

'3' 

Mecistocephaliis  castaneiceps 

... 

3,4 

3 

DIPLOPODA. 

Orthomorpha  coarctata 

Cylindrodesmiis  hirsutus  . . . 

X 

... 

... 

... 

Cosmopolitan. 

Tuhmorpha  exocosti 

X 

*4 

*3 

ARACHNIDA. 

Hormurus  australasia 

3,4 

1,2,3 

Trachychernes  claviger     ... 

•  .  • 

3 

Cheliferjavanuis    ... 

•  •  ■ 

4 

Chelifer  murrayi  ... 

X 

*3,  *4 

Ariadna  nafalis    ... 

X 

*4 

Scytodes  venusta    ... 

... 

4 

Smeringopiis  elongattis 

... 

•  •  • 

.  *  • 

Widely  distributed  in  Tropics. 

Argiope  reinivardti 

4 

1 

Cyrtophora  unicolor 

• .  • 

1,2,3,4 

1 

Nephda  nigritarsis 

*  ■  * 

2 

Cyclosa  mulmeinensis 

... 

1,3,4 

3 

Heteropoda  listeri 

X 

LAND    CRUSTACEA. 

Gecarcinus  lagostomiis 

Tropics  generally. 

Cardisoma  cam  if  ex 

... 

Indian  and  Pacific  Oceans. 

Oeypoda  ceratophthalma  ... 

*  •  * 

•  •  > 

... 

... 

Ditto. 

Birgns  latro           

... 

... 

•  •• 

Ditto. 

Ccenobita  clypeata 

... 

... 

... 

Ditto. 

A'ERMES. 

. 

Tontodriliis  ephippiger     ... 

X 

... 

... 

... 

Allied    to    species    from    Aru 
Islands,  Ceylon,  Japan. 

Perichaita  breris 

X 

... 

*  •  ■ 

... 

Allied  to  species  in  Sumatra. 

Perichmta  posthuma 

1 

1 

?  Bahamas. 

Megascolex  armatus 

... 

1,  3,4 

1 

... 

Seychelles. 

313 


FLORA   OF   CHRISTMAS   ISLAND. 


LIST  OF   SPECIES. 


-g-d 

i  •    is.. 

s-    ^ 

03    d 

•5a         -S  c 

rient 
egio 

stral 
egio 

hiop 
egio 

Various  localities  and  remarks. 

o(^ 

^^ 

gP^ 

DICOTYLEDONS. 

Tiliacora  raccmosa 

1,2,4 

Pedicellaria  pcntaphijlla  . . . 

Widely  spread  in  Tropics. 

Fittosportim  nativitatts    ... 

X 

Ochrocarpus  oralifoHus    ... 

4 

1,3 

Calophylhim  inophijlluni  ... 

... 

... 

Ditto. 

Malvastruin  iriciispidatiim 

... 

... 

Ditto. 

AbiUilon  auritum 

Ditto. 

Abiitilo)i  listcri     ... 

X 

HibiscHs  ntifoUus 

... 

Ditto. 

Hibiscus  tiliaceiis  ... 

... 

... 

Ditto. 

Hibiscus,  sp. 

Kleinhovia  hospita 

... 

... 

... 

Tropical  Asia. 

Berria  ammonilla 

Grewia  Uevigata 

1,4 

Greivia,  sp. 

AcronycJiia  andreivsia 

X 

Melia  azedarach 

Dyso.yf/lum  amooroides 

•  •  • 

4 

1 

Celastrus  paniculatus 

•  •  • 

1,4 

Colubrtna  pedunculata 

X 

*4 

Cissiis  repens 

... 

.•. 

2 

... 

Tropical  Asia. 

Cissus  pedata 

1,  2,  3,  4 

Lcea  sambucina 

1,3,4 

2 

Leca  horrida 

AUophyhis     cobbe,     forma 

glaber     ... 

1,2,3,4 

2 

Erythrina  indica  ... 

1,3,4 

1,^3 

Sea-shore  from  Sunderbuns  to 
Malay  Archipelago. 

Strong ylodoii  ruber 

2 

3 

Galactia  temdflora 

1,  2,  3,  4 

2 

1 

Canavalia  ensiformis 

.  .  . 

... 

Widely  spread  in  Tropics. 

Phascohis  lunatits... 

... 

... 

... 

American    species    now    widely 

spread. 
Widely  cultivated  in  Tropics. 

Cajanus  indicus     ... 

Ponyamia  glabra  ... 

1,  2, "3,  4 

1,'2,  3 

4 

All     coasts     from      Mascarene 
Islands  to  Polynesia. 

Inocarpus  cdiilis   ... 

4 

1,3 

Guilandina  bondutella 

• 

■  •• 

Widely  spread  in  Tropics. 

Cassia  siamea 

... 

... 

... 

Introduced. 

Eutada  scandens    ... 

■  •• 

•  •  • 

Widely  spread  in  Tropics. 

Terminalia  catappa 

1,3,4 

1 

Combretum  acuminatum   . . . 

1,4 

Gyrocarpus  asiaticiis 

... 

... 

Widely  spread  in  Tropics. 

Quisquaiis  indica  ... 

1,2,' 3,  4 

•  •» 

..  . 

Tropical  Africa. 

Eugenia,  sp. 

314 


Christmas  Island. 


^ 

Pi 

s  • 

^H     S 

«  p 

.2  fl 

.S  (=1 

stral 
egio 

.2'& 

OP^ 

^^ 

Dicotyledons,  continued. 

Barringtonia  raccmosa     ... 

•  •  • 

4 

1,3 

Femphis  acidida   ... 

... 

Momordica  charantia 

l/s'  4 

?'l 

... 

Melothria  mncronata 

1,4 

?1 

Melothria,  sp. 

Septaplenrum  elliptieum 

Randia  densiflora ... 

... 

1,2,3 

1,  2 

Guettarda  speciosa 

... 

... 

... 

Morinda  citrifolia 

... 

1,4 

1,2,  3 

Saprosma  nativitatis 

X 

Ageratuni  eonyzoides 

... 

... 

... 

Blumea  spectabilis 

1,  2 

Wedelia  biflora     

•  •  ■ 

•  •  • 

Synedrclla  nodiflora 

•  ■■ 

I,' 3 

'    ... 

Sccevola  koenigii    ... 

. .  • 

3,4 

1,2,3 

Ardisia  complanata 

3,4 

Slderoxylon  sundaicum     ... 

... 

1 

Jasminum  sambac 

... 

1,  4 

1 

C'erbera  odoUam    ... 

•  •• 

1,  3,4 

1,  2,  3 

Ochrosia    ackeringcc,    var. 

angnstifolia 

■  •> 

4 

Soya  aldrichii      

X 

Tournefortia  argente 

... 

2,4 

2 

4 

Cordia  subcordata... 

... 

2,3 

.*• 

Thretia  buxifoUa ... 

..• 

1,"3',  4 

Ipomma  pes-caprtB 



... 

... 

Ipomcea  grandijlora 

• .  ■ 

•2 

Ipomcea  peltata     ... 

4 

3 

4 

Ipomcea  digitata   ... 

... 

... 

... 

Convolvulus  parviflorus    . . . 

... 

... 

... 

Solanuin  btflorum ... 

•  •  • 

3,4 

Solanumferox 

.•> 

1,4 

Fhysa lis  minima  ... 

.  .  . 

. . . 

Datura  alba 

1 

Ruellia      prostrata,     var. 

dejecta    ... 

... 

1,2 

1 

Asystasia  eoromandeliana 

> .  ■ 

1,4 

... 

Bicliptcra  macleari 

X 

Stachytarpheta  indica 

■  ■• 

... 

... 

... 

Callicarpa  loiigifolia 

• 

1,4 

1,2 

Fremna  lucidula   ... 

... 

4 

Anisomeles  ovata  ... 

... 

1,3,4 

Leucas  javan  ica     ... 

... 

4 

BoerJiaavia    diffusa,     var. 

pubcscens 

.•• 

... 

Fisonia  grandis    ... 

•  ■ . 

2,' 3 

Fisonia  crcelsa 

... 

4 

1 

Deeringia  celosioides 

... 

1,4 

1,2 

Celosia  argentea     ... 

... 

... 

... 

Achyranthes  aspcra 

... 

... 

Feperomia  Icevifolia 

... 

4 

Various  localities  and  remarks. 


Tropical  coasts,  Old  World. 
Tropical  Africa. 


Tropical  shores,  Old  and  New 
Worlds. 


All  hot  countries. 

Shores  of  Tropical  Eastern  Asia. 

Tropical  America. 

Tropical  East  Asia  generally. 


S  outh-East  Asia ,  Tropical  Africa. 
Tropical  coasts. 


Widely  spread  in  Tropics. 
Ditto  of  Old  World. 


Tropical  Asia,  Africa,  Australia. 

Africa,  Arabia. 

Tropical  Asia  and  America. 


Tropics  generally. 


Tropical  Asia  and  Africa. 
Tropics  generally. 


List  of  Species. 


315 


Dicotyledons,  continued. 

Feperomia  rossi     ... 
(Jryptocarya  nativitatis    ... 
Hernandia  pcltata 
Euphorbia  hypericifolia  ... 
Euphorbia  plhdifera 
Phyllanthtis  niruri 
Jatropha  curcas    ... 
Groton  cattdatus     ... 
Claoxylon  rubescens 
Acalypha  tviyhtiana 
Cleidionjavaiiicum 
Maearatiga  ta)iarius 
C'eltis  cinnamomea... 
Sponia  ambolncnsis 
FicKS  retiisa 
Ficus  saxophila     ... 
Cud  rania  Java  nensis 
Fleurya  ruder alis  ... 
Laportea  cremilata 
Laportea  miirrayana 
Procris  pcdunculata 
Boehmeria  platyphylla     . . . 


MONOCOTYLEDONS. 

Dendrobiinn  crumenatum ... 
F>endrobitun  inacrcei 
Fhreatia  lister i     ... 
Fhreatia  congesta ... 
Saccolabium  archytas 
Sarcochilus  carinatifolia  ... 
Corymbis  vcratrifoUa 
Crinum  asiaticiou ... 

Arenga  listeri 
Fandanus,  sp. 
Eeimisatia  vivipara 
Fimbrisfylis  cymosa 
Isch(smuiu   foliosiun,    var. 

leiophyllum 
Figitaria  sanguinalis 
Fanicum  andrewsi 
Oplismenus  compositus 
Eleusine  indica 
Eragrostis  plumosa 


GTMNOSPERMS. 
Cycas  circinalis     ... 


"^      • 

S.2 

'J^     CO 

.2  Sc 

li 

OP^ 

X 

X 
X 
X 


X 
X 


1,4 


1,4 
4 

1,4 
1,4 

4 
1,4 

1,'4 
4 

4 
1,4 

4 
1,3,4 


3,4 
1,4 


1,  2,  3,  4 


1,  2,  3,  4 
4 


a 

O     . 

■Mi  a 

.2  a 

1° 
a  ba 

i^.2 

.2  a 

KD   ai 

30h 

^2  cd 

*2 
1,  3 


1,3 


2,  3 
1,  2 


1,3 


1,3 
1,  3 


Various  localities  and  remarks. 


1,2,3 


Tropics  generally. 
Tropics  and  sub -tropics. 
Tropics  generally. 
Ditto. 


Tropical  Asia. 
Old  World  Tropics. 


Tropical  Asia  to  Japan  and 
N.  Australia. 


Asiatic. 
Cosmopolitan. 

Tropics  generally. 
Old  World  Tropics. 
Tropical  Asia  and  Africa. 


316 


Christmas  Island. 


Sn^ 

a 

a    . 

> 

uliar 
Islan 

rienta 
egion 

stralii 
egion 

.2  n 

Various  localities  and  remarks. 

o  s 

OM 

5W 

^P^ 

^5 

< 

W 

CRYPTOGAMS. 

• 

Perns. 

Trichomayies  parvulitm 

4 

3 

4 

Davallia  solida 

3,4 

3 

Davallia  dissccta  ... 

4 

Davallia  speluncce 

... 

... 

•  •  • 

Tropics  and  sub-tropics. 

Aspleniu III  nidus  ... 

>  •  • 

Ditto  of  Old  AVorld. 

Asplenium  faleatum 

1,4 

1,"2,  3 

1,2,3 

Asplenium  ceutrifugale    ... 

X 

Nephrodiitiii  syrmaticum  ... 

1,4 

Nephrodiuin  disseetum 

1,4 

3 

4 

Nephrodium  in  ter medium 

1,4 

1 

Japan. 

Nephrodiuin.  truncatum    ... 

1,4 

2,3 

Nephrodiuin  polyinorphuiii 

1,4 

1 

Aspidium  meinbranaceum.. . 

2,3,4 

Nephrolepis  cxaltata 

•  •  ■ 

Tropics  generally. 

NepJirolepis  acuta  ... 

Ditto. 

Nephrolepis  ramosa 

■  ■• 

Ditto. 

Polypodium  adnascens 

1,3,4 

1,3 

1,2 

Polypodium  irioides 

1,3,4 

1,2,3 

1,2 

Vittaria  elongata  ... 

1.  3,  4 

1,2,3 

1,2 

AcrostichuniJlagelHferuin 

1,  4 

Acrostichuin  listcri 

X 

Lycopodiuin  phlegmaria    . . . 

... 

Tropics  of  Old  World. 

Mosses. 

Lcucolryum  chloropliyUosmn 

4 

1 

Octohlepharum  albidum    ... 

,  , 

... 

•  •  • 

Tropics. 

Thyridimn  fasciculatum  . . . 

1,4 

3 

4 

Chile. 

Trachyinitriuin  revolutiini 

4 

Neckera  Icpiniana... 

4 

1,3 

4 

Thuidiiim  plumulostim 

. . . 

2,  4 

3 

Hypnum  montagnei 

... 

4 

Hepatic. 

Ptychanthiis  squarrosus   ... 

... 

4 

1 

Lichens. 

Farmelia  tinctorum 

... 

... 

Widely  distributed,  Asia,  Africa, 
Australia,  etc. 

Parmelia  appendiculata   ... 

1 

Physcia  picta         

... 

Very  widely  distributed. 

Pyxine  sorediata  ... 

... 

... 

Africa,  S.  America,  Japan, 
Tahiti. 

Pannaria  rubiginosa 

... 

Very  widely  distributed. 

Lecanora  varia 

Ditto. 

Ramalina  fra.vinea 

Europe,  N.  and  S.  America. 

Lecidea  lutea 

... 

... 

... 

Very  widely  distributed. 

Leptogium  phyllocarjmm  . . . 

... 

... 

... 

Ditto. 

List  of  Sjyecies. 


317 


Cryptogams,  continued. 
Fungi. 

SchizophylUim  communc 
Pohjponts  conflucns 
Fames  lucidus 
Fomes  australis 
PohjstictusJlahcUlformis 
Folystictus  xniifhopttfi 
Poli/stictHS  luteo-olivaceKs 
Pohjsfictus  saiir/uineus 
Hexagonia  poliigramma 
Baedalea  tenuis     ... 
Favolus  bouchcanus 
Laschia  ccespifosa  . . . 
Flirneola  poh/fricha 
Hirneola  anricula-juda: 
Guepinia  spamssoides 
Cyathtis  mo)itftg)iei 
Geaster  andrcwsi  . . . 
Trichoseypha  tricholomo 
iStilbum  java)iicuin 

Mycetozoa. 

Stemonitis  splendcm,  Rost., 

var.  a,  ge?tici»a 
Arcyrxaflava,  Pers. 
Lycogdla  miniatum,  Pers. 


£  to 


2 
1,  2,  3,  4 


1,  t 

1,2 

4 


1,2,4 


^   be 
c/:    <1J 


1,2 
1 

2 
1,  2,  3 
1,2 
2 
2 
2 
2 


2,3 


Ph  O 
O  T* 

•2    be 


1,  2,  3 


Various  localities  and  remarks. 


CosmojDolitan. 
Europe  and  N.  America. 
Cosmopolitan. 
Europe,  Venezuela. 
S.  America,  Cuba. 
Tropics  generally. 

America. 
Central  America. 

Europe  and  N.  America. 

Mexico,  Cuba. 
Widely  distributed. 

Cuba,  S.  America. 

S.  America,  "West  Indies. 


Europe,  America. 
Europe,  N.  America. 
Europe,  N.  and  S.  America. 


LIST   OF   THE   PRINCIPAL  PAPERS   RELATING    TO 

CHRISTMAS  ISLAND. 


1.  Dampier's  Voyages.     Edition  1829,  vol.  i,  p.  472.     London. 

2.  A  Voyage  to  and  from  the  Island  of  Borneo  in  the  East  Indies,  etc.    By  Capt. 

Daniel  Beekman.     London,  1718.     (See  Pinkerton's  Voyages,  vol.  xi,  p.  103.) 

3.  Report  on  a  Zoological  Collection  made  by  the  Officers  of  H.M.S.  "Flying 

Fish"  at  Christmas  Island,  Indian  Ocean.  Proc.  Zool.  Soc,  1887,  p.  507. 
(This  includes  the  report  of  Captain  J.  P.  Maclear,  of  H.M.S.  "  Flying  Fish," 
on  the  visit  to  the  island,  and  descriptions  of  the  collections  by  Dr.  A.  G.  Butler, 
Dr.  R.  B.  Sharpe,  0.  Thomas,  G.  A.  Boulenger,  E.  A.  Smith,  E.  I.  Pocock, 
CO.  Waterhouse,  F.  J.  Bell,  and  A.  Dendy.) 

4.  Report  on  Christmas  Island  (Indian  Ocean),  H.M.S.   "  Egeria,"  1887.     By 

Captain  Pelham  Aldrich.     (With  map.)     (Admiralty  Reports.) 

5.  On  the  Natural  History  of  Christmas  Island  in  the  Indian  Ocean.     By  J.  J. 

Lister,  M.A.,  F.R.S.  Proc.  Zool.  Soc,  1888,  p.  512.  (This  is  accompanied 
by  reports  on  the  collections  by  0.  Thomas,  G.  A.  Boulenger,  E.  A.  Smith, 
C.  J.  Gahan,  A.  G.  Butler,  W.  F.  Kirby,  and  R.  I.  Pocock.) 

6.  Report  on  the  Botanical  Collections  from  Christmas  Island,  Indian  Ooean, 

made  by  Captain  J.  P.  Maclear,  Mr.  J.  J.  Lister,  and  the  Officers  of 
H.M.S.  "  Egeria."  By  W.  Bottixg  Hemsley.  Journ.  Linn.  Soc.  (Botany), 
vol.  ixv  (1890),  p.  351. 

7.  Account  of  Christmas  Island  (Indian  Ocean).     By  Rear- Admiral  Sir  W.  J.  L. 

Wharton,  F.R.S.     Proc.  Roy.  Geogr.  Society,  vol.  x  (n.s.),  1888,  p.  613. 

8.  A  Day  at  Christmas  Island.    By  H.  N.  Ridley,  F.L.S.    Journ.  Straits  Branch 

Roy.  Asiatic  Soc,  p.  123,  June,  1891.  (This  paper  is  accompanied  by  a  list  of 
the  plants  and  animals  known  from  the  island  at  that  date.) 

9.  Report  on  Christmas  Island.    By  Rear- Admiral  Sir  W.  J.  L.  Wharton,  F.R.S., 

and  Captain  J.  P.  Maclear.     Nature,  vol.  xxxvi  (1887),  p.  12. 

10.  Note  on  the  Flora  of  Christmas  Island.      By  Sir  AV.  T.  Thiselton-Dyer, 

K.C.M.G.,  F.R.S.     Nature,  vol.  xxx^i  (1887),  p.  78. 

11.  Presidential  Address,  Section  D,  Bath  Meeting  of  British  Association,  1888, 
p.  690.     By  Sir  W.  T.  Thiselton-Dyer,  K.C.M.G.,  F.R.S. 

12.  Letter  relating  to  Christmas  Island.  J.  J.  Lister,  F.R.S.  Nature, 
vol.  xxxvii  (1888),  p.  203. 

13.  Letter  relating  to  Christmas  Island.  Rear-Admiral  Sir  W.  J.  L.  Wharton, 
F.R.S.     Nature,  vol.  xxxvii  (1888),  p.  204. 

14.  Letter  relating  to  Christmas  Island.     H.  B.  Guppy.      Nature,  vol.  xxxvii 

(1888),  p.  222. 

15.  Die  Theorieen  iiber  flie  Entstehung  der  Koralleninseln  und  KorallenriiFe. 
By  R.  Langenbeck.     Leipzig,  1890,  p.  136. 

16.  Description  Geologique  de  Java  et  Madoura.  By  R.  D.  M.  Vekbeek  and 
R.  Fexnema  (1896),  vol.  ii,  p.  1031. 

17.  Straits  Settlements.  Papers  relating  to  the  Coeos-Keeling  and  Christmas 
Islands,  1897.     (Parlianieutary  Papers,  C  8367.) 

18.  Colonial  Reports.  Annual,  No.  216.  Cocos -Keeling  and  Christmas  Islands. 
Report  on  the  Annual  Visit  for  1897.     (1897,  C  8650-14.) 

19.  Colonial  Reports.  Annual,  No.  257.  Cocos-Keeling  and  Christmas  Islands. 
Report  on  the  Annual  Visit  for  1898.     (1899,  C  9046-25.) 

20.  A  Description  of  Christmas  Island  (Indian  Ocean).      By  C.  W.  Andrews. 

Geogr.  Journ..  vol.  xiii  (1899),  p.  17.     (With  map.) 

21.  Notes  on  a  Collection  of  Gephyrean  Worms  found  at  Christmas  Island 
(Indian  Ocean)  by  Mr.  C.  W.  Andrews.  By  A.  E.  Shipley,  M.A.,  F.R.S. 
Proc.  Zool.  Soc,  1899,  p.  64.  (Papers  on  "the  Marine  Mollusca,  Sponges, 
Corals,  and  Foraminifera  will  appear  later  in  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  for  1900.) 


APPENDIX. 


A  small  collection  of  birds  and  insects  made  by  Mr.  Hugh  Ross 
since  I  left  the  island  has  recently  reached  England.  The  species 
are  nearly  all  described  above,  but  there  are  two  birds  and  one 
beetle  new  to  the  island,  and  also  a  beetle  that  is  new  to  science. — 
C.  W.  A. 

The  birds  are  : — 

AYES. 
COLUMBIFORMES. 

Myristicivorus  bicolor. 

Adult  male.  Flying  Fish  Cove,  February  4,  1899.  Several 
individuals  of  this  species  were  observed ;  probably  they  had  been 
blown  to  the  island  during  migration. 

CHARADRIIFORMES. 

Heteractitis  brevipes. 

Female.     Flying  Fish  Cove,  September  22,  1898. 


mSECTA. 

The  beetles  are  described  below  by  Messrs.  Waterhouse  &  Arrow. 

?  Crioceris  impressa,  Fab.,  var.. 

A  single  example  sent  to  Mr.  Andrews  may  provisionally  be 
regarded  as  a  variety  of  C.  impressa,  Fab.  The  body  underneath, 
the  head  (except  at  the  occiput),  legs,  and  antennae  are  black,  the 
prothorax  and  elytra  testaceous.  The  prothorax  has  a  rather 
distinct  transverse  impression  just  a  little  in  front  of  the  base, 
and  this  is  the  only  character  of  importance  to  suggest  the  specific 
distinctness  of  this  new  form. 


320  APPENDIX. 

C.  impressa  is  a  variable  and  rather  widely  distributed  species, 
occurring  in  most  of  the  Indo-Malayan  islands,  and  in  India, 
Burma,  and  China. 


Phileurus  convexus,   Arrow,  sp.n. 

P.  nitidus,  angustus,  hand  depressus  ;  capita  rugose  punctato, 
acuminato,  fronte  cornu  parvo  conico  arraata  ;  prothorace  sub- 
quadrato  parum  transverse,  angulis  posticis  fere  rectis,  anticis 
parum  approximatis,  disco  leviter  punctato,  lateribus  pauIo 
crebrius,  medio  antice  et  postice  carinae  vestigiis  vix  apparentibus ; 
elytris  longis,  grosse  lineato  -  punctatis,  interstitiis  minutissime 
punctatis ;  abdomine  cum  pygidio  fere  polito,  propygidio  coriaceo. 
?  long.  14^  mm. 

Sab. — Flying  Fish  Cove. 

This  new  species  is  formed  for  the  first  representative  of  the 
important  family  Dynastidse  so  far  found  in  the  island,  a  single 
specimen  having  been  recently  discovered  by  Mr.  H.  Ross. 

This  species  is  less  flattened,  and  somewhat  longer  than  usual, 
but  does  not  differ  structurally  from  the  larger  described  forms 
of  Continental  Asia,  where  all  its  hitherto  known  allies  are  found, 
for  the  Ceylon  insect  described  by  "Walker  is  evidently  wrongly 
placed.  M.  Fairmaire  has  referred  to  a  'P.  javanus,^  apparently 
the  Heteronychus  javanus,  Burm.,  which  although  allied  is  hardly 
congeneric.  But  the  genus  Phileurus  will  probably  be  eventually 
restricted  to  the  American  insects  and  new  genera  formed  for  the 
Oriental  species. 

The  only  other  insect  new  to  the  island  is  a  large  moth :  Patula 
macrops  (Linn.),  (Syst.  Nat.,  12th  ed.,  iii,  p.  225).  Africa, 
Madagascar,  Ceylon,  India,  Burmah. 


i:^DEX. 


abbotti  (Siila),  44,  299. 
abdominalis  (Dactylosteruum),  90. 
Abelmoschus,  173. 

(Hibiscus),  173. 

Ablepharus,  51,  53. 

abramiis  (Pipistrellus) ,  26. 

Abutilon,  172-3. 

acaciaria  (Boarmia),  70. 

Acalypha,  188. 

Acanthaceaj,  184. 

Acanthastraja,  207,  218. 

Acantholipes,  67. 

Accipitrifoi'mes,  46. 

acervalis  (Planorbulina),  241,  249. 

(Planorbuliua) ,  near,  234. 

Achatina,  57. 
AchjTanthes,  186. 
Acicnemis,  112. 
Acidaliana!,  71. 
acidula  (PerapMs),  178. 
ackeringie  (Ochrosia),  182. 
Acronycbia,  174. 
acrophyla  (Pericha3ta),  169. 
Acrosticbum,  195. 
Aculeata,  81. 
acuminata  (Prota;tia),  98. 
acuminatum  (Combretum),  178. 
acuta  (Nepbrolepis),  195. 
adjectella  (Nigilgia),  77. 

— (Phycodes),  77. 

aduascens  (Polypodium),  195. 
segnusalis  (Epicrocis),  73. 
^gocidnus,  124. 
jEscbna,  139. 
JEschnida;,  139. 
J^schninfc,  139. 
^thus,  127. 
afflnis  (Examnes),  122. 

(Nogodina),  134,  136. 

(Ricania),  134. 

Agaristidffi,  64. 

Ageratum,  180. 

agglutinans  (Quinqueloculina) ,  236. 

aglaodesma  (Cosmoclostis),  76. 

agrotus  (Megapenthes) ,  101. 

alba  (Datura),  184. 

albidum  (Octoblepbarum),  196. 

alcmene  (H}-polimnas),  62-3. 


aldrichii  (Hoya),  182. 
alecto  (?  Larrada),  84. 

?  (Notogonia),  84. 

alienus  (Conocepbalus),  149. 

Allopbylus,  176. 

Alpbitobius,  106. 

aluta  (Nacaduba),  60,  63. 

Alveolina,  252,  255. 

alveoliniformis  (Miliolina),   240,   242^ 

244,  246,  248,  252. 
Amarantacene,  186. 
Amarygmus,  107. 
Amaryllidaceaj,  191. 
amboinensis  (Sponia),  188. 
americana  (Blatta),  145. 

(Periplaneta),  142,  145. 

americanus  (Gyrocarpus),  178. 

"  Amethyst,"  Visit  of  H.M.S.,  2. 

ammonilla  (Berria),  173. 

amooroides  (Dysoxylon),  175. 

Ampelideai,  176. 

amphibius  (Arvicola),  30. 

Amphistegina,    229,    232,    235,   237, 

239-42,     244,    246-7,     249-56, 

266,  268. 
Amphisteginae,  253. 
amplexa  (Terias),  60,  63. 
Amyna,  65. 
Anax,  139. 
Anchastus,  100. 
ancilla  (Opbideres),  67. 
Andreninae,  81. 
andrewsi  (Acicnemis),  112. 
■ (Acronycbia),  174. 

(Charaxes),  61. 

(Chrysobothris),  99. 

(Cocloria),  207,  209,  212. 

(Coscinarsea),  207,  221. 

(Geaster),  199. 

(Halictus),  86. 

(Issus?),  138. 

(Megapenthes),  101. 

(Orychodes),  117. 

(Panicum),  192. 

(Protffitia),  98. 

(RhjTicholobus),  HI. 

(Sessinia),  107. 

audrewsiana  (Assiminea),  54,  59. 


322 


INDEX. 


andrewsiana  (Orbitoides) ,  256. 

(Orbitoides,  Lepidocyclina), 

255-6. 
Anecbura,  142. 
angustifiora  (Ocbrosia),  182. 
Anisoccenia,  207-8,  220-1. 
Anisolabis,  142-3. 
Anisomeles,  185. 
Annexation  of  Island,  19. 
anomala  (Blantibaria),  82. 
Anous,  39. 
Antbopbila,  81. 
Antbribidse,  118. 
antillarum  (Heterostegina),  229. 
antilope  (Toxicum),  106. 
Apatenia,  119. 
Apetalse,  185. 
Aphanocephalus,  sp.,  96. 
Apbodiidae,  97. 
Aphrophoridie,  137. 
apicalis  (Apatenia),  119. 
Apidse,  81. 
Apocynacea?,  182. 
Apomecyna,  123. 
Appearance  of  Island  from  sea,  3. 
appendicnlata  (Parmelia),  197. 
aquila  (Fregata),  42. 
arabica  (Coeloria),  213. 
Aracbnida,  153,  156. 

Distribution  of,  300. 

Arseocerus,  120. 

Araliaceaj,  179. 

Aranese,  158. 

Araneus,  162. 

arborescens  (Panicum),  193. 

arcbytas  (Saccolabium),  191. 

Arctianae,  64. 

ArcjTia,  200. 

Ardea,  41. 

Ardeiformes,  41. 

Ardisia,  181. 

arenaria  (Calidris),  41. 

Arenga,  50,  191,  287. 

arenosa  (Porites),  224. 

argentea  (Celosia),  186. 

(Tournefortia),  182. 

Argina,  64. 

Argiope,  159. 

Argiopidse,  159. 

Ariadna,  158. 

ariel  (Fregata),  44. 

Ariopbanta  (Microcystis),  55-6. 

aristella  (Bidis),  136. 

Armactia,  66. 

armata  (Pericba3ta),  170. 

armatus  (Megascolex),  170. 

Aroidese,  192. 

Arvicantbis,  36. 

Arvicola,  30. 

Asclepiadacese,  182. 


Ascomycetes,  200. 

asiatica  (Colubrina),  175. 

asiaticura  (Crinum),  191. 

asiaticus  (Gyrocarpiis) ,  178. 

Asilidoe,  88. 

aspera  (Acbyrantbes) ,  186. 

asperula  (Spiroloculina),  233,  248. 

Aspidiphorus,  104. 

Aspidium,  195. 

Asplenium,  194. 

assimilis  (Dryopbtborus),  116. 

Assiminea,  54-5,  59. 

A.sterocyclina,  253. 

Astraa,  214-5,  219. 

Astraeidae,  210. 

Astroria,  212-13. 

Astur,  46. 

Asystasia,  184. 

atrocostatum  (Lygosoma),  51-2. 

attenuatus  (Nirmus),  138. 

auberiana  (Miliolina),  250,  252. 

(Quinqueloculina),  250. 

auricula-juda)  (Hirneola),  199. 
auritincta  (Dichocrocis),  74. 
auritum  (Abiitilon),  172. 
australasife  (Hormurus),  156. 

(Scorpio),  156. 

australis  (Fomes),  198. 
azedaracb  (Melia),  174. 


baculatus  (Tinoporus),  229. 

balder  (Polistes),  85. 

balyi  (Psylliodes) ,  127. 

banksi  (Prosoplus),  123. 

Barringtonia,  178. 

basalis  (Cbalcococcyx),  48,  299,  302. 

(Olenecaraptus),  122. 

Basalt,  273,  276-7,  279,  283,  285. 

Basic  glass.  Breccia  of,  278-9. 

Basidiomycetes,  198. 

Batavia,  3. 

Beacbes,  6. 

Beekman,  Captain  Daniel,  Account  of 

Island  by,  2. 
belli  (Porites),  207,  223. 
Berria,  173,  184. 
beyricbi  (Bolivina),  231. 
bicolor  (Myristicivorus),  299,  302,  319. 
bicornis  (Miliolina),  247. 

(Serpula),  247. 

Bidis,  136. 

biflora  (Wedelia),  181. 
biflorum  (Solanum),  183. 
bilobus  (Olenecamptus),  122-3. 
bingbami  (Halictus),  86. 
Birgus,  164. 

Habits  of,  165. 

birmanicus  (Cbelifer),  157. 


INDEX. 


323 


■bispinosus  (Mecopus),  113. 

Wsulcus  (Chelifer),  157. 

Blatta,  146-6. 

Blattidse,  142,  145. 

Blowholes,  8. 

Blumea,  181. 

Boarraia,  70. 

Boarminfe,  70. 

Eocula,  68. 

Boehmeria,  190. 

Boerhaavia,  185. 

Bolivina,  231,  266. 

Bombylidffi,  88. 

honducella  (Guilandina),  177. 

Booby,  44. 

Boragineie,  182. 

Borneo,  Orbitoides  of,  297. 

Bostrichidse,  105. 

Bostriehus,  116. 

Bothrideres,  94. 

bottai  (Cceloria),  213. 

boucbeanus  (Favolus),  199. 

boueana  (Truncatulina) ,  228. 

boutonii  ( Ablepharus) ,  53. 

bowringi  (Demotina),  126. 

BracbjThyncbidaj,  129. 

BracbjThynchus,  129. 

Bradymerus,  106. 

Brana,  66. 

Brenthia,  76. 

Brenthidaj,  117. 

brevicornis  (Pocillopora),  209. 

(Pocillopora),  aff.,  207,  209. 

brevipes  (Heteractitis),  319. 
brevis  (Pericha^ta) ,  168. 
brunnea  (Labia),  145. 
brunnensis  (ITvigerina) ,  234. 
buccinus  (Halictus),  86. 
biidda3  (Megacbile),  88. 
bufa  (Oxj'pleiira) ,  128. 
Bulimus,  57. 
Bull-dog  Rat,  30. 

(Globigerina),  227,  234,  240, 

250,  252-3,  255,  266. 
Buprestidfe,  99. 
buxifolia  (Ehretia),  182. 
Bytboscopus,  138. 


Cainognosis,  79. 

Casrostris,  160. 

csespitosa  (Lascbia),  199. 

Cajanus,  177. 

Calidris,  41. 

CalKcarpa,  184. 

Calonyction,  183. 

calopasa  (Brana),  66, 

Calopbyllum,  172. 

calypso  (Oxypleiira),  130. 

(Poecilopsaltria) ,  130. 


Cambalidse,  156. 
Camponotus,  81,  83. 
Camptorhinus,  112. 
Canavalia,  177. 
Cancer,  165. 
Candida  (Deiopeia),  64. 
capitata  (Carpenteria),  246. 

(Goniastrsea),  214. 

Capparideaj,  171. 
CarabidiB,  89. 
Caradi-iniaj,  65. 
carbonaria  (Nyctobates),  106. 
Cardiosoma,  10,  163. 
caretta  (Thalassocbelys),  54. 
carinatifolius  (Sarcochilus),  191. 
carneola  (Cypra3a),  203. 
carnifes  (Cancer),  164. 

(Cardiosoma),  164. 

Carpenteria,  233,  235-41,  244,  246-7, 

250,  252,  254-5,  266. 
Carpopbaga,  37. 
Cassia,  177. 

castaneiceps  (Mecistocephalus),  155. 
castanella  (Doloessa),  72. 
castaneus  (Lispinus),  90. 

(Melampus),  54,  58. 

catappa  (Terminalia),  177. 
caudatiis  (Croton),  188. 
Celastrinete,  175. 
Celastrus,  175. 
celata  (Planispirina),  242. 

(Sigmoilina),  242. 

(Spiroloculina),  242. 

celebensis  (Mus),  32. 

Celosia,  186. 

celosioides  (Deeringia),  186. 

Celtis,  188. 

Centipedes,  Introduction  of,  21. 

Central  plateau,  11. 

and  hills.  Geology  of,  288. 

centrifugale  (Asplenium),  194. 
cephalonica  (Corcyra),  72. 
Cephonodes,  70. 
Cerambycidse,  121. 
ceramensis  (Prinobius),  120. 
ceratophthalmus  (Cancer),  164. 

(Ocypoda),  164. 

Cerbera,  182. 

Ceresium,  121-2. 

Ceriopora,  229. 

Cerithium,  204. 

cessaria  (Boarniia),  71. 

Cetoniidaj,  98. 

Chajrocampa,  69. 

Chferocampina),  69. 

Chalcococcyx,  48,  299,  302. 

Chalcopbaps,  39. 

Cbalk-like  rock,  13. 

"  Cballensjer  "   Report  on   Deep-sea 

Deposits,  279,  291. 


324 


INDEX. 


Chai'adriiformes,  40. 
Charadrius,  40. 
charantia  (Momordica),  179. 
Charaxes,  61. 
Chelifer,  156-7. 
Cheliferida3,  156. 
Chelisoches,  143. 
Chelone,  54. 
CMlopoda,  153-4. 

Distribution  of,  300. 

Chinese  coolies,  20. 

chlorolepis  (Tortricomorpha),  78. 

chlorophyllosum  (Leucobrjiim) ,  196. 

Christmas  Island,  Position  of,  1. 

chromataria  (Earias),  69. 

Chrysobothris,  99. 

Chrysodema,  99. 

chrysomelina  (Epilachna),  96. 

Cibicides,  251. 

Cicadidse,  130. 

cinerosella  (Euzophera),  73. 

cinnamomea  (Celtis),  188. 

Cioidae,  105. 

circinalis  (Cycas),  193. 

circularis  (Miliolina),  252. 

Cissus,  176. 

citrifolia  (Morinda),  180. 

Claoxylon,  188. 

clathrata  (Rotalia),  232. 

elathratus  (Bradymerus) ,  106. 

claviger  (Chelifer),  156. 

(Trachychernes),  156. 

Cleidion,  188, 
Climate,  17. 
Clitumnus.  142,  147. 
Clovia,  137. 
Clunies  Eoss,  Mr.  A.,  19. 

Mr.  G.,  3,  19. 

Mr.  S.,  Explorations  by,  20. 

clypeatus  (Cancer),  165. 

(Coenobita),  165. 

coarctata  (Orthomorpha),  155. 

coarctatus  (Paradesmus),  155. 

cobbe  ( AUophylus) ,  176. 

Coccinellida?,  95. 

Cocc3'ges,  48. 

Cocos-Keeling  Islands,  1,  3,  298. 

Cceloria,  207,  209,  212-14. 

Coenobita,  165. 

Coenobitidoe,  164. 

coffese  (Arseocerus),  120. 

Coleoptera,  89. 

Collocalia,  48. 

Colubrina,  175. 

columbina  (Armactia),  66. 

columnata    (Orbicella   quadi'angularis, 

var.),  207,  216. 
Colydiidce,  94. 
CombretaceiTC,  177. 
Combretum,  178. 


commune  (Schizophyllum) ,  198. 
complanata  (Ardisia),  181. 
Composita3,  180. 
Composition  of  phosphates,  291. 
compositns  (Oplismemis),  193. 
compressiuscula    (Eotalia   papillosa,. 

var.),  238. 
concmnula  (Psammoecus),  95. 
confinis  (Cephnodes),  70. 
confluens  (Polyporus),  198. 
confluentus  (Odynerus),  85. 
congesta  (Phreatia),  190. 
conglobata  (Globigerina),  234,  250. 
conglomerata  (Porites),  222. 
Conocephalidffi,  142,  149. 
Conocephalus,  149. 
convexus  (Phileurus),  320. 
Convolvtilacetc,  183. 
Convolvulus,  183. 
conyzoides  (Ageratum),  180. 
Coraciiformes,  48. 
Corals  (fossil),  206. 
Corcyra,  72. 
Cordia,  182. 
cordifolia  (Espera),  173. 
cornaria  (Boarmia),  70. 
coromandeliana  (Asystasia),  184. 
coronata  (Ophiusa),  66. 
Corymbis,  191. 
Coscinanca,  207,  221. 
Cosmoclostis,  75. 
Cosmophila,  67- 
Cossonida?,  114. 
Cossonus,  114. 
coxalis  (Prinobius),  120. 
Crabronidffi,  81. 
Craspedia,  71-2. 

sp.,72. 

crassisepta  (Anisocoenia),  220. 

crenulata  (Laporta),  189. 

Cretaceous  rocks,  298. 

cribraria  (Argiua),  64. 

crinipes  (Camptorhinus) ,  112. 

Crinum,  191. 

Crioceris,  319. 

Cristellaria,  227. 

Crocidura,  22,  27. 

Croton,  188. 

cmmenatura  (Dendi'obium) ,  190. 

Cryptocarya,  187. 

Cryptophagidffi,  95. 

CryptopidiTC,  154. 

Cryptops,  154. 

Cucujidic,  95. 

Cucuii,  48. 

Cucurbitacetc,  179. 

Cudrania,  189. 

Culicida%  88. 

cunninghamii,  187. 

curcas  (Jatropha),  188. 


INDEX. 


325 


Curculionidsc.  108. 

Cyamda3,  127. 

cyanops  (Sula),  44. 

Cyathus,  199. 

Cycadese,  193. 

Cycas,  193. 

Cycloclypeina),  229. 

Cycloclypeus,  237. 

Cyclosa,  160-1. 

cylindricus  (Pachyops),  115-16. 

Cy]indrodesmida3,  loo. 

Cylindrodesmus,  155, 

cymosa  (Fimbristylis),  192. 

Cyperaceae,  192. 

Cypraea,  2U3. 

Oypseli,  48. 

Cyitacanthacris,  142,  151-2. 

Cyrtophora,  IGO. 


Dactylostermim,  90. 

JJaedalea,  199. 

Dales  on  west  coast,  14,  283. 

Dampier,  Description  of  Island  by,  1 . 

dana;  (Montipora),  aff.,  207,  209,  224. 

Datui'a,  184. 

Davallium,  194. 

decumanus  (Mus),  29,  35-6. 

Deeringia,  186. 

Deiopeia,  64. 

dejecta  (Ruellia  prostrata,  var.),  184. 

dejectus  (Dipteracanthus),  184. 

delatrix  (Eutelia),  68. 

delicata  (Paurostauria),  133. 

delicatula  (M;eandi'ina),  212. 

Delphacidffi,  136. 

Deiuiegretta,  41. 

Demotina,  126. 

Dendi-obium,  190. 

Dendroneura,  80. 

densitiora  (E,andia),  179. 

depressa  (Heterostegina) ,  229, 232, 235, 

237,  239-41,  244,  246-9,  252-5. 
depressus  (Palorus),  106. 
Deimestes,  95. 
Dermestida3,  95. 
describens  (Stictoptera),  68. 
determinata  (Melanitisj ,  61. 

(Melauitis  ismene,  var.),  61. 

Dicasticus,  HI. 

Diclielia,  78. 

Dichocrocis,  74. 

Dicliptera,  184. 

Dicotyledons,  171. 

Dictis,  159. 

diffusa  (Boerliaavia) ,  185. 

Digitaria,  192. 

<ligitata  (Ipomoea),  183. 

diinidiata  (Platylabia),  142. 

(?)  (Platylabia),  143. 


diminuta  (Lobopelta),  83. 

(Ponera),  83. 

Dinoderus,  105. 
Diplopoda,  153,  155. 

Distribution  of,  300. 

Diploptera,  81. 
Diptera,  88. 
Dipteracanthus,  184. 
Dipterygia,  65. 

discistriga  (Pseudospbinx) ,  70. 
Discocyclina,  229-30,  253-4,  256. 
Discocycline  Orbitoides,  283. 
discoidalis  (Auchastus),  100. 

(Piezonotus),  110. 

(Rhj'ncholobus),  110. 

Discorbina,  240,  252. 

dispansa  (Orbitoides),   230,  243,  254. 

(Orbitoides,    Discocyclina), 

229-30,  254. 

(Orbitolites),  230. 


dispansus  (Lycopbris),  229-30. 

dispar  (Hierodula),  142,  146. 

disparilie  (Cyrtacanthacris),  142, 151-2. 

dissecta  (Davallium),  194. 

dissectum  (Nephrodium),  194. 

distinctus  (Pholcus),  159. 

distributa  (Nola),  64. 

Ditoma,  105. 

dolescballii  (Argiope),  159. 

Dolichopodida),  88. 

Dolbessa,  72. 

Dolomitic  limestones,  265,  289. 

Dolopius,  100. 

dolosus  (Melanoxanthus),  101. 

Domestic  animals,  20. 

doniinicus  (Charadrius),  40. 

doria3  (Camptorhinus),  113. 

Doritis,  191. 

Dragon-flies,  Arrival  of,  17,  302. 

DrjininEc  (?),  81. 

Dryophthorus,  116. 

dubia  (Globigeriua),  240. 

(Prionastrasa),  220. 

dubium  (Opatrum),  105. 

(Phloeopliagosonia),  114. 

duplex  (Orbitolites),  252. 
Dysderida),  158. 
Dysoxylon,  175. 


Earias,  69. 

Earthquakes  in  Christmas  Island,  298. 

Earth-worms,  300. 

echiuata  (Lobophyllia) ,  210. 

(Mussa),  afe.,  207,  209-10. 

econia  (Mimeusemia) ,  64. 

Ectadoderus,  147-8. 

edulis  (Inocarpus),  177. 

Etfusaa,  192. 

"  Egeria,"  Visit  of  H.M.S.,  2,  19. 


326 


INDEX. 


Egeria  Point,  4,  14,  16,  293. 

Miocene  rocks  at,  288. 


egerise  (Ablepharus),  51,  53. 

Ehretia,  182. 

elachista  (Brenthia),  76. 

Elateridse,  99. 

elateroides  (Zooblai),  121. 

Eleusine,  193. 

ellipticum  (Heptapleuriun),  179. 

elongata  (Vittaria),  195. 

elongatus  (Pholcus),  159. 

(Smeringopus),  159. 

Elytrogonus,  111. 

Embrithes,  111. 

Emoa,  52. 

Encyocrypta,  162. 

Endotricha,  73. 

Endotrichinse,  73. 

enganensis  (Xenoceras),  118. 

ensiforniis  (Canavalia),  177. 

ensis  (Psyra),  150. 

Entada,  177. 

Entomophaga,  81. 

Entoria,  147. 

Eocene  (POligocene)  Limestone,  226, 

271,  273,  283. 
Epacromia,  152. 
Epagoge,  78. 
Epalxiphora,  79- 
Epeira,  159-60. 
Ephestia,  72. 
epMppiger  (Pontodi'ihis),  166. 

ephippioides  (Orbitoides),  240,  251-2, 
256,  264. 

epbippium  (Orbitoides),  251. 

Epicrocis,  73. 

Epilacbna,  95-6. 

Epiplema,  72. 

Epiplemiua),  72. 

equisepta  (Majandiina),  201,  212. 

Eragrostris,  193. 

Erastria,  68. 

erosa  (Cosmopbila),  67. 

erotus  (Chserocampa),  69. 

Erotylida3,  96. 

Erythrina,  176. 

erytbropleura  (Merula),  49. 

erythropleunis  (Turdus),  37,  49. 

Espera,  173. 

esperi  (Astroria),  212. 

Eucbromia,  64. 

EucnemidoD,  99. 

Eugenia,  sp.,  178. 

Eumenidse,  81. 

Eumolpidne,  124. 

Euphorbia,  187. 

Euphorbiaceaj,  187. 

Euploeina?,  60. 

europfeus  (Isometrus)  =  maculatus,  154. 

Eutelia,  68. 


Euxestus,  96. 
Euzophera,  73. 
everetti  (Mus),  29,  31-2. 
exaltata  (Nepbrolepis),  195. 
Examnes,  122. 
excelsa  (Pisonia),  185. 
exiguus  (jEgocidnus),  124. 
eximia  (Clovia),  137. 
exocoeti  (lulomorpha),  156. 

( Spirostreptus ,   Nodopyge) , 


156. 


(Typblops),  51,  63. 


fascialis  (Zinckenia),  74. 

fasciatus  (Melampus),  58. 

fasciculatum  (Thyridium) ,  196. 

Faults,  275. 

fausti  (Rhabdocnemis) ,  113. 

Favastrea,  219. 

Favoidea,  221. 

favoidea  ( Anisoccenia) ,  207-8,  220. 

Favolus,  199. 

favosa  (PocUlopora) ,  209. 

felinus  (Dermestes),  95. 

Ferns,  194. 

ferox  (Solamira),  183. 

ferussacii  (Miliolina),  251. 

(Quinqueloculina),  251. 

Ficus,  189. 

Figulus,  96. 

Filicince,  194. 

filograna  (Mseandrina),  213. 

Fimbristylis,  192. 

First  inland  cliff,  10. 

Geology  of,  292. 

flabellatus  (Tetrigus),  100. 
Habelliformis  (Polystictus) ,  198. 
flagellatus  (Xenoceras),  118. 
tlageUiferum  (Acrostichum),  196. 
flava  (Arcyria),  200. 

(Motacilla),  48. 

flavescens  (Libellula),  139. 

(Pantala),  139. 

flavicostalis  (Eicania),  133. 

(Varcia),  133. 

flavifrontalis  (Ricania),  131. 
flavipalpis  (Ectadoderus),  142,  147- 
flavirostris  (Phaethon),  45. 
flavocopbalus  (Opbion),  82. 
Fleurya,  189. 

"  Fljing  Fish,"  Visit  of  H.M.S.,  2. 
Flying  Fish  Cove,  16,  294. 

beach,  8. 

cliff.  Structure  of,  271  et  seq. 

foliosuni  (Ischremum) ,  192. 
Fomes,  198. 

Food  plants  inti-oduced,  20. 
Foraminifera,  226. 
Forcinella,  143. 


INDEX. 


327 


Forficulidae,  142. 
Formicaleo,  140. 
Formicin8D,  81. 
Fornax,  sp.  (?),  99. 
forskaeli  (Coeloria),  213. 
Fossil  Corals,  206. 

Mollusca,  201. 

Fossores,  81. 

fraxinea  (Ramalina),  198. 

Fregata,  42. 

Fresh-water  crabs,  10,  164. 

streams,  9,  10,  283,  285. 

Frigate-bird,  Habits  of,  42. 
Fringing  reef,  4,  29o. 
Fruit-bat,  Habits  of,  25. 
Fruits  eaten  by  birds,  303. 

Means  of  transport  of,  302-3. 

fuliginosa,   var.  trichura  (Crocidura). 

22,  27. 
fuliginosus  (Sorex),  27. 
fullonica  (Opbideres),  67. 
fulva?  (Temnopteryx),  142,  145. 
fulvus  (Phaethon),  45,  299. 
funebris  (Amarygnius),  107. 
Fungi,  198. 
Fungida,  221. 
fuscus  (Limnoba3nus),  39. 
fusilinea  (C}Ttacanthacris),  151-2. 


gaimardi  (Porites),  224. 

Galactia,  176. 

Gallerianse,  72. 

Gallinago,  4J. 

Gamopetala),  179. 

Gannet  Hill,  12. 

Gasteroniycetes,  199. 

Gaudryina,  236,  266. 

Geaster,  199. 

Gecarcinus,  163. 

Gecko,  51-2. 

Geckonidae,  51. 

genuina  (Stemonitis  splendens,   var.), 

200. 
Geocarcinidse,  163. 
Geocarcinus,  163. 
geofEroyi  (Ochthodromus),  40. 
Geology  of  Island,  269. 
Geometridce,  70. 
Geometrinse,  71. 
Geopbilidce,  155. 
glabra  (Pongamia),  177. 
glareola,  40. 
Glendinning  Shoal,  1. 
Globigerina,    227,    234,     237,     240, 

250,  252-3,  255,  265-6,   273. 
Globulus  (Ceriopora),  229. 
(Gypsina),      229,      231-2, 

237-8,  246-7,  250,  252,  254. 
(Gj-psinus),  239. 


Glyphodes,  74. 

(Phacellura),  74. 

Goniastraea,  207,  214. 

GoodenovieiB,  181. 

Goos,  Pieter,  Map  by,  1. 

Goshawk,  Habits  of,  47. 

gouldi  (Pteropus),  24. 

gracilis  (Psylliodes),  127. 

gramen  (Textularia),  251. 

Gramineae,  192. 

grandiflora  (Ipomcea,  Calonyction),  183. 

grandis    (Nodosaria    radicula,     var.), 

249. 
(Pisonia),  185. 

-  (Tectona),  184. 


granifera  (Lampas),  203. 

—  (Ranella),  203. 

(Tutufa),  203. 

Grewia,  87,  174. 

griseigularis  (Astur),  47. 

griseomixta  (Erastria),  68. 

grossepunctatum  (Pentatoma),  128. 

Gryllacridse,  142,  148. 

GryUacris,  142,  148. 

GryUid*,  142,  147. 

Guepinia,  199. 

Guettarda,  180. 

Guilandina,  177. 

Guppy,  Dr.  H.  P.,  19. 

guttata  (^schna) ,  1 39. 

guttatus  (Anax),  139. 

Guttiferae,  172. 

gutturalis  (Hirundo),  50,  302. 

Gymnodactylus,  51. 

Gymnosperms,  193. 

Gynandropsis,  171. 

Gypsina,    229,    231-2,    237-9,    241, 

246-7,  249-50,  252,  254,  266. 
Gyrocarpus,  178. 
Gyrophajna,  sp.,  89. 


Haddonia,  246,  249. 
Halictus,  86. 
Halimeda,  250,  289. 
halmaheirae  (Acronychia),  174. 
Halobates,  129. 
Halobatidae,  129. 
Halticidae,  127. 
halysideta  (Epagoge),  78. 
hansenii  (Chehfer),  157. 
Haplodesmus,  155. 
Haplosoma,  155. 
Harpalus,  sp.,  89. 
Hastula,  78. 

Healthiness  of  Island,  18. 
hebraeus  (Polistes),  85. 
Heliastraea,  215. 
heliopora  (Orbicella),  217. 
Hellula,  74. 


328 


INDEX. 


helvetica  (Heterostegina),  229. 
Hemiptera,  136. 

Distribution  of,  300. 

Hepatic,  197. 
Heptapleurum,  179. 
Herculia,  73. 
herklotsi  (Astraja),  215. 

(Oibicella),  207-8,  215,  288. 

Hernandia,  187. 

Heteractitis,  319. 

Heterographis,  73. 

Heterogyna,  81. 

heterogyra  (Msandrina),  213. 

Heteropoda,  154,  161. 

Heterostegina,  229,  231-2,  235,  237, 

239-41,  244,  246-9,  252-5. 
Hexagonia,  199. 
Hibiscus,  173. 
Hierodula,  142,  146-7. 
Hippoboscidae,  88. 
Hirneola,  199. 

hirsutus  (Cylindrodesmus) ,  155. 
hirudinata  (Sam-is),  71. 
Hirundinidai,  50. 
Hirundo,  50,  302. 
hirsutus  (Tricbyorhyssemus),  98. 
Histerida3,  90. 
Hololepta,  90-1. 
holophsealis    (Glyphodes,  Phacellura), 

74. 
Homceosoma,  72. 
Homoptera,  127. 

Distribution  of,  300. 

honesta  (Ophiusa),  66. 
Hormurus,  156. 
horsfieldi  (Euchromia),  64. 
hortensis  (Cryptops),  154. 
hospita  (Kleinhovia) ,  173. 
Hoya,  182. 
Hugh's  Dale,  14,  283. 
hyalina  (Nogodina),  134. 

(Ricania),  134. 

Hydrillodes,  68. 
Hydrophilidse,  90. 
Hylfeocarcinus,  163. 
hylas  (Cephonodes),  70. 
Hymenoptera,  81. 

Distribution  of,  300. 

hypericifolia  (Euphorbia),  187. 
H}^er}i;hra,  70. 
Hyphomycetes,  200. 
Hypnum,  196. 
hypoleucus  (Tringoides),  40. 
Hypolimnas,  60,  62. 
Hyponomeutidce,  76. 


Ichneumonida;,  81. 
Idiocerus  (?),  138. 
idoneus  (Examnes),  122. 


ignarus  (.Sgocidnus),  124. 
imbricata  (Chelone),  54. 
imperator  (Mus),  29. 
"  Imperieuse,"      Annexation      by 

H.M.S.,  2. 
impressa  (Crioceris),  319. 
inisqualis  (Orbitoides,  Lepidocyclina, 

insula; -natalis,  var.),  254. 
incerta  (Labia),  142,  144. 
incertus  ?  (Paehyops),  115. 
incisa  (Csenognosis) ,  79. 
indica  (Chalcophaps),  39. 

(Eleusine),  193. 

• (Epilachna),  95. 

■  (Erythrina),  176. 

(Glyphodes),  74. 

(Hololepta),  91. 

(Quisqualis),  178. 

(Stachytarpheta),  184. 

indicus  (Cajanus),  177. 

(Pipistrellus),  27. 

indistincta  (Labia),  142,  144. 

inermipes  (Cr3-ptops),  154. 

infumatus  (Anchastus),  101. 

Inhabitants,  19. 

inhEerens  (G)-psina),  239,  241,  252. 

inhians  (Epiplema),  72. 

Inocarpus,  177. 

inophyllum  (Calophyllum),  172. 

inornatus  ( Amarygmus) ,  107. 

inscitus  (Physsemus),  97. 

Insecta,  60. 

insomnis  (MjTmeleon),  140. 

insulae-natalis     (Orbitoides,      Lepido- 

cyclina),  242,   248,   251-4,    256. 
insularis  (Poutodi-ilus),  167-8. 
insulicola,  160. 

intermedium  (Nephrodium) ,  195. 
involva  (Polytrema  miniaceum,  var.), 

239,  248-50. 
iphigenia  (Hypolimnas),  62. 
Ipomoea,  183. 

iridescens  (Myrmeleon),  140. 
irioides  (Polypodium) ,  195. 
irregularis  (Orbicella),  217. 
irrorata  (Porthesia),  69. 
Ischijemum,  192. 
ismene  (Melanitis),  61. 
Isometrus,  154. 
Isoptera,  141. 
Issida;,  138. 
Issus  (?),  138. 
italica  (CristeUaria) ,  227. 

(Saracenaria),  227. 

lulomorpha,  156. 


Jasminum,  181. 
Jassidffi,  138. 
Jatropha,  188. 


INDEX. 


329 


Java,  relations  with  Clivistmas  Island, 

296-7. 
jjavana  (Cycas  circiualis,  var.),  193. 
javanensis  (Ciidi-auia),  189. 
javanica  (Colubriua),  175. 

(Leucas),  18.5. 

(Jlerula),  50. 

•  (Panesthia),  142,  146. 

javanicum  (Cleidiou),  188. 

(Stilbum),  200. 

javanus  (Clielifei),  156-7. 

■  (Heteronychus),  320. 

(Mus),  29. 

(Pbileunis),  320. 

jerdoniana  (Mabouya),  52. 
jordaui  (Litocerus),  118. 
jugularis  (Ardea),  41. 
juughuhni  (Favoidea),  221. 
Juuonia,  62. 
Jupiter  (Cbaraxes),  61. 

Kleinbovia,  173. 
koenigii  (Scnevola),  181. 

Labia,  142-3,  145. 

Labite,  144. 

Labiatie,  185. 

Labidura,  142. 

Lacertilia,  51. 

lajvifolia  (Peperomia),  186. 

lajvigata  (Grewia),  174. 

liievis  (Orbitoliua),  229. 

Lagoon  deposits,  289. 

lagostoma  (Gecarcinus) ,  163. 

lagostomus  (Gecarcinus),  163. 

Laius,  102. 

Lamiidaj,  122. 

Lampas,  202-3. 

lampas  (Murex),  202. 

Lamprocystis,  54-6. 

Land-crabs,  2,  163,  300. 

Laportea,  189. 

Larentiana3,  71. 

?  Larrada,  84. 

Larrinffi,  81. 

larvata  (Planorbuliua),  238,  241,  246, 

250,  254. 
Laschia,  199. 
Lasioderma,  102. 
lateralis  (Demotina),  126. 
latro  (Birgus),  164. 

(Cancer),  164. 

Laurinea;,  187. 

laxillora  (Laportea),  190. 

laxior  (Randia  densiflora,  var.),  179. 

Lecanora,  198. 

Lecidea,  198. 

leda  (Melanitis),  61. 

Leea,  176. 


Leguminosac,  176. 

leiopliyllum      (Iscba^nium      foliosum, 

var.),  192. 
lemniscatus  (Clovia),  137. 
Leocyma,  66. 
Lepidocvclina,  230,  235-6,  240,  242, 

244-6,  248,  250-6. 
Lepidoptera,  60. 

Phala;ua3,  63. 

lepiniana  (Neckera),  196. 
Leptaulax,  sp.,  97. 
Leptogium,  198. 
Leptopoma,  55,  58. 
Leptoria,  207,  210-11. 

lessonii  (Amphistegina) ,  229,  232, 
235,  237,  239-42,  244,  246-7, 
249-56. 

(Pseudorhyncbus),  142,  149. 

letbifer  (Alyrraeleon),  141. 

Leucas,  185. 

Leucobryum,  196. 

Leucopboea,  142,  146. 

lewisi  (Tetrigus),  100. 

Libellida,  139. 

Libelhilina;,  139. 

Lichens,  197. 

lignarium  (Platysoma),  91. 

lignicolus  (Brachyrhynchus),  129. 

ligniperdus  (Campouotus),  83. 

limbata  (Bocula),  66. 

Limnas,  60. 

Limnobtcnus,  39. 

Limnocarcinus,  163. 

Limonites,  41. 

Linderina,  243. 

Liudinia,  126. 

Lispinus,  90. 

List  of  species,  305. 

Lister,  J.  J.,  Visit  of,  2. 

ILsteri  (Abutilon),  173. 

(Acrostichum),  196. 

(Arenga),  50,  191. 

(Eudotricha),  73. 

(Gecko),  51. 

(Heteropoda),  161-2. 

(Hypolimnas),  60,  62-3. 

(Hypolimnas nerina,  var.),  62. 

■ (Pffiderus),  89. 

■ (Pancgus),  96. 

• (Phisis),  142,  149. 

(Phreatia),  190. 

(Sessinia),  108. 

(Succinea),  56. 

Listrocelidte,  142,  149. 
Lithocbaris,  sp.,  89. 
lithotbamnica  (Carpentaria),  235,  238. 
Lithothamnion,   227,   231,   236,   238, 

240-3,  245-7,  250,  252-4,  256, 

265-7,  289. 
Lithyphantes,  162. 


330 


INDEX. 


Litocerus,  118. 
littida  (Sessinia),  108. 
littoralis  (Prodenia),  65. 
litura  (Melanoxanthus),  101-2. 
lobatula  (Truncatulina) ,   227-8,   231, 

234,  241,  249,  255. 
lobatuhis  (Nautilus),  229. 
Lobopelta,  81,  83. 
Lobophyllia,  210. 
Locustidae,  142,  150. 
lombocensis  (Pteropus),  24-5. 
longicornis  (Examnes),  122. 
longifolia  (Callicarpa),  184. 
longiusculus  (Lygajus),  137. 
Lucanida},  96. 
lucasi  (Theretra),  70. 
lucidula  (Premna),  185. 
lucidus  (Fomes),  198. 
lunalis  (Sylepta),  74. 
lunatus  (Phaseolus),  177. 
lutea  (Hyperythra),  70. 

(Lecidea),  198. 

(Pontes),  aft.,  207,  222. 

luteo-olivaceus  (Polystictus),  199. 

luteus  (Melampus),  58. 

Lycogala,  200. 

Lycophris,  229-30. 

Lycopodium,  196. 

Lygaeidse,  128. 

Lygseus,  128. 

Lygosoma,  51-2. 

Lymantriadffi,  69. 

lymexyloni  (Dryopbthorus),  116. 

Lytbracese,  178. 


mabela;  (Ariophauta,  Microcystis),  65. 

(Lamprocystis),  55. 

Mabouya,  52. 

Macarauga,  188. 

Maclear  Deep,  1. 

macleari  (Mus),  22,  30,  34-6. 

(Vadebra),  60-1. 

maclearii  (Dicliptera),  184. 
macraii  (Dendrobium),  190. 
Macroglossinse,  70. 
macrops  (Patula),  320. 
maculatus  (Isometrus),  154. 
Madrepora,  210. 
Mffiandrina,  207,  212-14. 
magnifica  (Astrasa),  219. 

(Favastrea),  219. 

(Priouastraja),  207,  219-20. 

Maliattha,  68. 
malleata  (Hololepta),  90. 
Mallophaga,  138. 
Malvacefe,  172. 
Malvastrum,  172. 
Mammalia,  22. 
•  Manganese  nodules,  279. 


Manopora,  224. 

Mantibaria,  82. 

Mantida),  142,  146. 

Mantis,  82. 

Marcorella,  175. 

Marginal  radiale,  35. 

marginatus  (Dolopius),  100. 

marmorata  (Oniscomorijba),  94. 

marmoratus  (Gymnodactylus) ,  51. 

materna  (Opbideres),  67. 

matsushimensis  (Pontodrilus),  167-8. 

maura  (Xutbia),  94. 

mauritianus  (Trocbus),  201. 

Means  by  whicb  new  forms  are  intro- 
duced, 301-3. 

Measurements  of  skulls  of  Mus,  37. 

Mecistocepbalus,  155. 

Mecopus,  113. 

mediterranensis  (Planorbulina),  227,, 
237-8,  244,  251,  254. 

Megachile,  87-8. 

Megacbilina),  81. 

Megapentbes,  101. 

Megascolex,  170. 

Melampus,  54-5,  68. 

Melanitis,  61. 

melanoceras  (Cyrtacantbacris),  152. 

melanope  (Motacilla),  48. 

Melanoxanthus,  101. 

raelas  (Pteropus),  25. 

Melia,  174. 

Meliaceffi,  174. 

melicbloros  (Camponotus),  83. 

melo  (Alveolina),  252,  255. 

Melothria,  179. 

Melyrida3,  102. 

membranaceum  (Aspidium),  195. 

Meuispermacea3,  171. 

Morula,  49,  50. 

meyeri  (Mus),  32. 

Micracautha,  123. 

Microcystis,  55-6. 

Micro -Lepidoptera,  75. 

Distribution  of,  300. 

Micropezidse,  88. 

Migrants,  Arrival  of,  299. 

Migratory  birds,  Arrival  of,  17. 

mildrediE  (Ariopbanta,  Microcystis),  56. 

(Lamprocystis),  56. 

Miliolina,  233-4,  236-7,  240,  242-8, 
250-2,  254. 

Miliolina^,  245. 

Millepora,  235. 

Mimeusemia,  64. 

minabassae  (Acrouycbia),  174. 

miniacea  (Millepora),  235. 

miniaceum  (Polytrema),  235,  239, 
241,  246,  248-50,  256. 

miniatum  (Lycogala),  200. 

minima  (Physalis),  183. 


INDEX. 


331 


Mintliea,  105. 

Diinutus  (Dinoderus),  105. 

Miocene   (Orbitoidal)    limestones,    16, 

271,  273,  281-2. 
misippus  (Hypolimnas),  62. 

(Papilio),  62. 

modesta  (Rhyparida),  125. 
modestus  (Dryophthorus) ,  116. 
mollissima  (Leucas),  185. 
Molhisea,  54. 

(fossil),  201. 

Momordica,  179. 
Moni,  1. 

monile  (Coscinaroea),  221. 
Monocotyledons,  190. 
Monohammus,  122. 
montagnei  (Gyathus),  199. 

(Hypnum),  197. 

monticola  (Ariadna),  158. 
monticiilaris   (Carpenteria),  235,  238, 

247,  250,  252,  254-5. 
Montipora,  207,  209,  224. 
Morinda,  180. 
Morio,  89. 

morio  (Chelisoches) ,  143. 
morplieus  (Formicaleo),  140. 
morsicans  (Scolopeudra),  154. 
Mosses,  196. 
Motacilla,  48. 
MotacillidsB,  48. 
mouhoti  (Leptopoma),  58. 
mucronata  (Melotliiia),  179. 
muelleri  (Mus),  32, 
mulmeinensis  (Cyclosa),  160. 

(Epeira),  160. 

(Epeii-a,  Cyclosa),  160. 

Murex,  202. 

Murray,  Sir  John,  3,  19. 
Murray  Hill,  4,  289,  292. 
murrayana  (liaportea),  189. 

(Orbitoides,  Lepidocyclina), 

252-3. 

murravi  (Anisocoenia),  207,  220. 

'-  (Chelifer),  156-7. 

(Labia),  142-3. 

(Orbicella),  207,  215,  285. 

(Pipistrellus),  26. 

■  (Tetri2:us),  100. 

Mus,  22,  28,  32. 
Mus  macleari.  Allies  of,  31-2. 
Muscidse,  88. 
Mussa,  207,  209-10. 
Mycetopbilida},  88. 
Mycetozoa,  200. 
mydas  (Chelone),  54. 
Myristicivorus,  299,  302,  319. 
Myrmeleon,  140. 
Myrmeleonidffi,  140. 
Myrsinete,  181. 
MjTtacese,  178. 


Nacaduba,  60,  63. 

nannodes  (Herculia),  73. 

Narcisa,  93. 

Nassa,  204. 

natalis  (Ariadna),  158. 

(Astur),  46. 

(Chalcophaps),  39. 

(Collocalia),  48. 

(Hylseocarcinus),  163. 

(Ninox),  47. 

■ (Pteropus),  22-3. 

(Urospizias),  46. 

(Zosterops),  49. 

nativitatis  (Cryptocarya),  187. 

(Epilachna),  95. 

(Lygosoma),  51-2. 

(Monohammus),  122. 

(Mus),  22,  28,  33-35,  37- 

(Pittosporum),  171. 

(Saprosma),  180. 

(Xenoceras),  118. 

nauticus  (Araneus),  162. 

Nautilus,  227-8. 

Neckera,  196. 

neglecta  (Corrocalia),  48. 

neodispansa  (Orbitoides),  240. 

(Orbitoides,  Lepidocyclina),. 

235,  245,  252. 
Neoptinus,  102-3. 
Nephilia,  160. 
Nephrodium,  194-5. 
Nephrolepis,  195. 
nerina  (Hypolimnas),  60,  62. 
Neuroptera,  139. 
nicobaricus  (Pteropus),  24. 
nidus  (Asplenium),  194. 
nigerrimalis  (Zinckenia),  73. 
Nigilgia,  77. 

nigricorne  (CjTtacanthacris),  152. 
nigricornis  (Labidura),  142. 
nigritarsis  (Apomecyna),  123. 

(Nephilia),  160. 

nigrum  (Ceresium),  121-2. 

niloticus  ( Arricanthus) ,  36. 

nimbella  (Homoeosoma),  72. 

Ninox,  47. 

Nirmus,  138. 

niruri  (Phyllanthus),  187. 

nitens  (J^tlius),  127. 

nitida  (Spiroloculina),  233,  252. 

nitidula  (Scelodonta),  126. 

Nitidulid;e,  92. 

nivescens  (Megachile),  88. 

Noctuidtic,  65. 

nodiflora  (Synedrella),  181. 

Nodosaria,  249. 

Nogodina,  134. 

Nola,  64. 

normani  (Ariophanta,  Microcystis),  55. 

(Lamprocystis),  55-6. 


532 


INDEX. 


:N'orth-East  Point,  4,  14,  16,  293-4. 

Miocene  rocks  at,  287. 

North-West  Point,  9,  14. 
Notogonia,  81,  84. 
Jfumeuius,  40. 
Nummulites,  273,  297. 
Nyctagiueaj,  185. 
Xyctobates,  106. 
Nymphalida;,  60. 
Nymphalinte,  61. 


obeliscus  (Tectus),  202. 

(Trochus),  202. 

oblonga  (Mioliua),  234. 
obscurus  (Rhabdocnemis),  113. 
Ocean-cui-reut,  302. 
Ochrocarpus,  172. 
Ochrosia,  182. 
Ochthipbilidaj,  88. 
Ochthodromus,  40. 
octo  (Amyna),  65. 
Octoblepharum,  196. 
Ocypoda,  164. 
Ocypodidsc,  164. 
odiosum  ( Platysoma) ,  91. 
odoilani  (Cerbera),  182. 
Odonata,  139. 
Odynerus,  81,  84. 
(Edemeridiie,  107. 
Oleacese,  181. 
Olenecamptus,  122. 
olivacea  (Tarache),  69. 
Oniscomorpha,  93-4. 
Oosomides,  111. 
oparamis  (Bulimus),  57. 

(Opeas),  57. 

Opatrum,  105. 

•Opeas,  54,  57. 

Operculina,  229. 

Ophideres,  67. 

Ophidia,  63. 

Opbion,  81-2. 

Opbioninaa,  81. 

Opliiusa,  66. 

Oplismemis,  193. 

optivata  (Craspedia),  71. 

OrbiceUa,     207-8,    215-16,    218-19, 

285,  288. 
orbiculatus  (Aspidiphorus) ,  104. 
Orbitoides,     229-30,    232-3,    235-6, 

238,  240,  242-6,  248,  250-6,  292. 

dispausa  iu  Java,  297. 

Orbitolina,  229. 
Orbitolites,  252. 
Orbitulites,  230. 
(3rbulina,  240. 
Orcbideae,  190. 
Orgjia,  69. 
orieutalis  (Glareola),  40. 


orientalis  (Morio),  89. 

■ (Oxya),  142,  150. 

(Primnia  ?),  150. 

(Stelidota),  92. 

orites  (Chelifer),  157. 
oraaticornis  (Simaethis),  77. 
Ortalidio,  88. 
Orthomorpha,  155. 
Orthoptera,  141-2. 

,  Distribution  of,  300. 

Orychodes,  117. 

Osteology    of     Mus     nativitatis     and 

M.  macleari,  34. 
Otiorrbyucbinai,  108. 
ovalifolium  (Pauicum),  193. 
ovalifolius  (Ocbrocarpus),  172. 
ovata  (Anisonieles),  185. 
ovigera  (Heruandia),  187. 
Owl,  Habits  of,  47. 
Oxya,  142,  15u. 
oxyacautbella,  77. 
Oxycbirota,  75. 
Oxycliu-otidas,  75. 
Oxyopes,  162. 
Oxypleiira,  128. 


pacbyderma  (Globigerina),  237. 
Pacbyops  (r),  115. 
pachypus  (Pipistrellus),  27. 
Pajderus,  89. 
pagodalis  (Tectus),  201. 
Paiagonite  tuffs,  278-9,  285,  287. 
Palmic,  191. 
Palorus,  106. 
Panaretus,  162. 
Pancblora  (Leucophoea),  146. 
Panchoran,  9,  285. 
Pandanaceyo,  191. 
Pandanus,  50,  191. 
Pauestbia,  142,  146. 
paniculatus  (Celastrus),  175. 
Panicum,  192. 

(Effusai),  192. 

Pannaria,  197. 

panorpaeformis  (Ricania),  134-5. 

Pantala,  139. 

Papilio,  60,  62. 

papillosa  (Rotalia),  238. 

papyracea  (Orbitoides),  235,  245,  252. 

Paradesmus,  155. 

paradoxa  (Oxycbirota),  75. 

Parffigus,  96. 

Paraniecosoina,  95. 

Paranobium,  104. 

parki  (Euxestus)  96. 

Parmelia,  197. 

Paromalus,  sp.,  91. 

parryi  (Tetrigus),  100. 

parvitiorus  (Convolvulus),  183. 


INDEX. 


335 


parvulum  (Trichomanes),  194. 
parviilus  (Xyleborus),  117. 
parvus  (Xeoptiuus),  103. 
PassalidiC,  97. 
Passeriformes,  48. 
patellifera  (Hierodula) ,  146. 
patruelis  (Terias),  60,  63. 
Patula,  320. 
patula  (Acanthastraja),  207,  218. 

(Orbicella),  218-19. 

paucidentata     ( Acantliastnra    patula , 

var.),  207,  218. 
Paurostauiia,  132-3. 
pavonacella  (Brenthia),  76. 
pectinata  (Mteandrina),  214. 

(Phisis),  150. 

pedata  (Cissus),  176. 
Pedetes,  35-6. 
Pedicellaria,  171. 
pedunculata  (Colubrina),  175. 

(Procris),  190. 

Pelecaniformes,  42. 
pellucida  (Ricania),  135. 
peltata  (Hernandia),  187. 

(Ipomoca),  183. 

Pemphis,  88,  178. 

pentaphylla  (Gynandi-opsis),  171- 

(Pedicellaria),  171. 

Pentatoma,  128. 

Pentatomido},  137. 

Peperomia,  186. 

Percentage  of  peculiar  species,  299. 

perforans  (Tomicus),  116. 

(Xyleborus),  116. 

Perforata,  222. 
Perichffita,  168-9. 
Periplaneta,  142,  145. 
perplexa  (Pterolophia) ,  123. 
pes-capra;  (Ipomoea),  183. 
petilia  (Limuas),  60. 

(Papilio),  60. 

Phacellura,  74. 
Phaethon,  45,  299. 
Phaethontes,  45. 
Phaneropteridte,  142,  150. 
Phaseolus,  177. 
Phasmid?e,  142,  147. 
Phileurus,  320. 
philippensis  (Examues),  122. 
Pbilonthus,  sp.,  89. 
Phisis,  142,  149. 
phlegmaria  (Lycopodium),  196. 
Phlooophagosoma,  114. 
phcenicurus  (Phaethon),  45. 
Pholcidse,  159. 
Pholcus,  159. 

Phosphate  deposits,  Discovery'  of,  19. 
of  alumina  and  iron,  271, 


291. 


of  lime,  271,  289-91. 


Phosphate  Hill,  12,  14,  289. 

Phreatia,  190. 

phrygia  (Leptoria),  207,  210-11. 

(Madrepora),  210. 

PhycitiuiTC,  72. 

Phycodes,  77. 

Phyllanthus,  187. 

phyllocarpum  (Leptogium),  198. 

Phyllodromia,  142,  145. 

Physalis,  183. 

Physcia,  197. 

piceus  (Alphitobius),  106. 

picta  (Physcia),  197. 

pictula  (Bidis),  137. 

Piezonotus,  110-11. 

"Pigot,"  Visit  of  the,  2. 

pilarus  (Tiuoporus),  229. 

pilulifera  (Euphorbia),  187. 

Piperacea>,  186. 

Pipistrellus,  26. 

piscatrix  (Sula),  45. 

Pisonia,  185. 

Pittosporeas,  171. 

Pittosporum,  171. 

Placentula,  228. 

plagiatus  (Litocerus),  118-19. 

Planipennia,  140. 

Planispirina,  242. 

Planorbulina,  227,    234,  237-8,  241, 

244,  246,  249-51,  254,  265. 
Plants  introduced  by  man,  303. 
Platylabia,  142-3. 
platyphylla  (Boehmeria),  190. 
Platypus,  116. 
Platysoma,  91. 
Plecanium,  231. 
pleiades  (Orbicella),  207,  215. 
plena  (Nogodiua),  136. 
plumosa  (Eragrostris),  193. 
plumulosum  (Thuidium),  197. 
Pocillopora,  207,  209. 
Pocilloporidaj,  209. 
PoecUopsaltria,  130. 
poep  (Strougylosoma),  155. 
Polistes,  81,  85. 
polita  (Oxj-pleura),  128. 

(Shoguna),  92. 

polygramma  (Hexagonia),  199. 

polymorphum  (Nephrodium),  195. 

Polypetala;,  171. 

polj-phemus  (Odynerus),  84. 

Polypodium,  195. 

Polyporus,  198. 

Polystictus,  198-9. 

Polytrema,  235,  239,  241,  246,  248-50, 

256,  266,  268. 
pomona  (Psyra),  142,  150. 
Ponera,  83. 
Pongamia,  177. 
Pontodrilus,  166-8. 


334 


INDEX. 


Pontes,  207,  222-4,  295. 

in  sea  cliff,  295. 

Poritidae,  222. 
Porthesia,  69. 
Possibility  of  former  union  with  Java, 

297. 
posthuma  (Perichscta),  170. 
postica  (Orgyia),  69. 
posticum  (Paranobium) ,  104. 
prfflheliopora  (Orbicella),  207,  216-17. 
Prsepollex,  35. 
Premna,  185. 
Prevailing^  winds,  17. 
Primnia  (?),  150. 
princeps  (Halobates),  129. 
Prinobius,  120. 
Prionastrffia,  207,  219-20. 
Prionidaj,  120. 
proaviis  (Halobates),  129. 
Procris,  190. 
ProctotrypidiB,  81. 
Prodenia,  65. 
Prometopia,  92. 
proserpina  (Hypolimnas),  62-3. 
Prosoplus,  123. 
prostrata  (Ruellia),  184. 
Protsetia,  98. 
proteus?  (Halictus),  86-7. 
PsammoBCus,  95. 
Pseudocorylopliidaj,  96. 
Pseudorhynchus,  142,  149. 
Pseudoscorpiones,  156. 
Pseudosphinx,  70. 
Psylliodes,  127. 
Psyra,  142,  150. 
Pterolophia,  123. 
Pterophoridse,  75. 
Pteropus,  22-3. 
Ptinidfe,  102. 
Ptinides,  103. 
Ptychanthus,  197. 
pubescens  (Boerhaavia    diffusa,  var.), 

185. 
puerpera  (Venus),  205. 
piilchella  (Deiopeia),  64. 
PuUenia,  231. 
])ulverea  (Porthesia),  69. 
Pulvinula,  228. 

Pulvinulina,  228,  231,  238,  254. 
pumilis  (Gecko),  52. 
punctata  (Dendroneura),  80. 
punctatus  (Idiocerus  ?),  138. 
punctifrons  (Bidis),  137. 
pupoides  (Gaudryina),  236. 
pygmrea  (Bolivina),  231. 
Pyralidic,  72. 
Pyralidina,  75. 
Pyralinse,  73. 
Pyramidea,  201. 
I'yramis,  201. 


pyramis  (Tectus),  202. 

(Trochus),  202. 

Pyraustinae,  73. 
pyrrhus  (Charaxes),  61. 
Pythia,  55,  58. 
Pyxine,  197. 

quadrangularis  (Orbicella),   aff'.,    207, 

216. 
quadricorne  (Toxicum),  106. 
quadrimaculata  (Prometopia),  92. 
quadriraaculatum  (Ceresium),  121. 
quadriquadra  (Cosmoclostis),  75. 
Quinqueloculina,  236,  250-1. 
Quisqualis,  178. 

racemosa  (Barringtonia),  178. 

(Tiliacora),  171. 

radicula  (Nodosaria),  249. 
Rainfall,  17,  18. 
Eamalina,  198. 

ramosa  (Nephrolepis) ,  195. 

Eandia,  179. 

Eanella,  203. 

"  Redpole,"  Visit  of  H.M.S.,  3. 

refulgens  (Cibicides),  251. 

(Truncatulina),  231,  251. 

reinwardti  (Argiope),  159. 

(Epeira),  159. 

Eemusatia,  192. 

repanda  (Placentula),  228. 

(Pulvinula),  228. 

(Pulvinulina),  228,  231,  238, 


254. 


(Eotalia),  228. 


repandus  (Nautilus),  228. 
repens  (Cissus),  176. 
retiformis  (Astrsoa),  214. 

(Goniastrasa),  207,  214. 

retusa  (Ficus),  189. 

revolutum  (Trachymitrium),  196. 

rex  (Mus),  29. 

Ehabdocnemis,  113. 

EhamnaccEE,  175. 

Ehopalocera,  60. 

Ehyucholobus,  108-9. 

Ehyncoli,  115. 

Ehyparida,  124,  126. 

Ehyssemus,  97. 

Eicania,  131. 

Eicaniidffi,  131. 

Eidley,  H.  N.,  Visit  of,  3 

Eobber-crab,  164. 

Eoss  Hill,  289. 

rossi  (Figulus),  96. 

(Peperomia),  186, 

(Ehyncholobus),  109 

(Ehyparida),  124. 

Eotalia,    228,    232,    238,    241,    247, 
254-5. 


INDEX. 


335 


rotulata  (Cristellaria) ,  227. 
rotundata  (Labia),  145. 
rotundifolia,  173. 
rotundipennis  (Megachile),  87. 
ruber  (Strongylodon),  176. 
rubescens  (Claoxylon),  188. 
Kubiaceaj,  179. 
rubiginosa  (Pannaria),  197. 
rubrescens  (BrachjThynchus),  129. 
rubricans  (Tbermesia),  67. 
rubricauda  (Phaethou),  45. 
ruderalis  (Fleurya),  189. 
Ruellia,  184. 
ruficollis  (Limonites),  41. 
rufostriata  (Epacroniia),  152. 
rufotestacea  (Shoguna),  93. 
rufovaria  (Gryllacris),  148. 
rugicollis  (Ditoraa),  105. 

■ (Minthea),  105. 

rugosa     (Textularia),     231,      237-8, 

241-3,  249,  251-2. 
rugosum  (Plecanium),  231. 
Eupertia,  238,  246,  254. 
Eutacese,  174. 
Saccolabium,  191. 
sacra  (Demiegretta),  41. 
Sago-palms,  "287. 
salaminia  (Ophideres),  67. 
sambac  ( Jasminum) ,  181. 
sambucina  (Leea),  176. 
sanguinalis  (Digitaria),  192. 
sanguineus  (Polystictus),  199. 
Sapindaceaj,  176. 
Sapotaceae,  181. 
Saprosma,  180. 
Saracenaria,  227. 
sarawakensis  (Termes),  141. 
Sarcocbilus,  191. 
Satyrinoe,  61. 
Sauris,  71. 

saxophUa  (Ficus),  189. 
Scsevola,  88,  181. 
scandens  (Etada),  177. 
scarabajus  (PytMa),  58. 
Scelodonta,  126. 
Schizophyllum,  198. 
schroeteriana  (Eotalia),  228,  232,  237, 

241,  247,  254-5. 
Scincidae,  52. 
Sciurus,  35. 
Scolopendra,  154. 
Scolytidse,  116. 
Scorpio,  156. 
Scorpiones,  156. 
scotella  (Ephestia),  72. 
scotozonea  (Boarmia),  71. 
Scymnus,  sp.,  96. 
Sea  cliff,  6,  294-5. 
selenampha  (Aniyna),  65. 
semiasperatus  (Bradymerus) ,  106. 


semigranosa  (Eanella,)  203. 

seminitidus  (Bradymerus),  106. 

sepulchralis  (Vadebra),  61. 

Serpula,  247. 

serrirostris  (Orychodes),  118. 

serva  (Opbiusa),  66. 

serrata  (Paramecosoma),  95. 

Sessinia,  107. 

Shoguna,  92. 

Shore  cliff  and  terrace,  294. 

terrace,  9. 

siamea  (Cassia),  177. 
Sideroxylon,  181. 
Sidney's  Dale,  14,  283,  295. 
Sigmo'ilina,  242. 
signifera  (Maliattha),  68. 
Simaethis,  77. 

similata  (Minthea),  105. 
simplex  (Ceresium),  122. 

(Chrysodema),  99. 

sinensis  (Coeloria),  aff.,  213. 
singhalella  (Heterographia) ,  73. 
Slipping  of  beds  of  limestone  round 

Island,  14,  16,  281,  296. 
Smeringopus,  159. 
Smith  Point,  5,  293. 
snellemanii  (Ariadna),  158. 
Soil,  19,  291. 
Solanacea?,  183. 
Solanum,  183. 
solida  (Davallia),  194. 
solidula  (Succinea),  56. 
solidus  (Plat)-pus),  116. 
solitaria  (Succinea),  56. 
Sorex,  27. 

South  Point,  4,  288. 
SparassidiB,  161. 
sparassoides  (Guepinia),  199. 
speciosa  (Guettarda),  180. 
spectabilis  (Blumea),  181. 
speluncae  (Davallium),  194. 
Sphseroidina,  231. 
Sphenophorus,  113. 
Sphingidaj,  69. 
Sphinginse,  70. 
Spiroloculina,  233,  242-3,  248,    250, 

252. 
Spirostreptus  (Nodopyge),  156. 
splendens  (Stemonitis),  104,  200. 
Sponia,  188. 

squarrosus  (Ptychanthus),  197. 
stabilis  (Eupertia),  254. 
Stachytarpheta,  184. 
stall  (Anisolabis),  142-3. 

(Forcinella),  143. 

Staphylinidte,  89. 
Steep  Point,  6,  16,  287. 
Stelidota,  92. 

stellata  (Orbitoides) ,  253. 
Stemonitis,  104,  200. 


336 


INDEX. 


Stenogyra  (Opeas),  57. 

stenura  (Gallinago),  41. 

Sterculiacete,  173. 

Sticky  fruits,  303. 

Stictoptera,  68. 

Stilbum,  200. 

stilpnoides  (Clitumnus) ,  142,  147- 

stilpnus  (Clitumnus),  147. 

stolidus  (Anous),  39. 

Storms,  17,  301. 

strangulatus  (Trocliorhopalus) ,  113. 

(Sphenophorus),  113. 

StratiomjidsG,  88. 

striata  (Shoguna),  93. 

strigatus  ( Bothrideres) ,  94. 

strigosa  (Maiandi'ina),  213. 

Strongylodon,  176. 

Strongylosoma,  155. 

Strongylosomidfc,  155. 

strubelii  (Haplosoma),  155. 

Structiu-e  of  central  nucleus  of  Christ- 
mas Island,  271. 

subarmata  (Labia?),  142,  144. 

subcordata  (Cordia),  182. 

subcostatus  (Dermestes),  95. 

subrotunda  (Miliolina),  233. 

subrotundum  ( Vermiculum) ,  233. 

subrufescens  (Lygseus),  128. 

subula  (Achatina),  57. 

(Bulimus),  57. 

(Opeas),  54,  57. 

(Stenogyra,  Opeas),  57. 

subviridis  (Nogodina),  135. 

Succinea,  56. 

suediata  (Pv.xiue),  197. 

Sula,  44,  299. 

sula  (Sula),  44. 

sulcicollis  (Figulus),  97. 

Sumatra,  Orbitoides  of,  297. 

sumatranus  (Chelifer),  157. 

sumatrensis  (Orbitoides),  244,  252, 
256. 

(Orbitoides,  Lepidocyclina) , 

204,  246,  252-3. 

sundaicum  (Sideroxylon),  181. 
supellectilium  (Blatta),  145. 

(Phyllodromia),  142. 

?  (Phyllodromia),  145. 

suralis  (Glyphodes),  74. 
surinamensis  (Leucophoea) ,  142,  146. 
(Panchlora,     Leucophooa), 

146. 
surusalis  (Dichocrocis) ,  74. 
suturale  (Platysoma),  91. 
sutiu-alis  (Cossonus),  114. 
Syctodes,  159. 
Syctodidae,  159. 
Sylepta,  74. 
Synedrella,  181. 
SjTitomidce,  04. 


syrmaticimi  (Nephrodium) ,  194. 
Syrpinda^,  88. 


tabulata  (Heliastrira),  215. 
tanarius  (Macaranga),  188. 
Tarache,  69. 
Tectona,  184. 
Tectus,  201-2. 
Temnopteryx,  142,  145. 
Temperature,  17. 
Tenebrionid;ie,  105. 
tenuepunctata  (Psylliodes),  127. 
tenuillora  (Galactia),  176. 
tenuis  (Daedalea),  199. 

(Leptoria),  210-11. 

(Pipistrellus),  27- 

Terebrantia,  81. 

Terias,  60,  63. 

Termes,  141. 

Terminalia,  177- 

Termitidre,  141. 

Tertiary  limestones  in  the  Azores,  296.. 

tessellata  (Gryllacris),  148. 

testacea  (Lasioderma),  102. 

testaceus  (Bostrichus),  116. 

(Bythoscopus),  138. 

Tetrigus,  99. 

Textularia,   231,  237-8,   241-3,   247, 

249,  251-2. 
Thalassochelys,  54. 
Thalassodes,  71. 

Theories  of  atoll  formation,  209. 
Theretra,  70. 
Thermesia,  67. 
Thuidium,  197. 
Thyridiura,  196. 
tibialis  (Laius),  102. 

(Leocyma),  66. 

Tiliaceae,  173. 

tiliaceus  (Hibiscus),  173. 

TiHacora,  171. 

timoriensis  (Leptaulax),  97. 

tinctorum  (Parmelia),  197. 

Tiueidse,  80. 

Tineina,  76. 

Tinoporus,  229. 

Tipulidaj,  88. 

Tomicus,  116. 

torresiensis  (Haddonia),  249. 

Tortricida;,  78. 

Tortricomorpha,  78. 

Tournefortia,  182. 

Toxicimi,  106. 

Trachychernes,  156. 

Trachymitrium,  196. 

Trachyte,  275-6,  285. 

Trade -wind,  301. 

Trechus(?),  89. 

Trees  of  shore  terrace,  9. 


INDEX. 


337 


tricarinata  (Miliolina),  245. 

(Triloculina),  21.5. 

tricholoma  (Trichoscypha),  200. 
Trichomanes,  194. 
Trichoscypha,  200. 

trichura  ((Jrocidurafuliginosa,var.),  27. 
Trichyorhyssemus,  98. 
tricuspidatum  (Malvastrum),  172. 
trifasciata  (Epeira),  159. 
trifoliolata  (Acronychia),  174. 
trigonula  (Miliolina),  243,  245,  247, 

252. 
Triloculina,  245. 
Tringoides,  40. 
Tritherais,  139. 
trivialis  (Libellula),  139. 

(Trithemis),  139. 

Trochammina,  231. 

Trochorhopalus,  113. 

Trochus,  201-2. 

TrogositidiB,  92. 

Tropic -bird,  45-6. 

Truncatella,  55,  59. 

Truncatulina,  227-8,   231,  234,   241, 

249,  251,  255-6,  265-6. 
truncatum  (Nephrodiuna),  195. 
tuberculosa  (Manopora),  224. 
tuberosa  (Rotalia),  228, 
Turbo,  203. 
Turdidae,  49. 
Turdus,  37,  49. 
Tutufa,  202-3. 
Tj-pblopidae,  53. 
Typhlops,  51,  53. 

Ugyops,  137. 
undalis  (Hellula),  74. 
undosa  (Miliolina),  236. 
ungeriana  (Truncatulina),  255. 
unicolor  (Bythoscopus) ,  138. 

(Cyrtophora),  160. 

universa  (Orbulina),  240. 
Upper  cliffs,  1 1 . 

and  terraces,    Geology   of, 

291. 

TJraniadae,  72. 

Urospizias,  46. 

Urticacese,  188. 

utricularis  (Carpentaria),  241,  247,  250, 

254-5. 
Uvigerina,  234. 

Vadebra,  60-1. 
vagivitta  (Dipterygia),  65. 
valida  (Truncatella),  59. 
Valleys  on  west  coast,  283. 
varcia,  131. 


varia  (Lecanora),  198. 
variabilis  (Gryllacris) ,  148. 
variegatus  (Numenius),  40. 
variipennis  (Cossonus),  114. 
venatoria  (Heteropoda),  154,  161-2. 
Venus,  204-5. 
venusta  (Dictus),  159. 

(Syctodes,  Dictus),  159. 

veraria  (Tbalassodes) ,  71. 
veratrifolia  (Corymbis),  191. 
verbeeki  (Orbitoides) ,  235,  252. 

(Orbitoides,  Lepidocyclina), 

245,  250,  252-3,  256. 
Verbenaceee,  184. 
Vermes,  166. 
Vermiculum,  233. 
verrucosa  (Venus),  204. 
vesicularis  (Gypsina),  229. 
Vespidae,  81. 

vexillifera  (Hydrillodes),  68. 
vicarius  (Paradesmus) ,  155. 
vicinus  (Halictus),  86. 
vigil  (Chserocampa) ,  70. 
villida  (Junonia),  62. 

(Papilio),  62. 

villosus  (Cylindrodesraus),  155. 
vitiensis  (Cosmophila),  67. 
vitifolius  (Hibiscus),  173. 
Vittaria,  195. 

vittatus  (Rhyncbolobus),  110. 
vivipara  (Remusatia) ,  192. 
vriesianus  (Hibiscus),  173. 
vulgaris  (Sciurus),  35. 

Water-borne  seeds,  303. 

Wedelia,  181. 

West  White  Beach,  6,  292. 

Wharton,  Rear-Admiral  Sir  W.  J.  L., 

Account  of  Island  by,  3. 
Wharton  Deep,  1. 
whartoni  (Carpophaga),  37. 
wightiana  (Acalypha),  188. 
Wind-borne  seeds,  302. 
woodmasoniana  (Assiminea),  59. 

xanthopterus  (Ectadoderus) ,  148. 
xanthopus  (Polystictus) ,  198. 
xanthurus  (Mus),  32. 
Xenoceras,  118. 
Xuthia,  94. 
Xyleborus,  116. 
Xysticus,   162. 

Zinckenia,  73. 
Zooblax,  121. 
Zosteropidae,  49. 
Zosterops,  49. 


STEPHEN  AUSTIN   AND   SONS,   PRINTERS,   HERTFORD. 


EXPLANATIOIS^   OF   PLATES. 


PLATE   I. 
Pteropm  natalis,  Thomas.     Adult  male.     (p.  23.) 


B.M  CHRISTMAS  I? 


P1,I 


EJSmit  del.etUth. 


MmterrvBro? .  Chr  omo. 


Ptet^cpivs  nahxbis  ,ThjcmcLS . 


PLATE   II. 
Mus  nativitatis,  Thomas.     Adult  male.     (p.  28.) 


Ph 


CO 


pa 


^ 

N 


,f--' 


^ 


PLATE   II   [bis). 

Mus  macleari,  Thomas.     Figs.  1,  3,  6,  7,  8.       \   ,     ^^  ■. 
Mus  nativitatis,  Thomas.     Figs.  2,  4,  5,  9,  10.  J 

Figs.  1  and  2,  cranium  from  above  ;  Figs.  3  and  4,  from  below  ; 
Figs.  5  and  6,  side  view  with  lower  jaw  ;  Figs.  7-9,  right 
upper  molar  series  ;  Figs.  8  and  10,  right  lower  molar  series. 

Figs.  7-10  X  4  ;  the  others  natural  size. 


B.M.  Christmas  Island. 


PI.    II   {bis). 


g     no-l  y>^i 


Skulls  and  Teeth  of  Jlf^is  inadeai'i  and  Mus  nativitatis. 


PLATE   III. 

Phaetlwti  fulous,  Brandt,     (p.  45. 


B  M  CHRISTMAS  P 


PI.  III. 


J.GvKeiJemaTi.s  del.etlitK. 


Mintei-nBros.  CKromiD . 


Phaeihvn   fulxixs,  Brandt. 


PLATE   IV. 

Ninox  natalis,  Lister,     (p.  47. ) 


B.M.CHRISTMAS  I? 


PI.  IV. 


<iri. 


mM- 


J  U  »Keulen\ans  del .  et  JitK . 


JVi/iar   iiaLali.^  .   Lt^le 


Mintern  Bros,  Ckromo. 


PLATE   V. 

Astur  natalis  (Lister),     (p.  46.) 


B.M.  CHRISTMAS  I^ 


P\.V. 


J.G.Keulemans  del  etlitK. 


Jistur  iKilalis.  Lister.ap. 


MiniernBros  Ckromo. 


PLATE   VI. 
Zosterops  natalis,  Lister,     (p.  49.) 


B.M.CHRISTMAS  I? 


Pl.VI 


J.G'Ketilem.arus  del  et  litK. 


Zostercps  nxitcJ£s,Lisier. 


MmternBros  Chromo. 


PLATE   VII. 
Reptilia. 


Fig.  1.  Oecko  lister i,  Bouleuger.     (p.  51.) 

Figs.  2,  2a,  26.  Lygosoma  nativitatis,  Boulenger.     (p.  52.) 

Figs.  3,  3a,  36.  Ablepharus  egerice,  Boulenger.     (p.  53.) 


X    J.  .    V  J-i.  . 


2b 


3t. 


J  Green,  del  et  ]ith . 


1. Gecko  li^teri.      2.Lj^csoTna.nodjUrdtccHs,        d.Ahleph 


MmterivBros  iiii.p  . 

ciriJLs  eaef'ise' . 


AA 


PLATE     VIII. 

Land  Shells. 

Figs.  1-3.  Lamprocystis  normani  (Smith),     (p.  55.) 
Fig.  4.  Lamprocystis  maheloe  (Smith),     (p.  55.) 
Figs.  5-7.  Lamprocystis  mildredce  (Smith),     (p.  56.) 
Figs.  8,  9.  Succinea  solidula,  Pfeiffer.     (p.  56.) 
Figs.  10,  11.  Succinea  solitaria,  Smith,     (p.  56.) 
Figs.  12,  13.  Succinea  listen.  Smith,     (p.  57.) 
Fig.  14.  Opeas  suhula  (Pfeiflfer).     (p.  57.) 
Fig.  15.  Pythia  scarabceus  (Linn.),     (p.  58.) 
Fig.  16.  Melampus  luteus  (Quoy  &  Gaimard).     (p.  58.) 
Fig.  17.  Melampus  fasciatus  (Deshayes).     (p.  58.) 
Fig.  18.  Melampus  castaneus  (Mlihlfeldt),     (p.  58.) 
Figs.  19,  20.  Leptopoma  mouhoti,  Pfeiflfer,  var.     (p.  58.) 
Figs.  21,  22.  Truncatella  valida,  Pfeiflfer.     (p.  59.) 
Fig.  23.  Assiminea  andrewsiana,  n.sp.     (p.  59.) 


E  M.CHRISTMAS  I^ 


PI.  VIII. 


J.  Green  del.  et  Htk. 


LanxLMcUiJiscay. 


Mmtei-n. Bros  .imp  . 


P  L  A  T  E     I  X. 

Lepidoptera. 

Figs.  1,  la.  Bocula  limbata,  Butler,     (p.  66.) 

Fig.    2.  Epiplema  inhians,  Warr.     (p.  72.) 

Fig.    3.  Endotricha  listeri,  Butler,     (p.  73.) 

Fig.    4.  Boarmia  scotozonea,  Hampson,  sp.n.     (p.  71.) 

Fig.    5.  Erastria  griseomixta,  Hampson,  sp.n.     (p.  68.) 

Fig.    6.  Hydrillodes  vexillifera^  Hampson,  sp.n.     (p.  68.) 

Fig.    7.  Mimeusemia  econia,  Hampson,  sp.n.     (p.  64.) 

Fig.    8.  Charaxes  andrewsi,  Butler,  sp.n.     (p.  61.) 

Fig.    9.  Forthesia pulverea,  Hampson,  sp.n.     (p.  69.) 

Fig.  10.  Zinckenia  nigerrimalis,  Hampson,  sp.n.     (p.  73.) 

Fig.  11.  Glyphodes  {Phacellura)  holophcealis,  Hampson,  sp.n.     (p.  74.) 

Fig.  12.  Cosmophila  vitiensis,  Butler,     (p.  67.) 

Fig.  13.  Ephestia  scotella,  Hampson,  sp.n.     (p.  72.) 

Fig.  14.  Dichocrocis  auritincta,  Butler,  sp.n.     (p.  74.) 

Fig.  15.  Bourmia  scotozonea,  Butler,     (p.  71.) 


B.M.  CHRISTMAS    P. 


Plate  IX. 


E.C.Enig"ht  ainaLtlith 


West  .Newman  Qsr. 


Lepidoptera.. 


PLATE     X. 

COLEOPTERA. 

Fig.  1.  Pcederus  listeri,  Gahan,  sp.n.     (p.  89.) 

Fig.  2.  Oniscomorpha  marmorata,  Arrow,  sp.n.     (p.  94.) 

Fig.  3.  Bothrideres  strigatus.  Arrow,  sp.n.     (p.  94.) 

Fig.  4.  Laius  tibialis,  Gahan,  sp.n.     (p.  102.) 

Fig.  5.  Protcetia  andrewsi,  Gaihan,  si>.n.     (p.  98.) 

Fig.  6.  Epilachna  nativitatis,  Arrow,  sp.n.     (p.  95.) 

Fig.  7.  Megapenthes  andreivsi,  Waterhouse,  sp.n.     (p.  101.) 

Fig.  8.  Ghrysohothris  andrewsi,  Waterhouse,  sp.n.     (p.  99.) 

Fig.  9.  Paranobium  posticum,  Gahan,  sp.n.     (p.  104.) 

Fig.  10.  NeopUnus  parvus,  Gahan,  sp.n.     (p.  103.) 

Fig.  10a.  iVeopimws^arwws,  Gahan,  sp.n.     Abdomen,     (p.  103.) 


B.M.CHRISTMAS   1°. 


Pl.K. 


\  '  J       / 


\^^ 


^  i' 


!0f 


M.Horman-Fisher  del.  el.lith. 


Col  ecpl  ent 


West, Newman  inip. 


PLATE     XL 

COLEOPTERA. 

Fig.  I.  Parcegus  listen,  Gahan.     $.     (p.  96.) 
Fig.  2.  Parcegus  listeri,  Gahau.     $.     (p.  96.) 
Fig.  3.  Prinobius  coxalis,  Gahan,  sp.n.     (p.  120.) 
Fig.  4.  j^gocidnus  exiguus,  Gahan,  sp.n.     (p.  124.) 
Fig.  5,  Pterolophia  perplexa,  Gahan.     (p.  123.) 
Fig.  6.  Rhyncholohits  vittatus,  Gahan,  sp.n.     (p.  110.) 
Fig.  7.  Rhyncholobus  rossi,  Gahan,  sp.n.     $.     (p.  109.) 
Fig.  8.  Rhyncholobus  rossi,  Gahan,  sp.n.     ?.     (p.  109.) 


B.M.CHRISTMAS  19. 


PI.  XI 


M.Horman-Fisher  del.et.lith  . 


Coleopfero.. 


llTestJ^ewman  nnp 


PLATE     XII. 

Orthoptera. 

Fig.  1.  Clitummis  stilpnoides,  Kirby.     (p.  147.) 
Fig.  2.  Lahidura  nigricornis,  Kirby.     $.     (p.  142.) 
Fig.  3.  Lahidura  nigricornis,  Kirby.     ?.     (p.  142.) 
Fig.  4.  Labia  indistincta,  Kirby,  sp.n.     (p.  1 44.) 
Fig.  5.  Labia  incerta,  Kirby,  sp.n.     (p.  144  ) 
Fig.  6.  Labia  murrayi,  Kirby,  sp.n.     $.     (p.  143.) 
Fig.  7.  Labia  (i)  subarmata,  Kirby,  sp.n.     (p.  144.) 


B.M.  CHRISTMAS    P. 


PL  XII 


M.Horman-Fi slier  delet  i\th 


Oi'thcptera 


West, Newman  imp. 


PLATE    XIII. 

Orthoptera. 

Fig.  1.  Oxya  orientalis,  Kirby.     Dark  form.     (p.  150.) 

Fig.  2.  Epacromia  rufostriata,  Kirby.     (p.  152.) 

Fig.  3.  Ectadoderus  flavipalpis,  Kirby,  sp.n.     $.     (p.  147.) 

Fig.  4.  Ectadoderus  Jlavipalpis,  Kirby,  sp.n.     $,     (p.  147.) 

Fig.  5.  Labia  raurrayi,  Kirby.     9.     (p.  143.) 

Fig.  6.  Phisis  listen,  Kirby.     (p.  149.) 


B.  M  OHRISTMAS    P. 


PI  zin. 


M.  Horni  an-Fi  sh  er  ol  el  et  KtJi 


Orthx)ptercu 


We-stjNewrcLan  imp 


PLATE   XIV. 

Orthoptera,  Neuroptera,  and  Hymenoptera. 

Fig.  1.  Gryllacris  rufovaria,  Kirby.     (p.  148.) 
Fig.  2.  Oxya  orientalis,  Kirby.     Typical  form.     (p.  150.) 
Fig.  3.  Formicaleo  morpheus,  Kirby,  sp.n.     (p.  140.) 
Fig.  4.  Myrmeleon  iridescens,  Kirby,  sp.n.     (p.  140.) 
Figs.  5,  5a.  Mantibaria  anomala,  Kirby,  sp.n.     (p.  82.) 
Fig.  6.  Lobopelta  diminuta  {Qxnith).     ^.     (p.  83.) 
Fig.  7.  Lohopelta  diminuta  (Smith).     ?.     (p.  83.) 
Fig.  8.  Halictus  andretosi,  Kirby,  sp.n.     (p.  86.) 
Fig.  9.  Hcdictus  bmghami,  Kirby,  sp.n.     (p.  86.) 


B.M.  CHRISTMAS  P. 


PI.  XIV. 


M.Horm.aii-FisKei~  Ad.etlith. 


Orthx?pte/roj,  N&uurop  t&rou, 

ouruL  Hymerhoptercv. 


West, Newman,  imp. 


PLATE   XV. 

HOMOPTERA   AND    HeMIPTERA. 

Fig.    1.  ^ihus  nitens,  Kivhy,  n^.u.     (p.  127.) 

Fig.    2.  Pentatoma  grossepvMctatum,  Kirby,  sp.n.     (p.  128.) 

Fig.    3.  Lygcms  subrufescens,  Kirby.     (p.  128.) 

Fig.    4.  Brachyrhynchus  lignicolus,  Kirby,  sp.n.     (p.  129.) 

Fig.    5.  Ricania  flavifrontalis,  Kirby,  sp.n.     (p.  131.) 

Fig.    6.  Paurostauria  delicata,  Kirby,  sp.n.     (p.  133.) 

Fig.    7.    Varcia  flavicostalis,  Kirby,  sp.n.     (p.  133.) 

Fig.    ?,.  Nogodina  affinis  (Kivhj).     (p.  134.) 

Fig.    9.  Nogodina  hyalina  (Kirby).     (p.  134.) 

Fig.  10.  Nogodina  subviridis,  Kirby,  sp.n.     (p.  135.) 

Fig.  11.  Nogodina  subviridis,  Kirby,  sp.n.,  var.     (p.  136.) 

Fig.  12.  Bidis  aristella,  Kirby,  sp.n.     (p.  136.) 

Fig.  13.  Bidis  aristella,  Kirby,  sp.n.     (p.  136.) 

Fig.  14.  Clovia  eximia,  Kirby,  sp.n.     (p.  137. ) 

Fig.  15.  Issus  (?)  andrewsi,  Kirby,  sp.n.     (p.  138.) 

Fig.  16.  Idiocerus  (?)  punctatus,  Kirby,  sp.n.     (p.  138.) 


B.M.CHRISTMAS  P. 


PI. XV. 


M.Honnan-Fisher  dd.etlilh. 


6a. 


o 


West, Newman  imp. 


Ho  rrujp  tercu. 
arudj  HermpiMrou. 


lii; 


PLATE   XYI. 

Arachnida. 

Fig.  1.  Chelifer  murrayi,  Pocock,  sp.n.     Much  magnified,     (p.  156.) 
Fig.  la.  Chelifer  murrayi.     Flagellum  of  movable  digit  of  mandible. 

(p.  156.) 
Fig.  2.  Argiope  reinwardti  (DoL).     Enlarged  one-fourth,     (p.  159.) 
Fig.  3.  Cyrtophora  unicolor  (Dol.).     Enlarged  one-fourth,     (p.  160.) 

[This  figure  and  that  of  Argiope  reinwardti  are  taken  from  specimens 
preserved  in  alcohol.  According  to  Mr.  Andrews  the  abdomen  in  living 
examples  is  more  voluminous,  and  in  the  case  of  C.  unicolor  the 
anterior  prominences  project  much  less  than  here  represented.] 

Fig.  4.  Heteropoda  listeri,  Pocock,  sp.n.   Face  and  mandibles,    (p.  161.) 

[The  beard  of  bristles  clothing  the  front  of  the  upper  half  of  the 
mandibles  stands  out  more  clearly  in  the  actual  specimen  than  in  the 
figure.] 

Fig.  4a.  Heteropoda  listeri.  Vulva.     ?.     (p.  161.) 

Fig.  4b.  Heteropoda  listeri.  Tarsus  and  distal  end  of  palpus  of  $  from 

below,     (p.  161.) 

Fig.  Ac.  Heteropoda  listeri.  Bifid  tip  of  flagellum  and  its  sheath  of 

palpal  organ,     (p.  161.) 

Fig.  4d.  Heteropoda  listeri.  Tibial  spine  of  palp  of  $  from  the  side. 

(p.  161.) 


CHRISTMAS     ISLAND. 


Plate  AVI. 


F.O  Pickard  -  Cambridge,  del, etiih 


ArcbchnLcicu. 


Wesl.Kewmecn  imp. 


PLATE   XVII. 

Pittosporum  nativitatis,  'Baker,  fit,  sp.n.     (p.  171.) 

Fig.  1.  Branchlet  showing  inflorescence  (natural  size). 

Fig.  2.  Flower  ( x  5). 

Fig.  3.  Sepal  ( x  5). 

Fig.  4.  Petal  (  x  5). 

Fig.  5.  Stamens  and  ovary  not  fully  developed  (  x  5). 

Fig.  6.  Ovary  not  fully  developed  ( x  5). 

Fig.  7.  Bract  ( x  5). 


B.M.CHRISTi^S   I?. 


Plate  XVll. 


RMorgaji  del.etkth. 


We  St,  New 


Pittosporum     nativitatis,    BaA&r  fiL. 


imp. 


PLATE   XVIII. 

Panicum  andrewsi,  Rendle,  sp.n.     (p.  192.) 

Fig.  1.  Barren  glume,  i,  viewed  from  inside. 

Fig.  2.  Barren  glume,  ii,  viewed  from  inside. 

Fig.  3.  Barren  glume,  iii,  viewed  from  inside  and  showing  the  empty 
pale. 

Fig.  4.  Fertile  glume.     Dorsal  view. 

Natural  size.     Figs.  1-4,  parts  of  spikelet,  x  18. 


R.Morgaii  del.etlitli, 
A.B.Rendle  anal. 


Paul  CTara     an  dr  e  w  s i,  ReruHe. 


West.Ne-.win^ri  imp 


PLATE     XIX. 

Fossil   Corals. 

Fig.  1.  Coeloria  andrewsi,  Gregory,  sp.n.     Transverse  section. 
Fig.  2.  Mceandrina  equisepta,  Gregory,  sp.n.     Transverse  section. 
Fig.  3.  Orbicella  rmirrayi,  Gregory,  sp.n.     Transverse  section. 
Fig.  4.   Oi-bicella  prceheliopora,  Gregory,  sp.n.     Transverse  section. 

Fig.  5.  Acanthastrcea  patula,  Gregory,  var.  nov.  paucidentata.     Trans- 
verse section. 
Fig.  6.  Anisocoenia  favoides,  Gregory,  sp.n.     Transverse  section. 
Fig.  7.  Anisocoenia  murrayi,  Gregory,  sp.n.     Transverse  section. 
Fig.  8.  Coscinarcea  andrewsi,  Gregory,  sp.n.     Transverse  section. 

All  the  figures  twice  natural  size. 


B,-M  'CHRISTMAS    P. 


Plate  XIX, 


W^. 


^^0rw-^- 


E  Dreike  ad-Tiat.lilb. 


WestjNev^man  imp 


Fo3stL  Ccj^aZs 


cc 


PLATE    XX. 

FORAMINIFERAL   LiMESTONKS. 

Fig.  1.     No.  2.     Oldest  Limestone  (Eocene  or  Oligoceue)  from  south 
end  of  Flying  Fish  Cove,      x  15.     (p.  226.) 

Fig.  2.     No.  522.     ?  Oligocene  Limestone,  B  of  section,  Flying   Fish 
Cove.      X  15.     (p.  231.) 

Fig.  3.     No.  924.  Miocene  Orbitoidal  Limestone,  Flying  Fish  Cove. 

X  15.  (p.  233.) 

Fig.  4.     No.  220.  Miocene  Orbitoidal  Limestone,  Flying  Fish  Cove. 

X  15.  (p.  239.) 

Fig.  5.    No.  844.      Miocene  Orbitoidal  Limestone,  Flying  Fish  Cove. 
X  5.     (p.  242.) 

Fig.  6.     No.  562.     Miocene  Orbitoidal  Limestone,  Flying  Fish  Cove. 
X  10.     (p.  243.) 

Fig.  7.     No.  521.     White  Limestone  from  pinnacles  at  500  feet  over 
Flying  Fish  Cove,      x  5^.     (p.  245.) 

Fig.  8.     No.  841.     White  Limestone  from  pinnacles  at  600  feet  over 
Flying  Fish  Cove,      x  6.     (p.  248.) 

Fig.  9.     No.  549.     Miocene  Orbitoidal  Limestone,  Flying  Fish  Cove. 
X  6.     (p.  250.) 


,XTX.       ■^-'** 


OHOAN    &    KIDU,    COLLOTYPI 


F.    CHAPMAN,    PHOTO. 


FORAMINIFERAL   ROCKS:   CHRISTMAS    ISLAND. 


^ 


PLATE    XXI. 


Fig.  10. 
Fig.  11. 
Fig.  12. 
Fig.  13. 
Fig.  14. 
Fig.  15. 
Fig.  16. 
Fig.  17. 


FORAMINIFERAL    LIMESTONES. 

Specimen  No.  968.     Miocene  Orbitoidal  Limestone,  south  of 
Flying  Fish  Cove,      x  6.     (p.  252.) 

Specimen  No.  347.     Eocene    or   Ohgocene    Limestone    from 
high  chflf  in  Sidney's  Dale  (see  map),      x  15.     (p.  254.) 

Specimen  No.  835.     Miocene  Orbitoidal  Limestone,  south  of 
X  5.     (p.  254.) 

Miocene  Orbitoidal  Limestone,  south  of 
X  4i      (p.  255.) 

Miocene  Orbitoidal  Limestone,  south  of 
X  6.     (p.  255.) 

Miocene    Orbitoidal    Limestone.       x  5. 


Flying  Fish  Cove. 

Specimen  No.  827. 
Flying  Fish  Cove. 

Specimen  No.  827. 
Flying  Fish  Cove. 

Specimen  No.  581. 
(p.  255.) 

Specimen  No.  986.     Pebble  of  Orbitoidal  Limestone  in  raised 
beach,  north  of  Flying  Fish  Cove,      x  2.     (p.  253.) 

Specimen  No.  5.     From  cracks  in  basalt   on  south  side  of 
Flying  Fish  Cove,      x  15.     (p.  258.) 


F.   CHAPMAN,    PHOTO 


t 


MORGAN    &    KlDn,    COLLOTYPE, 

F0R\/VIINIFERAL    ROCKS  :   CHRISTMAS    ISLAND. 


473  I    J^ 


^ 


O 


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QH  British  Museum  (Nat.  Hist.) 

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B75  A  monography  of  Christmas 

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