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La ee ee poeews mnanal - ~ - - —— ~ - — Sa “ a = -- te : <= =< : os ieee we tee —s - Ay EE AT AT im | - ee A oe me _ - anal —_ - : - - ’ : ~s — - i — te teeta gene te SE | | | - -_ ee rr lao - —— oo a * - _ - - 2 - -= . —— - . sn f. 3 : | 7 ; -* A A ae “ = | ~ ee : ~ _ - COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY, ‘ e PAWS OOS No. \% OOY | Moly Wo VBR - OE LS A, EE ee 79 yom ane ee) eee NS ee . | Og ty eee. werner +7 bs = y 3 “ oe) > “As fa] Aes heed Co tf GF 8 7 if ; > A th BUF dls he | ero AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. | NEY, N.S.W,. G3, BAMSAy Curator LorD HowrE ISLAND: REPORT. FRONTISPIECE, Sketch shewing position of LORD HOWE ISLAND with reference to the coast of NEW SOUTH WALES SCALE OF MILES lord Howe Island at y | “Ballo Pyramid PHOTO-LITHOGR SY APHED AT THE GOVT. PRINTING OFFICE, INEY, NEW SOUTH WALES Transmuttid to the Hon. JB Wilson with my Meport dated 6 May 1882 Ve Af Crucet, Superintendent of Ing. Surrey F » tyreje ate 6 sg ag d a i ’ i " ahs Wo RDA dh , ‘ THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM, SYDNEY, MEMOIRS, No. 2. LORD HOWE ISLAND. ITS Zoology, Geology, and Physical Characters. PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE TRUSTEES, E. P. RAMSAY, CURATOR. SYDNEY: CHARLES POTTER, GOVERNMENT PRINTER. ————— 1889. 5e 26-88 (A) (are - 4 > > r PREFACE. THE present work has a twofold object. It is intended, in the first place, to record the proceedings of a Collecting Party despatched by order of the Trustees to Lord Howe Island in August-September, 1887, and to give descriptions of the specimens so obtained; and secondly, to give an epitome of the general Zoology of the Island, so far as is at present known. From its geographical position, and from the fact that it forms the farthest outlying portion of the territory of New South Wales, a more detailed examination of its fauna than had hitherto been made was deemed desirable. The determination and description of the collections has been effected by the Museum Staff, with the exception of the rock specimens, which have been obligingly described for the Trustees by Mr, T. W. Edgeworth David, of the Geological Survey of New South Wales. In 1882 Mr. Alexander Morton, then of this Museum, visited Lord Howe Island for a brief period, and made sundry collections. A description of these is included in the present work, with previous gatherings, chiefly entomological, made by Mr. George Masters, late of the Australian Museum, in 1869; and also that of purchases made from Mr. E. H. Saunders, a collector who spent some time on the Island since the return of the Museum Party. From unavoidable causes the descriptive account of the Mollusca is not yet ready for publication, although the plates are issued in advance. The former will appear subsequently as a second part of this Memoir. ; A description of the remains of the extinct J/ezolanza is also for the present postponed. The Museum is gradually acquiring an extensive series of its bones, and it is intended, at a future date, to issue a separate Memoir dealing with this interesting Reptile. The work of general Editor has been performed by Mr. Etheridge, under my supervision. ED. P. RAMSAY, Curator. 7 a, a iar ph Saaee S teks with ace & 20h it W (a Pe Are tah ae Yes. 7 2 *, ale sted Ma ‘ah G sage “iy dald be ae ae ait tet aa fi Shee “8 a a r i Page. Line. 4 16 for 7 45 Bs 7 46 Pe 8 6 after 8 26 «=... for and ,, 10 16 os 12 7 ‘os 20 29 i 21 50 23 42 ne 25 24 3 26 31 - 33 44 - 35 8 a 36 18 os 36 19 ie 36 29 ss 39 13 a 40 29 “ 45 5... after 45 16 * 45 23 =~... before 45 37... after 47 35 ” 48 5 for 77 21 y 88 36 » 95 47 9 101 34 ~ 105 8 ” 113 40 a 117 38 re 117 38 ‘ 124 26 ” m0. (tL.. 78 ‘ Plate i. ” N.B.—Plates iv. and v.:—The figures on these plates have been reversed. ERRATA. Admirallty Inlets Zig-Zaged Lord Haliaster lucogaster Philipp Galinula Hoplodactylus decrease was Brazeri arter Actoea Huegellii chebrus leolophus Huegellii breviceps Ceeloria Excursion number resorting number ledges nearly Lidgbird tibia pubesccnee spec shorther Promotory debris dessicated mergeance grand-mass Pheton —_————_ read delete the comma and insert was. 93 read delete ” read Admiralty Islets. Zig-Zagged. Howe. Haliastur. leucogaster. Phillip. Gallinula. Haplodactylus. decreasing. were. Brazieri. after. Actzea. Huegelii. chabrus. leiolophus Huegelii. brevipes. Ceeloria. the comma. in. the comma. ) newly. Ledgbird. tibiae. pubesence. speck. shorter. Promontory. débris. desiccated. mergence. ground-mass. Phaéton. CONTENTS. PAGE neral Zoology; by R. te eas pe ee ee eee I sah : by A. J. North, F.LS. Sebekede ter dee oft eth ib ash vim 0 er ei hei ook ne ah 43 tiles and Fishes; by J. Douglas Ogilby, F.L.S....s...eeeeeeee. 49 a OD As Se 75 ie, yand Physical Structure; by R. Etheridge, junr. .......... 99 es on Rock Specimens; by T. W. Edgeworth David, B.A., F.G.S. 127 / 7 ‘ vente ' \ | (a ay ress tetivisrre a4 ‘ego pe Hr lee i i aa at ye 4VoR ous ks SULLA A ALE bey . Dts een AE Pitas A ae 8 ta eat ias Ae PA, : 3 DLTACE nero EE NE ie Lo sl ~ * a) ® é . @ E * : * . ‘ te. : # « j 2 « be ; > ' rs Au Pd r | | LIST OF PLATES. “FRONTISPIECE—Sketch showing position of Lord Howe Island with refer- ence to the Coast of New South Wales. VPlate I.—Eggs, described by Mr. A. J. North. YPlate II.—Fishes, described by Mr. J. Douglas Ogilby. V Plate IlI.—Do do do Plate IV.—Mollusca, to be described by Mr. John Brazier. VY Plate V.—Do do do vPlate VI.—lInsects, described by Mr. A. Sidney Olliff. y Plate VII.—Sketch-section of the Coral-sand rock. “ Plate VIII.—Chart of Lord Howe Island, by Lieut. Henry Ledgbird Ball, 1788. “ Plate IX.—Chart of Lord Howe Island, by H. F. White, Assistant-Surveyor, 1835. vy Plate X.—Geological sketch-map of Lord Howe Island, &c., by the late H. T. Wilkinson, J.P., Visiting Magistrate. eas i i as ’ : an Ne ; tw : a le? ‘a i Ae 7 ae =” SUE LORE HO Rare fe ee ' : . yas 5 i - ts fs on 9 } ° - pe: piles’ daly; Ue me baer Pet, Ae ly Prien $a} iis eve - waif florea AT | rin are ee ths fai CRAY ooh dan : diese? Lafaat® f the yd hag hy i pe : ia | ee Ng v4 Oe: vii ' vit arin ie. rite et gare si S149 «wilteltgs | : Ar’ ? ’ ’ aly 3 aie : : *y i eur, hi La) arta te ey e We Wh % See She jee . devd Tape Od at Tr pee ,. fa « > #5 ; ie a HO TARDE «an ‘2 St tee 2 AS nan ‘ne ce ste Tbe de haiee A 3 1ici on wk Adah tik vind OPaL out) eek aaiee Si cvtehe seid bat i Gene 9: | Qaostion! «lit tai ae meer a i) eS é > sep er 719 ™, > s 4 re 5 wee ‘ t<~e 7 ¥ = ‘i peal f wee i : f Noe. Fy HE GENERAL ZOOLOGY OF LORD HOWE ISLAND. R. ETHERIDGE, June. CONTAINING ALSO hy - wie ao 3 N ACCOUNT OF THE COLLECTIONS MADE BY THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM “= COLLECTING PARTY, AUG.-SEPT., 1887. nee fk 1 oan is a THE GENERAL ZOOLOGY OF LORD HOWE ISLAND ; CONTAINING ALSO AN ACCOUNT OF THE COLLECTIONS MADE BY THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM COLLECTING PARTY, AUG.-SEPT., 1887. In August last (1887) I was instructed by Dr. E. P. Ramsay, Curator of the Australian Museum, to proceed in company with Messrs. J. A. Thorpe, and T. Whitelegge, to Lord Howe Island. Our instructions were to investigate the general zoology, geology, and paleontology of that little known and interesting island, aptly termed the ‘‘ Madeira of the Pacific.” In the present Report I have endeavoured to point out what has been accomplished by observers in the past, and to place on record our mutually accumulated notes during a three weeks’ residence on the island. A Preliminary Report of our proceedings has already been published ;* it will, therefore, be unnecessary to recapitulate our daily movements and method of procedure. Mention may, however, be made of the assistance we received from Mr. H. A. Unwin, of the Chief Secretary’s office, who, although on his way to Norfolk Island, remained the whole time at Lord Howe, and made one of our party, working and collecting with us. The collections have been determined by the Australian Museum staff as below mentioned, viz. :— - The Aves and Echinodermata, by Dr. E. P. Ramsay. Reptilia and Pisces, by Mr. J. Douglas Ogilby. Mollusca, by Mr. J. Brazier. Insecta, &c., by Mr. A. 8S. Olliff. Polyzoa, Crustacea Picircn by Mr. T. Whitelegge. Protozoa, New species, or any known forms meriting special notice, will be described. Lord Howe Island is situated in S. Lat. 31° 33’, and E. Long. 159° 5'f, but its relative distances from Sydney, and the nearest point of New South Wales contiguous to it, are variously given. In an Official Report,t however, made by the late Water Police Magistrate, Mr. P. L. Cloete, it is said to be 450 miles north-east of Sydney, and 300 miles from Port Macquarie. * Australian Museum (Report of the Trustees for 1887-1888), p. 30. t Lord Howe Island (Report on Present State and Future Prospects of) by the Hon. J. Bowie Wilson, N. S. Wales Legislative Assembly Papers, 1882, 36-A., p, 8. [W. J. . Conder, Report of Superintendent of Trigonometrical Survey. ] {Lord Howe Island—Official visit of the Water Police Magistrate, and the Director of the Botanic Gardens, Sydney ; together with a description of the Island. By Edward S. Hill, 1870 (8vo. Sydney), p. 14. 4, LORD HOWE ISLAND. It is some 500 miles this side of Norfolk Island, and is the most southern of the outlying islands on the east coast of Australia (Frontispiece). It is between six and seven miles in length as the crow flies, but much more taking into consideration the great inequalities of the ground ; whilst the average width is only one mile, but more in certain parts. According to Mr. Charles Moore, the Government Botanist, the island contains 3,220 acres, of which 2,000 are capable of cultivation.* The small group of islets generally comprised under the name of Lord Howe Island consists, in addition to the island proper, of a small islet immediately detached from its southern extremity called Gower Island; a similar one to the north, known as the Sugar-loat ; to the east, separated by somewhat more than half-a-mile of water, another which has received the name of Mutton- bird Island ; whilst on the west side, within the Lagoon is Goat or Rabbit Island. To the north, separated from the main island, about a quarter of a mile, is a cluster of six rocks known as the Admirality Islets; and still further north two other rocks, one of them called North Island. Mr. A. T. Corrie, R.N., in a short paper entitled. “ A visit to Lord Howe Island,” has well remarked that the early history is wrapt in a good deal of mystery. “It was,” says Mr. E. S. Hill, “ during the passage from Port Jackson to Norfolk Island, that Lord Howe Island was discovered by Lieutenant Henry Lidgbird Ball, Commander of His Majesty’s tender ‘Supply,’ on the 17th February, 1788” ¢ (Pl. virr). A survey of the Island was made in 1835 by Mr. Surveyor H. F. White, but his report does not seem to have been published. A. reduction of his map is given by Hill, from which it appears that many of the original names, presumably bestowed by him on the more prominent features have been since altered (Pl.rx). Another report I have not succeeded in gaining access to—by Dr. Foulis, who resided on Lord Howe for three years, about forty years ago— ~would probably yield much valuable information of the then condition of the island. We are in possession of but very few details of the zoology of Lord Howe Island, notwithstanding that several collectors of marked ability, for instance, Macgillivray, Brazier, and Masters have visited it and made collections. Although numerous species have been identified, and some described, the descriptions are so scattered and little known, as to be of small practical value to the working naturalist. The birds have been catalogued, so far as known to him, by Dr. E. P. Ramsay § whilst an epitome of a few days collecting has been furnished by Mr. Alexander Morton,|| who accompanied the late Dr. Wilson’s expedition in 1882. The scrubby and thickly timbered condition of Lord Howe rendered Lollecting both tedious and difficult. Its limited size, and the fact that all branches can be more or less pursued at one and the same time to some extent compensated for this. For all practical purposes however, our investigation resolved itself under three heads—that of the high scrubby hills and intervening gullies; the lower lying, and sometimes more open and less hilly ground ; and the marine fauna, more especially the relation of the Lagoon and Coral-reef life as compared with that found on other portions of the shores. * Sketch of the vegetation of Lord Howe Island—Hill’s Lord Howe Island, loc. cit., p. 17. + Proc., R. Geogr. Soc. 1878, xx11, p. 136. + Hill’s Lord Howe Island, loc. cit., p. 8. > otes on the Zoology of Lord Howe Island. Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, vu, pt. 1. ‘p. 86. || Report to the Trustees of the Australian Museum. Lord Howe Island, Report on Present State, &c,, 1882, loc. cit., p. 12. GENERAL ZOOLOGY. 5 The dense and beautiful vegetation has been ably described by Mr. Charles Siphgl and Mr. John Duff,+ of the late Forest Branch, Department of Mines. The latter says :—“ There are probably few islands ot similar size possessing so rich and varied a flora as Howe Island, handsome banyan and other trees, shrubs, palms, pandanus, and dwarf ferns growing everywhere in great ‘abundance and luxuriance.” Touching the magnificent Banyan trees to be seen on Lord Howe, Mr. Charles Moore remarks :—‘‘ The most remarkable plant, however, upon the Island is a species of Ficus, and the only one of the genus found there. Along the whole extent of the flat and richest ground, on the south-west side, this noble tree grows in large numbers—very rarely in exposed situations— but marks distinctly an inner zone of vegetation, being protected on every side by belts of trees of various descriptions. It possesses to an extraor- dinary degree the branch-rooting characteristics of the famous Banyan of India, Ficus indica. From its high wide-spreading branches adventitious roots are produced, which descend to the ground, then rapidly enlarge and become in the course of time huge stems drawing nourishment from the earth for the support and increase of the parent branch, which, as it extends, produces similar root-stems, the tree by this means covering a very large space of ground. In some instances the original stem had perished altogether, the branches becoming separate trees, each with numerous root-stems, and forming by the whole a beautiful amphitheatre of considerable dimensions.” Again, Mr. Duff’s observations are interesting :—‘‘ These old trees are certainly the most remarkable and interesting features in the vegetation of Howe Island, their large columnar roots descending from the horizontal branches, often from a height of 50 to 60 feet, and at distances of 4 to 6 feet apart, forming a series of supports to them, each root having the appearance of being a separate tree. Some of the largest of these old trees are reputed to cover an area of 2 to 3 acres.” Mr. Moore further states that ‘every part of the island is covered with a dense vegetation, the undergrowth being kept comparatively clear by pigs and goats, which are allowed to roam at large.” At the present time the aspect of the island is very different; the domesticated goats have been abolished by mutual consent on the part of the Islanders, and the pigs penned up, whilst the wild goats and pigs are confined to the two extremities. of the Island. Now the scrub and brush is of the most copious description, . and renders travelling, except along the beaten tracks, both tedious and difficult. It may, perhaps, not be out of place to refer here to the palms growing on the island. Both Mr. Mooreand Mr. Duff have recorded four species. Up to an altitude of 400 feet the Thatch Palm (Kentia Forsteriana,) grows, but it flourishes luxuriantly along the shore flats, in the form of groves. The Curly Palm (K. Belmoreana), on the other hand, extends as high as 1,200 feet on the sides of Mounts Ledgbird and Gower. The third species, the Umbrella Palm (K. Canterburiana), is first met with at about 1,000 feet § and continues to the summit of the highest of the two mountains, Mount Gower, at an elevation of 2,840 feet. The last and smallest of these handsome * Sketch of the vegetation of Lord Howe Island. Hill’s Lord Howe Island, loc. cit., pe 17. + Report to the Hon. J. Bowie Wilson, Lord Howe Island, Report on Present State, dc. 1882, loc. cit., p. 8. t Sketch of the Vegetation of Lord Howe Island, Joc. cit., p. 19. § These are the heights given by Mr. Duff. 6 LORD HOWE ISLAND. trees, the Dwarf Mountain Palm (K. Moorei,) is confined to the summits of Mounts Gowerand Ledgbird. A very remarkable fact in connection with the two lowland species, K. Forsteriana, and K. Belmoreana, and one I have not hitherto seen mentioned, is worthy of record, and has a bearing on the geology of the island. Wherever the soil is derived from the decomposi- tion of the Coral-sand rock, the Thatch Palm (K. Forsteriana) exclusively — prevails, whilst the appearance of the Curly Palm at once indicates a volcanic soil. So marked and constant is the position of the two palms, that it may be taken in a general way as an index to the running of geological boundaries between the two formations. Mr. Moore says that the Thatch and Curly Palms “both grow to about the same height, the highest observed being about 35 feet.” In favourable situations, however, these trees attain to a much greater stature than thirty- five feet. I was conducted by Capt. T. Nichols, a resident, to the ‘“‘ Valley of the shadow of Death,” a gully on the eastern side of the Island, running down to Middle Beach, where the finest palms are to be seen. Here the Thatch Palm grows with clean, straight stems to heights of 60, 70, and in a few instances to as much as 100 feet, the over-lapping leaves forming a com- plete canopy above, producing a general gloom, well expressed by the name conferred on the ravine. The Physical Features of Lord Howe will be described in a subsequent report, when dealing with the Geology. The remarks which follow are intended to give a general outline of the collections made by us, and an epitome of the zoology of Lord Howe Island, so far as known. Mammalia—The first settlers date no farther back than about 1834, when three New Zealand colonists are said to have taken up their residence there with Maori women. Since then there has been a very sparse and fluctuating population, but traces of aboriginal inhabitants have nowhere ‘been discovered. I made every effort to ascertain whether any remains had been met with in caves ; or traces of early man in the form of implements, or rock paintings, but without the slightest success. The only indigenous lower mammals existing on Lord Howe are bats, but even these are not plentiful. A single specimen of Scotophilus morio, Gray,* similar to those obtained by Morton was shot by Mr. Unwin, and a larger species was occasionally seen. The “gardens” and other clearings are their favourite haunts, but they are sometimes seen flying around the cottages. Mr. A. Morton, when on the island in 1882, reported the existence of a flying fox,t but careful inquiry failed to elicit confirmatory evidence of this, and none were observed by us. We anticipated meeting with bats in the Coral-rock caves at North Bay, one of the most favourable sabi for them on the whole island, but not the slightest trace was ound. According to Mr. Morton the shores are visited, especially during gales, by seals, probably identical with one or other of the Australian species of Arctocephalus. A mouse, said to have been introduced from Norfolk Island, is now moderately common. It appears to Dr. Ramsay and myself to be a variety of Mus musculus, with a larger proportion of yellow-tawny hair, mixed with the fur of the back, thanis usually seen in that species. It now frequents the houses, but formerly infested the clearings in such numbers as to become * Dobson (Cat. Chiroptera, Brit. Mus. 1888, p. 248) calls this Chalinolobus tuburculatus Forster, sp. + Report to the Trustees, &c., loc. cit., p. 12. GENERAL ZOOLOGY. 7 a pest. Writing in 1870, Mr. E. 8S. Hill says,* “Mice within the past two years have accidentally been introduced. They now swarm the island, and threaten to become a great nuisance ; they have taken to the fields and burrow in every knoll.” To show the remarkable manner in which this little rodent has diffused itself over Lord Howe, we were informed by Mr. W. Nichols that it had been found under the precipitous wall towards the summit of Mount Ledgbird. Rabbits formerly existed on Rabbit or Goat Island, the small islet in the Lagoon, but they appear to have died out. From a remark made by the writer just quoted—“ there are a few rabbits, which fortunately are confined to a small island on the west side, between the shore and the reef ’’—they do not appear to have gained a footing on the main island. It is a remarkable fact, when we take into consideration the extent of cover and the general physical features, that the indigenous mammalian fauna is practically none. It is one of the strongest arguments in support of the relation of the fauna at large to that of New Zealand, as against its Australian affinities, where the only undoubted indigenous mammals are bats! This comparative absence of the highest forms of animal life is again instanced in the case of the Sandwich Islands. Since the advent of the first settlers, pigs, goats, and the domestic cat have been introduced and lapsed into a natural state. Mr. Campbell Stevens, the Postmaster at Lord Howe, and a very intelligent natural history observer, says that the original cat, which took to the bush, was black, but cats of that colour have entirely disappeared, whilst those met with wild in the hills at present are the descendants of the variety now domesticated there, and in which the black colour does not predominate. Mr. Hill says: “In the olden time, twenty-four years back, a number of cats were sent ashore from a whale ship and turned adrift. These soon became populous, and found an easy prey in the pigeons, parrots, birds like a guinea-fowl, and brown hens, decimating the former and driving the latter to the mountains. These cats are still numerous, and all black.”+ Goats and swine formerly roamed over the whole island, but both are now largely decreased in number, not so much from hunting, we were told, as from a cause, the explanation of which is not at first apparent. It seems, however, that the breed of neither has been to any extent altered by the introduction of fresh blood, and it is more than probable that deterioration has arisen from the consequent inter- breeding of individuals’ confined within a limited area. The goats are restricted to the mountainous ground of Mounts Gower and Ledgbird in the south, and the North Ridge at the opposite end of the island, the respective herds remaining separate from one another. Their activity is very remarkable, as shown by the manner in which they ascend and descend the almost perpendicular faces of the cliffs. We observed the ease with which this is accomplished on the sea-face of the North Ridge, when on our cruise to the Admiralty Inlets, where a small party, feeding on some grassy ledges close to the water’s edge, on the approach of the boat, zig-zaged their upward course from ledge to ledge, and point to point, until the brow of the cliff was reached, and they disappeared over to the less precipitous land side: The swine are now confined to the southern end of the island, especially on the slopes of Mount Ledgbird. Now and then fine animals are produced, boars, we were told by Mr. G. Nichols, at times reaching 200 lb., but the average all round weight is 100Ib. During an excursion to the high ground about Erskine Valley, and on another occasion, when on our way. to * Hill’s Lord Howe Island, loc. cit., p. 46. + Hill’s Lord Howe Island, loc. cit., p. 46. 8 LORD HOWE ISLAND. Mutton-bird Point, we observed traces of pigs, both tracks and wallowing places (“ mud holes”). An excellent description of the method employed by the Islanders in hunting goats is given by the late Deputy Surveyor- General, Mr. R. D. Fitzgerald,* and is well worth perusal. Aves.—The birds of Lord Island have received greater attention than any portion of its fauna, but the general information relating to them, and the specific descriptions are very much scattered. In an interesting paper “ Notes on the Zoology of Lord Howe Island,”+ Dr. E. P. Ramsay gives a list of thirty-four birds known to him as occurring there, but omitting one, an undoubted introduction, there remained at the time his table was published thirty-three indigenous birds. Since then the ‘‘Tabular List of all the Australian Birds”= has appeared by the same author, in which a com- parative table of the Lord Howe and Norfolk Island birds is given. Certain changes in nomenclature are made, which will be referred to hereafter (see p- 16). The collection acquired during our stay at Lord Howe Island, through our own efforts and those of Mr. G. Nichols, comprising about two hundred skins, has been examined and named by Dr. Ramsay, and although we were not fortunate enough to obtain an equal number, several birds were met with, or seen, not mentioned in the list referred to. I have adopted Dr. Ramsay’s list and table, distinguishing the species shot by ourselves with an asterisk (*), whilst those which are additions to the record are indicated by a dagger (+), (see p. 17). Of the rapacious birds, the diurnal division is represented in Dr. Ramsay’s list by two Fish Eagles, Haliaster sphenurus, Vieill, and Halietus lucogaster, Lath. We did not meet with either of these birds, but the existence of a Hawk, Circus Wolfii, was determined. It frequents the North Ridge, usually in the vicinity of Mount Eliza, soaring high, and carefully keeping out of reach. The bird, however, has at times, after the manner of its kind, been known to visit the settlers’ poultry-yards, and is said to play great havoc with the wild kids. The nocturnal section of this group has for its representative Ninowr boobook, Lath. but is known to the Islanders as the “ More-pork.” NV. boobook frequents thickets of scrub on the hill sides, during the day, and may be found around the settlements at night, probably on the look out for mice, otherwise its food is a mystery, unless it be nocturnal insects. | The Kingfishers are very abundantly represented by one species, Haleyon vagans, Less., a New Zealand bird,§ and we were told a comparatively recent addition to the avifauna of the island. It may be constantly seen, flying about the small open places and clearings along the shore, or perched on dead timber, or even seated on small rocks at and below tide-marks. It pairs in October, or perhaps towards the end of September. Sir W. L. Buller’s remarks on the habits of this bird can be very appropriately applied to the variety found at Lord Howe :—* It is, moreover, one of those birds that seem instinctively to resort to the habitations of man; and instead of, like many other indigenous species, decreasing, it thrives and multiplies under the altered physical conditions resulting from the colonization of the country. aS During the winter months, especially, it resorts to cultivated grounds in quest of grubs and worms, which at this season constitute. its * Hill’s Lord Howe Island, loc. cit., p. 44. + Proc. Linn. Soc., N. S. Wales, 1883. vi1, pt. 1, p. 86 t Tabular List of all the Australian Birds at present known to the Author, &c., 4to. Sydney, 1888. § See Buller, Manual of the Birds of New Zealand, 1882, p. 8, t. 3. -GENERAL ZOOLOGY. 9 principal food. . . . In the pairing-season this species becomes very noisy and lively, the mated birds chasing each other in amorous play from tree to tree, or from post to post, with loud unmusical cries, something like the syllables cree—cree—cree uttered in quick succession.” The Bush Creepers have two representatives at Lord Howe, Zosterops strenuus, Gould, and Z. tephropleurus, known as the “Silver-eyes.” Both species are indigenous to the island, and are met with in small flocks, equally plentiful both in the open spaces and thick scrub. The chief difference between the species is that of size, and slight shades of colour only, but individuals were carefully sexed by Mr. Thorpe. The most interesting point connected with our researches amongst the birds was the discovery of a new Gerygone. Dr. Ramsay had already described one species from Lord Howe, Gerygone insularis,* but the new one is much smaller than the latter, with a feebly-yellow tinted breast. Two examples were shot by Mr. Thorpe and myself on August 24th, and were carefully sexed by the former when skinning them. It has been named by Dr. Ramsay Gerygone Thorpei,+ a very deserving tribute to Mr. Thorpe for his exertions towards the success of our expedition. It associates itself with the larger species, G. znsularis, and appears to be particularly fond of frequenting lemon-trees. The latter species is locally known as ** Pop-goes-the- W easel,” and possesses a very pleasing song-like note. Merula vinitincta, Gould, a very active and pleasing bird, represents the Thrushes. It is locally known as the “ Doctor Bird,” and is peculiar to the island. Other and allied species are found throughout the Pacific Islands, such as New Caledonia, Fiji, the Sandwich and Solomon Islands, and the New Hebrides ; but the genus is unknown on the Australian continent. In the paper previously quoted, Dr. E. P. Ramsay says:—‘It is somewhat remarkable that while the genus Jerula is found so close to Australia as on Lord Howe Island, no species of the genus has been recorded from the mainland.”{ JL. vinitincta frequents the more secluded hillsides, especially at the north end of the island, although it was found in the low ground bordering the shore, on the east side, but not to the same extent. We also observed it high upon the flanks of Mount Ledgbird. Mr. R. D. Fitzgerald§ ° states also that the bird possesses the same leaf-tossing habits as the Blackbird. The nest is composed of palm-tree fibre, and is long and cylindrical, the base solid and filled up. A more numerous group are the Flycatchers. We obtained the really elegant Rhipidura, cervina, Ramsay, another species peculiar to Lord Howe. It is a delicate bird, frequenting any open glades where insects can be taken on the wing. Dr. Ramsay also records the occurrence of Myiagra plumbea, V. & H., and Eurystomus pacificus, the “ Dollar-bird” of New South Wales. Passing to the Pachycephaline or ‘‘Thick-heads,” the type genus Pachycephala is represented by two species, P. gutturalis, Latham, and P. rujfiventris, of the same author. The former we found to be common, and in no way to differ from individuals found in New South Wales. It is the most brilliantly coloured bird met with on Lord Howe Island, and the vivid yellow breast plumage of the male is readily distinguished in the low-lying scrubs and thickets. P. gutturalis was not seen on any of the higher points of the island. P. rufiventris recorded by Dr. Ramsay, did not come under our notice. * Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, 1878, 111, pt. 2, p. 117. + Ibid, 1887, 11, pt. 4, p. 677. t Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, 1878, 111, pt. 1, p. 89. § Hill’s Lord Howe Island, loc cit., p. 38. 10 LORD HOWE ISLAND. Aplonis fuscus, representing the Starlings, is both one of the most plentiful, and at the same time destructive birds, playing great havoc in the settlers’ gardens during the fruit season. The genus Aplonis is a peculiarly Oceanic one, being met with in the southern part of New Guinea, Fiji, the New Hebrides, and Solomon Islands, but is represented in Australia by the allied genus Calornis.* Although frequenting the smaller and lower trees, it undoubtedly loves high branches and elevated positions. A. fuscus is easily tamed, and forms a lively pleasurable companion. The musical honours amongst the birds of Lord Howe are carried off by the so-called Magpie, Strepera crissalis, Sharpe, whose note, although not by any means as melodious as some of the magpies of the mainland, is not unpleasant. The bird is another of those peculiar to Lord Howe, and is very plentiful, especially at this season of the year, in the higher regions and retired deeper gullies of the southend. Young birds make fair eating. Philipp Island, an outlier of Norfolk Island, was inhabited by a parrot, Nestor productus, Gould, so Lord Howe Island was similarly infested. in former years by a parrakeet, of which there is not the slightest trace remaining. The existence of the bird in question is mentioned by Mr. A. T. Corrie, in the paper previously quoted, but we are indebted for a general description of it to Mrs. Thomas Nichols and Mr. Mosely. They described the parrakeet as generally of a green colour with a red patch on the head, at the base of the bill; red under, and a little blue along the edge of the wing. These characters accord fairly well with those of some Platycerci, especially species inhabiting New Zealand ; in fact, there is good reason to conjecture that it may have been either Platycereus nove-zelandie, or P. auriceps, but as no mention was made of any yellow feathers the bird was most probably the former species, more especially as this is recorded as occurring at Norfolk Island.+ The parrakeet is said to have existed in very large numbers, doing considerable damage to the crops, and to have gradually disappeared about ten years ago. This would correspond with the date of Mr. Corrie’s obser- vations. Even before this, in 1870, it must have been very scarce, for we find Mr. E. S. Hill observing, ‘ The paraquet also was a nuisance to the cultivators, once appearing in flocks; now I saw but a solitary pair in their rapid flight through the foliage, and recognized them only by their peculiar noise.” f Of the Cuckoos, two species have been met with, but they are rare. We obtained Cuculus inornatus; and Chalcites lucidus, Gm|)., the Bronze Cuckoo, is quoted by Dr. Ramsay. The latter bird has been caught at sea, between Lord Howe Island and New Zealand, doubtless whilst migrating from the latter to the former island. The Columbide are now represented on Lord Howe Island by one species only—the Chalcophaps chrysoclora, Wagl., a representative of the Gouride, or ground pigeons. This is an elegant and gentle bird, is found in all thick low timber on the flats and bases of the hill flanks, and is easily traced by its low plaintive note. It is so tame that the settlers are in the. habit of catching it with the hand snare. In former years other varieties of pigeons must have existed in numbers for Mr. Fitzgerald remarks that, “a large pigeon is remembered, but has become extinct.”§ The commou “ Rock” has been introduced and established itself; it is, however, as wild in its habits and difficult of approach as the Chalcophaps is gentle and tame. * Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc., N. 8. Wales, 1883, vir, pt. 1., p. 89. + Buller, Manual of the Birds of New Zealand, 1882, p. 34, { Hill’s Lord Howe Island, loc. cit., p. 46. § Hill’s Lord Howe Island, loc. cit., p. 38. -GENERAL ZOOLOGY. 11 Writing on this subject, Mr. E. S. Hill remarks, “There appears to be a predisposition in animals to go wild on this island ;—domestic pigeons have forsaken the dove-cot, and have taken up positions in the mountain cliffs, and have proved the correctness of Darwin’s theory, for what were originally pied and mottled are now blue, with bar shoulder, with rare exceptions. The island at one time abounded with large wild pigeons—so much so, that within the past twenty-five years it was no unusual thing for a man to snare, by aid of a stick and string, fifteen or twenty birds of a flock without the others taking the least alarm.’”’* It appears strange, considering the excellent cover some of the flats afford, that no rasorial birds, such as the quail, exist. It is, however, due, perhaps, to the distance of Lord Howe from the mainland being too great for the performance of their periodical migrations. The fowl is another instance of a domestic creature which has become wild. Some years ago a number took to the bush and have bred and thriven there. ‘The present breed of domestic fowl kept on the island is the Bramah and its crosses. The birds in question, however, are quite distinct from this, and there does not appear to be any attempt at inter-breeding. They have not spread, as they seem to frequent the hill-sides near the holding from which they origi- nally escaped. The Plovers are represented by the Golden Plover, Charadrius xantho- cheilus, Gould, a handsome bird, associated in small flocks, and also accompanying one of the curlews, Numenius uropygialis. We met with these birds along the shores of the Lagoon and other reaches on the east side, especially where the beach assumed a less sandy character than usual. Several birds recorded by Dr. Ramsay, but not met with by us, take their place here, such as the Bittern, Ardetta minuta, Linn., and the Nankeen Crane, Nycticorax caledonicus, Lath. The White-fronted Heron, Ardea nove-hollandic«, was seen by Mr. Thorpe on the rocks to the north of Middle Beach. Two genera of Curlew are plentiful—Limosa uropygialis, Gould, and Numenius uropygialis—and are to be seen in any of the little bays where a sandy shore predominates. The Hooded Dottrell, Hiaticula monacha, was also seen by Mr. Thorpe. Sand-pipers did not come under our observation, but Ramsay records _ Cinelus interpres, Linn., and a species of Gigialitis. Rails are not indigenous to the island, but /allus pectoralis, Gould (called Hypotenidia australis, Pelzeln, in Dr. Ramsay’s last list), is said to have been introduced, but we were not fortunate enough even to see it. The Red Bill, Porphyrio melanotus, as far as we could ascertain, is an indigenous bird, at least it is believed to be so by those Islanders to whom we mentioned the matter. To our great annoyance we did not see a trace of it, its occurrence being a fact we much wished to put beyond doubt, in connection with its relation to the extinct Notornis alba, White, sp. The very remark- able bird, known under this name, and probably quite extinct, is without exception, the most noteworthy of the forms comprising the fauna of Lord Howe Island. Although specimens are not preserved, so far as I know, in any of the Australian Museums, there is now no doubt that the Fulica alba, White, as it was formerly called, existed in large numbers both on Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands. As Fulica alba it was described by Whitet without locality, and ostensibly from New South Wales, but it is more than probable that his specimen found its way from Norfolk Island in the earliest days of convict settlement there. Mr. E.S. Hill, in the pamphlet previously * Hill’s Lord Howe Island, loc. cit., p. 46. + Journal of a Voyage to New South Wales, 1790, p. 238. 12 LORD HOWE ISLAND. quoted, remarks that in one of Lieut. P. G. King’s (the first Governor of Norfolk Island) reports from thence, mention is made of a bird “ not unlike the Guinea-fowl, except in colour (being cbiefly white).”* Governor Phillip, likewise, in his “ Voyage to Botany Bay,”’t gives as the localities of this bird, Norfolk and Lord. Howe Islands. LEither under the above name, or as Galinula alba, Latham, or Porphyrio alba, Gray, the White Gallinule was known, until Dr. von Pelzeln, in a paper on the “ Birds of Norfolk Island,’ and again in another on the “ Birds in the Imperial Collection at Vienna,”§ pointed out its affinity with the quasi-extinct New Zealand genus Notornis, Owen, and of which it forms only the second species known. Pelzeln believes the skin in the Imperial Collec- tion at Vienna to be White’s original specimen, as it was purchased at the sale of the Laverian Museum. Mr. G.R. Gray, in a “ List of the Birds of New Zealand and adjacent Islands,” || mentions Porphyrio alba as coming from Norfolk Island and described it as “ entirely white, but some differ in having bright blue between the shoulders, and spotted on the back with the same.’ He further adds:—“‘It is stated that a similar bird was found on Lord Howe Island, which was incapable of flight. The wings of the male were beautifully mottled with blue.” And again he further states :—‘‘ The young are said to be black, then they become bluish-grey, and afterwards pure white.” In 1869 the venerable Dr. G. Bennett 4 spoke of the White Gallinule as formerly found on both islands, although at that time extinct. An excellent opportunity was afforded Mr. E. 8. Hill, in 1870, of ascer- taining the state of matters at Lord Howe respecting this bird, when he accompanied Mr. Cloete’s Expedition. In his pamphlet the following remarks are made :—‘There were also white birds like a Guinea-fowl. All that we could now learn of any bird of this kind was that once or twice large birds at certain seasons, and within the past two years, have been seen, the colour of which was bluish wings, with slate-coloured body, but having a remark- able double red comb. This, with the exception of a double red comb, answered pretty well to the description of porphyria or red-bill of Australia ; and probably the male birds only exist now, as evidently all the larger birds seen both here and at Norfolk Island in 1788 were white birds, probably females.”** Messrs. Salvin and Sclater}+, when noticing this statement, say, ‘‘This bird is very probably the same as the species from Norfolk Island, described by Latham as Gallinula alba.” With the exception of the skin in the Imperial collection at Vienna, there appears to be only one other in existence, which is said by Professor A. Newtontf to be in the Derby Museum at Liverpool. An excellent figure of this bird has been given by Mr. O. Salvin, || || taken from a sketch by Von Pelzeln of the type skin. The feathers of the neck and breast possessed a yellowish tinge, those of the remainder of the body with a delicate indication of blue, the legs yellow, the bill, forehead, and iris of the eye red. I have referred at this length to Wotornis alba with the view of attracting notice to a probably extinct and little known bird, a * Hill’s Lord Howe Island, loc. cit., p. 8. + London, 2nd edit., 1790, p. 160. + Reviewed in the Jbzs, 1860, p. 421. § Ibis, 1873, p. 14. || [bis, 1862, p. 214. | Proce. Zool. Soc., 1869, p. 471. ** Hill’s Lord Howe Island, loc. cit., p. 46. ++ Index of the Ornithological Literature of 1870, Jbis, 1871, pp. 417 and 443. +t Ibis, 1866, p. 159, note. || | Lbs, 1873, ~p. 295, t. 10. GENERAL ZOOLOGY. 13 recently surviving species of a genus akin to the Dinornis, and one of which there does not appear to exist a skin in.any of the Australian Museums. The occurrence of the White Gallinule on both islands within the historical period is a very interesting point, and one of the most prominent features in the evident relation which exist between their fauna and that of New Zealand. It is possible of course, although not probable, that a few individuals may still remain in the hilly and less frequented portions of Norfolk Island, but with regard to Lord Howe I fear no trace is likely to be found. Writing of the New Zealand bird, Notornis Mantelli, Owen, the type of this genus, Buller says, “ Thus, the three known examples have been taken from localities ninety miles apart, and over an interval of thirty-five years, proving pretty con- clusively that the species still survives in the remote parts of the country.”’* This may also apply to Norfolk Island. Itis very interesting to find that one of the most philosophic minds who have ever written on the subject of life distribution, Alfred Russell Wallace, should have conceived the pro- bable existence of a cursorial bird on Norfolk Island, apparently without any knowledge of Wotornis alba. Speaking of the Chatham Islands, he says, “ It is to be hoped that some search will be made here, and also in Norfolk Island, in both of which it is not improbable remains, either of Apteryz, or Dinornis might be discovered.’’+ Soon to become extinct on Lord Howe, unless protected, is the Wood- Hen, Ocydromus sylvestris, Sclater, a curious and stupid bird. At the present time its range is confined to the extreme southern end of the island, in Erskine Valley, and the ground around the sea-girt base of Mount Gower. It is even now rare and difficult to obtain, and would be impossible of cap- ture were it not for the fact that its curiosity overcomes its shyness. Its gradual extinction is probably due to the ravages committed by the wild domestic cats. During a journey to Mount Gower, primarily to procure specimens, only one individual was seen, and during the whole of our resi- dence there those well acquainted with their haunts could obtain but four others. Ocydromus sylvestris can be attracted within gun shot by any con- tinuous and varied noise, such as knocking two stones together, striking against a tree, occasional whistling, and other peculiar but discordant noises. Mr. R. D. Fitzgerald, Deputy Surveyor-General, during a trip to Mount Gower at the time of Cloete’s Expedition had an excellent opportunity of witnessing the method adopted by the Islanders for catching this bird. His account is as followst :—‘‘ Ned suddenly stopped with the exclamation, ‘That’s a wood-hen!’ as a note like two rasps at a saw is heard at some distance among the lower stones andfern. Then he imitates the bird, and the wood-hen answers. He tries the imitation again, but the bird is silent. Tom strikes the back of the tomahawk against a tree, again the bird answers. Then the strokes of the tomahawk are of no use, and the barking of a dog is tried with effect, at each time the answer being a little nearer, and so on. Anything that strikes him as strange, say a scrap of the National Anthem by all hands, or the crowing of a cock, or anything else with which the bird is not likely to be acquainted. Nearer and nearer comes the answer, till suddenly out runs a bird, like a large corn-crake, in a daft sort of way, up to their very feet.” Ducks are occasionally known to visit the island, but we were unable to ascertain the species. Dr. Ramsay quotes Anas superciliosa, Gould. * Manual of the Birds of New Zealand, 1882, p. 65. + Island Life, 1880, p. 450. + Hill’s Lord Howe Island, 1870, p. 42. \ 14 LORD HOWE ISLAND. Lord Howe and its associated islets are a great resort of sea-birds, and ‘have been so more in the past than now. This is particularly the case with the Admiralty and Mutton-bird Islets, and a few spots on the main island, which are at certain seasons of the year veritable rookeries. The larger cf the Admiralty Islets is an irregularly shaped island, pierced at its northern end by a sea-water passage. ‘he north-east side presents a perpendicular face to the ocean, but its western face is a gradual although steep slope, and is occupied by thousands of birds, Gannets, Petrels, and Terns. There is but one point at which a landing can be effected, and this only in fine settled weather. The whole hillside is indiscriminately occupied by the sea-fowl, every tussock hides a so-called nest, and every projecting piece of rock has its sitter. Notwithstanding their number, there is no ‘regular deposit of guano, but what there is becomes mixed with the red loamy basaltic soil, and is more or less washed over the faces of the cliffs on the eastern side and northern end, and from the succeeding chemical decomposition produces a white streaky appearance on the cliff faces, over which the semi-fluid material has poured, and giving rise, when viewed at some distance from a boat, to the appearance of a series of white-washed spaces on the perpendicular cliffs. The late Dr. Charles Darwin, F.R.S.,* describes a similar substance on the cliffs of St. Paul’s rocks—-“‘ Extensive portions of these rocks are coated by a layer of a glossy polished substance with a pearly lustre and of a greyish-white colour ; it follows all the in- equalities of the surface, to which it is firmly attached...... It is considerably harder than calcareous spar, but can be scratched with a knife; under the -blow-pipe it scales off, decrepitates, slightly blackens, emits a foetid odour, and becomes strongly alkaline ; it does not effervesce in acids. I presume this substance has been deposited by water draining from the bird’s dung, with which the rocks are covered.” Amongst the Petrels, Prion turtur was obtained, but at the time we visited the island, it was anything but common. It is perhaps worthy of record that we saw the Pintado or Cape Pigeon, Daption capensis, both going and returning from the island about S. Lat. 32°. This group is, how- ever, abundantly represented by the ‘‘ Mutton-birds,” so called. ‘T'wo species, Puffinus brevicaudus, Brandt, and P. sphenurus, Gould, are ex- ceedingly common; the smaller P. sphenurus, on Mutton-bird and Goat Islands, and on the Admiralty Islets, but the other species frequents certain spots on the east coast of the island itself. The Mutton-birds begin to arrive at the latter end of August, as we made our first capture on September 1st, on Goat Island. The same species was afterwards obtained by Mr. Thorpe and the writer at Mutton-bird Point, where we experienced both the -biting propensities, and the peculiar and offensive smell emitted by these birds. Their holes are usually hid under a tussock of grass, sometimes running into the face of the slope for a considerable distance, at other times a mere excavated depression of the surface. The propensities just mentioned have been commented on by the late Mr. Macgillivray, who, speaking of Goose Island, in Bass Straits remarks}—‘ As usual with the Petrel family, they bite severely if incautiously handled, and disgorge a quantity of offen- sive oily matter, the smell of which pervades the whole island.” The large species, P. brevicaudus, frequents the east coast of the main island, and forms for itself extensive rookeries extending inland from the edge of the cliff, or the beach at high-water mark, as the case may be, for a considerable * Geol. Obs. Vole. Islands, visited during the voyage of H.M.S. “‘ Beagle,” 1844, p. 32. +t Voyage of H.M.S. “ Rattlesnake,” 1852, I, p. 73. - 4 GENERAL ZOOLOGY. 15 distance. Good examples of these “rookeries ” may be seen at Clear Place Point, the head of the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and at Ned’s Beach. Regular runs, or pathways, are formed through the long grass or serub, by the constant locomotion of the birds to and from the sea. At these places the burrows consist of vertical or somewhat oblique funnel-shaped holes or depressions scooped out in the loose sandy or rich loamy soil, as the case may be. At the Clear Place Point and the Valley of the Shadow these excavations occupy acres in extent, some of the burrows, instead of mere depressions, consisting of underground tunnels, extending inwards horizon- taliy for as much as three feet. The birds begin to arrive in September, and become plentiful in October, when they proceed to clear out the old holes ; and we were informed by Captain T. Nichols that the din at night, when this is going on, and fighting that takes place for the possession of favoured spots by rival claimants, is something deafening. According to the same informant, laying is commenced about 28th November regularly, and com- pleted on 1st December, the young after hatching being fed and tended until April, when they are allowed to cater for themselves. Some idea of the immense numbers of these birds may be gained from a statement made by an anonymous writer “ Linneus.”* He says:—‘‘Some idea may be formed of the flocks of the dusky mutton-bird, when it is mentioned that a party of five visited one island three days during this last season (1882) and obtained in a few hours 600 dozen of the eggs.” He further adds :—“ The eggs are perfectly sweet, and not the slightest unpleasant flavour or odour ean be detected. They answer just as well as duck’s or hen’s for all purposes to which those are employed, the only difference being that the -albuminous portion is slightly in excess in the eggs of the mutton-bird.” A third species of mutton-bird, with which we are at present unacquainted, is found on the summit of Mount Ledgbird, at a height of 2,504 feet. We heard this bird passing overhead, when camped in Erskine Valley, and the fledglings were obtained for us by Messrs. C. & G. Nichols. The bird is said to have a quantity of white feathers in its plumage ; this, and also its time of breeding clearly indicate as specifically distinct from the other two referred to above. It is believed by Dr. Ramsay to be a Procellaria. The Terns are exceedingly well represented. On the precipitous cliffs of the east coast, and on the Admiralty Islets we met with Anouws cinereus, Gould, the Grey Tern, and obtained its egg. It is a very elegant little bird making its apology for a nest, consisting of a few straws, on ledges, usually overhung by a projectimg point of rock. Dr. Ramsay has lately describedt the egg from specimens we obtained. In strong contrast to the above is another species, Anous stolidus, Latham, the Noddy Tern, locally known as the “Noddy.” With its sooty-brown plumage, black breast, and french-grey poll, this bird forms . .astrong contrast to A. cinereus. We observed it only on the Admiralty Islets, where they form a flat nest on the few low bushes to be found there. The nest seems to be made of any flotsam and jetsam the bird can pick up, cemented together with a dirty-looking paste, probably earth. The birds had evidently paired at the time of our visit, but had not laid. A third and very graceful species is the Sooty Tern, Onychoprion fuliginosus, Gould, known to the Islanders as the “ Wideawake.” Its white breast, white fore- head and cheeks, and otherwise black plumage, with the two long delicate * The Island of Lord Howe. The Madeira of the Pacific.—By ‘‘ Linnzus.” (12mo. Sydney, 1882), pp. 8 and 9. + Proc. Linn. Soc., N.S. Wales, 1887, 1, pt. 4, p. 678. 16 LORD HOWE ISLAND. tail feathers, render it quite as conspicuous as the last species. In Gould’s ’ figure of O. fuliginosus the two characteristic tail feathers are represented black with a white edging, whereas, in reality, they are quite white, with the slightest possible cloud on the inner margin. The egg is laid on any exposed surface, ledge or rock, or on bare spots amongst grass, without protection of any kind, from immediately above high-water mark upwards to the full height of the island. The eggs, which vary much in the mottling of the surface, are plentiful at the beginning of September. They have been since described by Dr. E. P. Ramsay.* The Tropic Birds are represented at Lord Howe by Pheton phenicurus, Gould, known as the Red-tailed Tropic or Boatswain Bird. We observed them on the west side of Mount Ledgbird and on the seaward precipitous face of the North Ridge. It isa remarkably shy and difficult bird to obtain. A frigate-bird, probably Attagen ariel, Gould, the small frigate-bird of Torres Straits, is also said to be a visitant. The Gannets are confined to the Admiralty Islets, although one or two stray individuals of Swla australis, Gould, were seen sailing about the Lagoon. The bird inhabiting the Admiralty’s is Sula cyanops, of which we obtained a fine series, On approaching from seaward, the white plumage of this bird renders it a most conspicuous object, presenting to the eye large white dots scattered in all conceivable positions over the side of the hill. S. cyanops is very stupid, sluggish, and easily captured, for when climbing the steep sides of the Islet, they may be literally walked over, before any attempt on their part is made to waddle off. The egg, of which we obtained a few, is white, nothwithstanding Gould’s statement to the contrary, that it is stained red. Dr. Ramsay has lately describedt examples brought by us. The eggs are simply laid between tussocks of grass. In Gould’s figure, the legs and feet are represented as of a peculiar green, and the iris of the eye yellow. Every example collected by us, on the other hand, had these portions of the body black. Gould’s representation is far from a good one. Lastly a Pelican is said to sometimes visit Lord Howe, but there is not enough brackish water for these birds. The tameness of the land-birds on this ocean-girt island is very re- markable, so much so that at times it is difficult to get sufficiently far enough away from certain species to avoid blowing the specimen to pieces. This trait is taken advantage of by the residents who frequently obtain birds alive by hand snaring. It is particularly noticeable in the case of Merula vinitincta, both species of Gerygone, Pachycephala, and to some extent also Aplonis fuscus. A similar friendliness of disposition is described by Darwin in the case of the birds of the Galapagos Islands. “ I must describe,” he remarks, “ more in detail the tameness of the birds . .. . There is not one which will not approach sufficiently near to be killed witha switch, and sometimes as I have myself tried with a cap or hat.” * Loc. cit., p. 678. + Loe cit., p. 679. $ Journ, Researches Geol, and Nat. Hist., H.M.S. “ Beagle,” 1839, p. 477. GENERAL ZOOLOGY. 17 - The explanation of the following table’ has already been given :— New New South Zealand, Wales. Name, 13 : - ; o oO a-|/s |2|38 | £ ° eee eee * * ReMMEERDHONUTUS, VictllOl........ccccserccecitecescestncesterses| sev | cos “4 * * Eamiisoues loucOgaster, Latham ecsessessercccccsscrcccccvccceceses| soo | # oe es * NIMES LGERGM cesccvecsaceroosbncosscesisececnassceesses| see | * * * oe SMUT WHMEEIG, LESSOM. 10000 .ssscaccssscccsensscccserescscossescee! * ss | * nee SEE EOTIUS, GOULG.. 2... cess stcncesesevscscccccccnssenses| ae ee ae corer, *Zosterops tephropleurus, Gowld ...... siscocecscccssccecscecesee] * % a? ‘ MPMEMGMO THOPPCL, Ramsay .........cccocccscccocescccsccocersss| oe eee a ee EMM AMAUIBTISC, RAMSAY .......0c.ccrcecscreercerstersecsscccee| © sis er CT MMMMEATIOEH, GOULD ...c0ccecccasccccnccersecesecsnsavescssces| * hs * - EEWIRED, FOCIISEY 5.5.0, .00 00s ssecgacrsccncevscccnccsctes| vee | ace | ss ™ EE BE Se vedisnocs savaescscncccvescecccerevives| vos | © * * * UMM DACIICUS, LALhGUt ........cccocessrvecetssceccavcoesss| 408 ie a % * erOGD RRs cutbUralis, Lathas,;........ccssveccccssessseseoere| see | ove | one | * * Pachycephala rufiventris, Latham ...ccciccccsccsccssessseescrveee|* saiasll | vse | * aon. * * Birds reported to visit or to have existed— UG hcchssccphadpacacarsossuadeverscnccsecerccsces| ace ae iE ee ar EES Be sak vec aus ns veprenca ston ccnssccessecevasssece ses Sng SS a rink (1) To this table may now be added Graculus hypoleucos and Himantopus leucocephalus. (2) Seen, but not captured. (5) Sula fiber. (+) The young only obtained. In the more recently published ‘ Tabular List of Australian Birds,” by Dr. E. P. Ramsay, some changes have been made in the nomenclature. Thus: The bird hitherto known as Ninox boobook is regarded as distinct from that species, and is described as NV. albaria, Ramsay ; Myiagra plumbea becomes M.rubecula, Latham ; Cuculus inornatus becomes Cacomantis pallidus, Latham; C. flabelliformis is now known as Cacomantis flabelliformis, Latham ; Chalcites lucidus, Gml., isa synonym of C. plagosus, Latham ; Pufinus brevicrudus, Brandt, is now referred to the genus Nectris; Phoeton pheenicurus, Gould, is now P. rubri- cauda, Bodd.; and lastly, Rallus pectoralis, is now entered as Hypotenidia philippensis, Linn, The following additional birds are mentioned :—Circus Gouldii, Bp.; Majaqueus Gouldit, Hutton; Graculus melanoleucus, Vieillot ; and Himantopus leucocephalus. Cc —=— 18 LORD HOWE ISLAND. With regard to the affinities of the bird fauna of Lord Howe, Dr. E. P. -Ramsay, in 1888, wrote as follows*:—* It will be seen how closely its avifauna approaches that of New South Wales on the one hand, and in two important particulars that of the New Zealand region on the other. The genera found in the New Zealand region, and not in the Australian, are Notornis, Ocydromus, Aplonis. Allthe other genera are represented in New South Wales by the same or allied species, there being of the whole avifauna only nine species, as far as it is at present known, peculiar to the island.” Reptilia.—Mr. Corrie, who wrote in 1878,+ states that neither snakes nor lizards are known on Lord Howe Island, but in this statement he is to some extent wrong. Snakes are certainly unknown, but this important sub- kingdom is certainly represented by the Lacertilia. We suceeded in obtaining two of the three forms recorded, but no additional ones were captured. _ ‘The Geckonide are represented by Phyllodactylus Guentheri, Boulenger,t and Gehyra oceanica, Gray.|| The first was originally brought from Lord Howe Island by the H.M.S. “ Herald,” and is also known to exist both on Norfolk Island and in North-west Australia. Gehyra oceanica was one of the discoveries of that accomplished naturalist and collector J. Macgillivray, during the voyage of H.M.S. “Herald.” It is both a Fijian and Samean species, and in fact appears to be generally distributed through- out the South Pacific Islands, The Scincide have only one representative at Lord Howe, Lygosoma lichenigerum, O’Shaun.,§ which is restricted to the island, where it was first discovered by Macgillivray. So far as our researches enabled us to judge, Phyllodactylus Guentheri is the commonest, the distribution of this and the other species being very general, not only on the main island, but also on Goat Island and the Admiralty Islets. They may be sought foron dry stony ground, under stones, amongst dry leaves, and at the feet of low scrubby trees. As before stated there are no snakes, nor did we see any trace of fresh- water chelonians. The creeks are much too shaded and protected ; indeed there is only one, the Deep Creek, passing Wright’s (now Johnston’s) Farm, in the slightest degree fitted for their existence. Turtles are, however, known to occasionally frequent the shores of the island. Formerly, according to the statements of Mr. E. S. Hill, during the earlier days of the island’s history, they were plentiful. He says:—“Innumerable quantities of of exceedingly fine turtle frequent this place in the summer time, but at the approach of winter they all go to the northward.’ In the paucity of its reptilian fauna Lord Howe resembles the Sandwich Islands. | Pisces —The Fish-fauna of Lord Howe is of a remarkably interesting nature, and. on the whole, of .a decidedly Australian facies. It is an entirely new and unworked field for the Ichthyologist, as we are destitute of a systematic description, or even catalogue, of the fish of this isolated spotin the South Pacific. Mr. J. Douglas Ogilby informs me that Dr. Albert Ginther, F.R.S., only mentions three species as found there, Serranus * Proc. Lin. Soc., N. S. Wales, 1883, vir, part 1, p. 87. + Proc. R. Geogr. Soc., x x11, p. 138. t Cat. Lizards, Brit. Mus., 2nd Edit., 1888, 1, p. 90, t. 7, f. 3. || Ibid., p. 152. § Lbid, 1887, 111, p. 269, t. 20., f. 1. §| Hill’s Lord Howe Island, loc. cit., p. 9. et ee ra viet = Saye? GENERAL ZOOLOGY. 19 Demelii, Giinther, obtained during the voyage of the “ Herald”; Plectropoma cinctum, Giinther ; and Z'rachypoma macracanthus, Giinther. The specimens obtained during our late visit were one hundred and fifty-five in number, distributed over about thirty-two genera, and between thirty-five and forty species. Except a few, too young to be identified, all are of interest, and some, such as Tetragonurus, of especial interest and value. The identification of the genera and species has been carried out by our colleague, Mr. J. Douglas Ogilby, whose appendix to the present sketch will be read with much interest. On glancing through the list given below, the reader will be at once struck by the number of important food fish inhabiting the waters around Lord Howe, a fact to be dwelt on later. Serranus Demeli, Giinther, the Black Rock Cod or “Sea Perch,” and one of the best marketable fish in Sydney, is common, and of large size. The largest seen by us, was one hooked by Mr. Thorpe, which could not have been less than between 80 and 90 lb. An excellent spot for Rock-cod fishing will be found at the western base of Mount Gower, off the Erskine Valley, and the rocky ledges to the east of Ned’s Beach, where our monster was hooked. Other members of the Percide obtained were Plectropoma einctum, Giinther, a Norfolk Island species, and Trachypoma macracanthus, Giinther, said to be restricted to Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands. The so-called Salmon, Arripis salar, Rich., is very common, especially within the Lagoon, where we caught numerous examples, ranging from a few ounces to 3 or 4 lb. in weight. Notwithstanding the reputed poisonous qualities of A. salar, we partook freely of it, and did not experience any unpleasant symptons, nor did we hear of any evil effects arising from its consumption by the Islanders. It is poisonous probably only when stale. Of the tropical family Squamipinnes, two genera were caught, the Sweep, Scorpis equipinnis, being the most important. The Sparide, or Sea Breams are represented by Girella cyanea, Macleay, with which the seas around the islands are teeming. It is one of the most important food fish obtained there, and would yield large results to well conducted fishing opera- tions. No species commends itself more highly for carriage to the Sydney market than G. cyanea, both from its size, plentitude, the firm- ness of its flesh, and ease with which it is caught. It reaches a size of fifteen pounds, and is one of the most exquisitely, although uniformly coloured fish, caught off Lord Howe Island. Two members of the curious family Scorpenide, were secured—one, a handsome Scorpena, and a dried example of Pterois volitans, Linn., presented by Mr. W. E. Langley. “These fish possess in various degrees of development those skinny appendages resembling the fronds of sva-weeds, by which they either attract other fishes, or by which they are enabled more effectually to hide themselves.”* Two other edible forms, members of the Carangide, are a species of Caranz,a very large fish, allied to the Horse Mac- kerels ; and the Seriola Lalandi, C. & V., the King-fish, called “ Yellow-tail”’ by the Islanders, but not the yellow-tail of Port Jackson. It would be of great assistance in unravelling the confusion existing among the local names of fish if a catalogue of the same could be compiled, showing their application to the different species throughout the Australian seas. As a case in point the Rey. J. E. T. Woods remarkst that Seriola Lalandi, although called “ King- fish ” in New South Wales, is not the fish of that name caught in Victorian waters, nor that known under a similar designation in Tasmania. * Giinther, Joc. cit., p. 413. + Fish and Fisheries of New South Wales, 1883, p. 59. 20 LORD HOWE ISLAND. We were not successful in obtaining any of the Fishing Frogs, but Mr. Campbell Stevens, the postmaster presented an example of the pelagic Antennarius coccineus, Les. & Garn. This and its congeners are tropical forms attaching themselves to masses of seaweed. Their habits when inshore, appear to be those of concealment under and amongst stones, from whence they descend on their prey. To Mr. Stevens we are again indebted for the second example known of Zetragonurus Wilkinsoni, Macleay, originally brought from Lord Howe by the Visiting Magistrate, Mr. H. T. Wilkinson,* and described by the Hon. W. Macleay,f under the name of Ctenodax. It was subsequently shown by Mr. Macleay, on the authority of Dr. E. P. Ramsay, to be referable to the genus Zetragonurus, Risso., a scarce deep sea fish found in the Mediterranean, and off Madeira. The general name of “Coral-fish” has been applied to numerous fish frequenting tropical coral-reefs, although appertaining to various families. Under this appella- tion in our collection may be mentioned a species of Apogon, with coloured spots on the tail, also met with at Norfolk Island; Plesiops nigricans, Ripp., one of the Nandide, this being, in the opinion of Mr. Ogilby, a far south station for its occurrence; and a blue-spotted Pomacentrus, to which the same remark may beapplied. One mullet only can be so far recorded from Lord Howe, Myxus elongatus ; it is, however, tolerably common. The Lagoon is frequented in quantity by a Gar-fish or Half-beak, Hemzr- hamphus intermedius, easily taken from a boat with fine tackle. Amongst other forms obtained were,—a Herring, Spratelloides gracilis, Sehl.; the semi- pelagic Gonorhynchus Greyi, Rich., the “sand-eel” of the New Zealand Colonists ; one of the “Skippers,” Scombresox Forsteri, C. & V.; and two Wrasses, Labrichthys luculentus, Rich., and L. inscriptus, Rich. Three fish to which more than passing attention should be called area new species Hoplodactylus Etheridgei, Ogl., caught in a small pool on the largest of the Admiralty Islets ; and a red Sucking-fish, Diplocrepis costatus, Ogl., found for the first time at Lord Howe. Passing to the Murenide, it is interesting to note the occurrence of the common eel, Anauilla australis, Rich. It is tolerably common in many of the dark deep pools in the gullies both of the North Ridge and the southern hills, more especially the Deep Creek. Here our specimen was obtained by the guide, W. Nicholls, following a most exciting chase by the whole party after more than one fish. Individuals are obtained up to 5 and 6 |b. weight. Under blocks on the Coral-reef are found the beautiful striped eel, Murena nebulosa, Ahl., which afforded equally good sport, whilst endeavouring to secure it in a “billy.” The common green eel, UM. afra, was also caught on the reef, although it usually frequents holes and crevices in the rocks. The Sclerodermi are very plentifully represented by Ostracion diaphanus Bl., the Box or Coffer-fish, their bony envelopes strewing the sandy beach of the Lagoon in quantities. We were not successful in obtaining any Gymnodont fish, but Mr. Robin presented a new Globe-fish or Sea Hedge- hog, Tetrodon callisternus, Og). I have omitted to mention that sharks of a large size sometimes visit the lagoons. During the visit of Mr. A. H. Taylor, of the Department of Mines, to Lord Howe in March, 1886, a Tiger Shark, said to be Galeocerdo Rayner, M‘D.& B., was seen in the Lagoon, and would have attacked some bathers had not timely warning been given. * Since these pages have been in type we have had to deplore the death of this highly accomplished gentleman. + A remarkable fish from Lord Howe Island. Proc. Linn. Soc., New South Wales, 1886, x, pt. 4, p. 718. t Note on Ctenodax Wiikinsoni, loc. cit., x1, pt. 2, p. 511. GENERAL ZOOLOGY, 21 _ The following is a list of the principal genera and species, as determined ‘by Mr, Ogilby:— Serranus Demeli, Giinther. Plectropoma cinctum, Ginther. Trachypoma macracauthus, Giinther, Arripis salar, 2ich. Apogon norfolcensis, Ogl. Atypichthys strigatus, 0. & V. Scorpis equipinnis, Rich. Girella cyanea, Macleay. Haplodactylus Etheridgei, Ogl., (sp. nov.) Scorpeena Cooki, Giinther, Pterois volitans, Linn. Plesiops nigricans, Ripp. Pempheris Unwinii, Og/. (sp. nov.) Tetragonurus Wilkinsonii, JJacleay. Caranx georgianus, C. f V. Seriola Lalandii, C. § V. Antennarius coccineus, Less f Garn. Gobius zolosoma, Ogl. (sp. nov.) Salarias quadricornis, C. & V. Myxus elongatus, Giinther. Diplocrepis costatus, Og/. Heliastes hypsilepis, Gunther, Labrichthys luculenta, Rich. Labrichthys inscripta, Rich. Pseudoscarus, sp. Stethojulis axillaris, Q. & Gt Hemirhamphus intermedius, Cant. Scombresox Forsteri, C. & V. Gonorhynchus Greyi, Rich, Sprattelloides gracilis, Seh/. Solenognathus spinosissimus, Giinther. Anguilla australis, Rich, Murena nebulosa, Ahi. Murena afra, Bi. Monacanthus howensis, Ogl. (sp. nov.) Ostracion fornasini, Biance. Ostracion concatenatus, Bi, Tetrodon callisternus, Ogl. (sp. nov.) In concluding this brief and fragmentary review of the fish of Lord Howe, it may not be out of place to consider the position and prosperity of the “island in relation to the future fish supply of the large coast towns of New ‘South Wales. As at present existing, the supply of fresh fish to Sydney ‘and its suburbs, especially the latter, is lamentably deficient. For many years doubtless the fishing-grounds of the main-land coast will be quite capable of supplying any increased demand which may spring up. On the other hand, a time will come when even this supply will be insufficient, both ‘from an increasing population, decrease quantities of the fish caught, and other causes. Public attention will then be directed to Lord Howe Island, as the one place capable of at once affording a good, wholesome, and copious -supply of food-fish, within easy distance of the coast, and affording facilities _ for the prosecution of the industry. The greater part of the island itself, from its peculiar physical conditions, is practically useless for either agricultural or 29 LORD HOWE ISLAND: pastoral purposes, and has, in the meantime, been wisely declared by Govern- ment a botanical reserve. Itis, however, most favourably situated for a fishing station, within easy reach of Port Jackson by fast steam packets. Even a ketch covers the distance, with a favourable wind, in three days—the surrounding seas teeming with fish—the Lagoon forming a safe anchorage for small craft in almost any wind—and the entrances capable of great im- provement, so that small draft supply steamers could also be admitted, except in the foulest weather—and finally, excellent sites for the accommodation of a fishing population. Everything tends to indicate that the future of Lord Howe Island is interwoven with the question of the fish supply of New South Wales. Polyzoa—Beyond the fact that few species were obtained, little can be said of the Polyzoa. In all probability had our arrangements for dredging been better our success would have been greater. The following are the species obtained, as determined by Mr. Whitelegge :-— Schizoporella hyalina, Linz. Z tuberosa, Reuss. Aetea recta, Hincks. Seruparia chelata, Zinn. Menipea cervicornis, AZ‘ Gillivray. Bugula neritina, Zinn. (with avicularia). Catenicella elegans, Busk. a venusta, I‘ Gillivray. Discoporella nove-zelandiz. Idmonea, sp. 3 radians, Milne Edw. Steganoporella, sp. Lepralia, sp. Membranipora, sp. Mollusca.—The distribution of molluscan life at Lord Howe Island may be considered under four aspects, that of the Coral-reef, that of the Lagoon within it, that of the shore generally, irrespective of the former, between high and low-water marks, and the deep water shells. In fact, it may be said that these remarks apply generally to the whole marine fauna. As pre- viously stated, we were able to study the Coral-reef and its objects only at its extreme northern and southern ends, where, however, it was found to be very rich in life. The Lagoon, on the other hand, proved very barren, much to our surprise, but it is possible that our dredging operations might have yielded better results could we have had the assistance of steam-power. The general sameness of marine life cast upon its sandy beach would support the opinion that it is not prolific in objects of interest. The shore fauna differs essentially from that of the Coral-reef, chiefly in its simplicity, and the super- abundance of a few special forms. Of the deep water fauna we are practi- cally ignorant, the state of the weather during the greater portion of our residence there and the want of adequate apparatus quite putting a stop to any possible investigations. Mr. John Brazier has named the whole of the Mollusca. It may be naturally inferred that our gatherings in the Cephalopoda, the highest group of the Mollusca, were of a very limited nature. In fact, we obtained three representatives of the Decapoda, Spirula Peroni, Lamk., Onychoteuthis Bankst, Leach, and Sepia latimanus, Q. & G. The posthorn- like shells of the former cover some parts of the Lagoon beach in hundreds, and at those spots it is impossible to walk without crushing numbers of this GENERAL ZOOLOGY. 23 beautiful species. Greatly to our delight, we were fortunate enough to find one example of S. Peroni with nearly the whole of the body preserved, but the head and tentacles had been removed. Amongst the Prosobranchiate Gasteropoda we found that Fusus Hanleyi, Angas, a shell common in Port Jackson, was exceedingly rare at the island, but of the genus Nassa three species were obtained, Nassa mucronata, A. Adams, NV. elegans, Kiener, a West Australian shell, and WV. paupera, Gould. These shells were found on the Coral-reef, and on the rocky ledges at Ned’s Beach, but they are all rare. Purpura succincta, and its vars. textilosa and striatus are all characteristic shells on the reef at the foot of Mount Ledgbird, espec- ially P. swccineta, with its coarse concentric coste. Next to Turbo imperialis it is the largest univalve we have met with. Purpura amygdala, Kiener, is also obtainable, and is a very interesting shell from its wide distribution from our own coasts to those of Western Australia. Wherever the nature of the shore permitted an inspection to be made we found Sistrum chaidea, Duclos, very common between tide marks on rocks and stones. So also was Cominela (Adamsia) tritoniformis, Blainv. Could an examination of the middle portions and outer face of the reef have been made Voluta would doubtless have proved of more common occurrence. As it was, only three specimens of Voluta nucleus were met with. On the other hand, both on the Coral-reef, and on the basaltic reefs and edges on the east coast, Cowries were tolerably abundant. Cyprea annulus is common, C. caputserpentis, Linn., is moderately so, but C. staphylea, Linn., is not by any means plentiful. C. erones, Linn., occurs in numbers, but C. felina, Gray, is very rare. Mr. Brazier has recognized what he believes to be one example of Cyprea moneta, Linn. Potamides either exists, or has existed at Lord Howe. A single dead specimen of Potamides ebininus, Brug., so common on our estuarine shores was picked up. It is remarkable that a mollusc occurring in such numbers when it is met with, should be so rare in the present instance. It may per- haps indicate one of those mysterious disappearances of a species of which several partial instances have occurred in Port Jackson. The Mitride are well represented by the genera Mitra, Engina, and Columbella, especially the latter. Of the first genus there is Mitra scutularia, Chem. ?, arareshell,and another peculiar small species mottled black and white. Both species of Hngina are rare, whichis to be regretted, as the var maculata of EH. lineata, Reeve, is a small but very pretty shell, marked with dark spiral lines and dots. Columbella versicolor, Sby., occurs, but unlike those of this coast and Northern Australia, the individuals are all small. C. Tyler, Gray, is tolerably common, but the other species are not so. Species of the sub-genus Asopus was obtained, which may perhaps be new. The reason advanced in the case of the Volutes will also probably account for the paucity of the Cones, as three species only were obtained. Conus anemone Lamk., found under stones and blocks, is the most abundant. C. ebreus, Brug., the next so, whilst CO. coronatus, Dilw., is limited in numbers. Amongst truly tropical shells we obtained at Ned’s Beach a few examples of Scalaria perplexa, Pease. The Cerithiide are represented in the collection by dead shells of ZLampania australis, Quoy, all of them distorted. Either it must have entirely got out of its latitude or the immediate physical conditions surrounding the settlement must have been uncongenial. One of the commonest shells at Lord Howe, but very local in its distribu- tion, is Planavis mollis, Sby., always found in some hollow space under a large stone, associated in large numbers. We obtained a quantity in this way on the north-west extension of the Coral-reef in North Bay. 2A, LORD HOWE ISLAND. The Littorinide are another strongly developed family. The widely distributed Littorina diemenensis, var. mauritiana, is found wherever there are rocks along or above high-water mark. Both the black basaltic rocks and the coral-sand rock, where forming reefs and ledges, are frequented by this shell, which appears to be equally indifferent whether it iy lapped gently by the incoming tide, or remains high and dry some feet above flood water- mark, and dependant only on spray. It is a remarkable fact that it may be found covering the rocks at some points, in large numbers, whilst, without the slightest indication why, many square feet of similar rock in a hike position, are almost deserted by it, and its place taken either by a Patella or Nerita. In a similar dry position the writer obtained several examples of Littorina nodulosa on the basaltic spurs running out from the north extremity of Ned’s Beach, but the shell does not appear to be by any means common. Still rarer than this species is ZL. plicata, Linn., obtained on the blocks of basaltic rock strewn on the ledges to the south of Ned’s Beach, but in this case always between tide marks, and fully covered at high water. Of therarer forms of Littorina, L. undulata, Gray, was also collected. The Neritide are an equally interesting group of shells, both from their prevalence and general distribution. Nerita melanotragus, E. A. Smith, occurs in thousands everywhere, but more particularly at those points where the beach, between tides is composed of the coral-sand rock forming the low-lying portions of the Island. On the off-lying islets, especially Rabbit island, and along the east coast generally this species is decidedly smaller, than when found on the rocky ledges between the landing place and the Old Settlement, where some fine specimens can be obtained. LL, melanotragus is found plentifully on the coast of New South Wales, and also at Norfolk Island. Another common form is Nerita antiquata, Recluz, a shell found on the Victorian coast, but rare here. On the south shore end of the Coral-reef the most typical shell is Turbo imperialis, Linn., with its won- derfully massive operculum. Notwithstanding its frequency, however, it is difficult to obtain cabinet specimens, the shell appearing to have a natural affinity for the growth of an incrusting nullipore, and other epiphytic organisms. Associated with 7. imperialis, although in less numbers, we found Purpura succincta already mentioned, and numerous examples of Doliwm variegatum, Lamk. An immense specimen of this shell was brought from Lord Howe, by the Visiting Magistrate, Mr. H. T. Wilkinson, and ex- hibited at the Linnean Society, Sydney,* measuring about nine inches in its longest diameter, by a transverse measurement of eight inches. At the meeting in question, Mr. Brazier stated that the species had not previously been found so far east of the mainland of Australia. Only two species of Zrochus were found, one, 7. Zorresi, and. another kuown to Mr. Brazier only, from Western Australia. The place of Zrochus is taken by the little trochoid Ricella plicatula, Phil., another Norfolk Island shell. It seems to love crawling over small stones, on a more or less flat beach, especially if of a muddy nature. Such patches are to be found on a part of the foreshore of the Old Settlement, and around Rabbit Island, where it is very plentiful. A small form of Haliotis is plentiful on the Coral-reef, the largest examples averaging about one inch in diameter. We did not observe any of the larger species of this genus. Although found on the Coral-reef it cannot be said that Patella is common there, but here and there along the coast line P. tramoserica, Martin, becomes more so; whilst * Proc. Linn. Soc. N. 8. Wales, 1885, x, p. 696. GENERAL ZOOLOGY. . at the Admiralty Islets it acquires a much larger size, and is decidedly more plentiful. One specimen of Siphonaria denticulata, Q. & G., common to Port Jackson and New Caledonia, was taken on Rabbit Island; and several examples of Scutus unguis, Linn., var. corrugatus, Reeve, were found on the Coral-reef. The Chitonide are sparsely represented by a small Chiton, and two species of Anthochites, and were attached to stones on the Coral-reef. Dead specimens of Triton cynocephalus, Lamk., and Pterocera chiragra, var. rugosa, Sby., were found, but Mr. Brazier, without additional evidence, is disinclined to regard these as other than conveyed to the island through human agency. They are New Caledonia species, and have not been traced so far to the south-east before. The relative prevalence of Patella and Siphonaria seems to be exactly the opposite of the Rev. J. E. T.-Wood’s experience on the north-east coast of the Continent. In the neighbourhood of Trinity Bay he found Sizhonaria to be the characteristic genus, whilst in our own case it is Patella.* The remaining groups of the Gasteropoda are but feebly represented in our collection. Of the Tectibranchiata we have only three, Bulla, Pleuro- branchus, and Aplysia. The former is represented by a few examples of B. ampulla, but all dead specimens; the latter by Aplysia tigrina, Rang. The Nudibranchs would probably reward a more vigorous search than we were able to give, two genera only coming under our notice, a species of Onchydium, and Dolabrifera Brazeri, Shy. The Heteropora are of more importance from the plentiful occurrence of Zanthina. This beautiful genus is represented by two species—ZJ. casta, Reeve, and J. exigua, Lamk. The former is scattered in thousands on the sandy beach of the Lagoon, invariably coming on shore with the mollusc zn situ, The latter is the beautiful high- spired species, with the well marked sinus in the onter lip of the mouth. From amongst the immense number of the commoner form examined by us, only two specimens of this species were found. 3 The group to which the greatest interest attaches itself is certainly the Pulmonifera. Thanks to the untiring exertions of Mr. Whitelegge, we are able to extend this division of the Mollusca by no less than seven undescribed species. A curious resemblance exists to some extent between Lord Howe Island and the Sandwich Islands. Not only are both widely isolated, but in the former the land shells are said by Wallace+ to be peculiar to the group, and they are certainly so in the case of Lord Howe. A further resemblance takes place in the very small number of Operculate Pulmonifera existing on both groups of islands—in the case of our island, only three genera. More attention has been paid to the land shells of Lord Howe than to any other group of Mollusca found there through the researches of Pfeiffer, Cox, Brazier, and Gaskoin, and collections made by the late Mr. Macgillivray, Mr. G. Masters, and Mr. A. Morton. From a short note by Mr. Brazier in 1869,t it appears that Macgillivray alone collected four species of Helix, a Bulimus, four Diplommatina, and an Omphalotropis. The genus Helix is represented by no less than ten species. The typical form, characteristic of Lord Howe, Helix Sophie, Gaskoin,§ is scattered freely over the whole island, and extends to a comparatively high altitude on Mount Ledgbird. In the lower lying portions of the island, in * Proc. Linn. Soc. N. 8S. Wales, v, pt. 2, p. 112. ' + Island Life, 1880, p. 308. t “Lord Howe Island,” Sydney Morning Herald, 1869, t1x, No. 9,694 (June 16th), p. 8. § Proc. Zool. Soc., 1854, p. 152. 26 LORD HOWE ISLAND. well-wooded localities, but not in the open flats, it is very plentiful under dead timber, bark, and fallen palm leaves. We particularly noticed its prevalence on soil formed of the decomposed Coral-sand rock, the dead shells in places strewing the ground in thousands. On Rabbit Island, H. Sophia, assumes a more elongated character, and Mr. Brazier proposes to dis- tinguish this as the variety conica. On the summit of Mount Ledgbird, the place of H. Sophie is taken by an equally large, if not somewhat larger species, Helix howinsule, Cox.* In describing the original speci- mens collected by Mr. E. 8. Hill, Dr. Cox says simply “on a mountain,” but examples brought us by Mr. G. Nichols, prove this to be Mount Ledgbird (2,504 ft.), where it occurs from the summit downwards. The little Rabbit or Goat Island does not appear to have a species peculiar to itself, for H. Catletti, Brazier,t the common species there, occurs on the main island. On the eastern flanks and spurs of Mount Ledgbird we collected a small Helix, at a height of 800-900 ft., which Mr. Brazier proposes to call Helix Ledgbirdi. It is a pretty little turreted and variegated shell, and may be found after rain crawling on the basaltic boulders and blocks strewn over the flanks of this inaccessible hill, but in dry weather it takes refuge in the large vesicular cavities of the basalt. On the low grounds at the northern end of the island, amongst cultivated ground a small species was found in numbers to which the name of H. Unwini, Brazier, is attached, in compliment to Mr. H. A. Unwin, who joined our party as a volunteer worker. The humid gullies and moist hill flanks, running from the North Ridge to the Old Settlement, afforded a prolific hunting ground. There, amid loam, decaying wood, and under stones, were obtained numbers of small Helices, which Mr. Brazier proposes to designate H. Whiteleggi; a very finely but regularly transversely striated species, H. Ballz, arare form, named in honour of Lieut. Ledgbird Ball, the discoverer of Lord Howe Island in 1788; and lastly, H. Wilkinsoni, a pretty, flatly coiled, and equally rare shell, arter the late Mr. H. T. Wilkinson, Visiting Magis- trate. In addition to the species already mentioned, two others have been described, but we failed to rediscover the last named, viz., H. textrix, Pfr.,t and H. cimex, Pfr.;§ the latter a dark brown shell, with a perspective umbilicus. The former is said, by Mr. A. Morton,|| to occur “on Mount Gower, 2,840 feet above the level of the sea,” z.e., on the summit. A fine new species of Vitrina was found on the stems and leaf sheaths of the palms growing on the lower grounds, (Kentia Belmoreana, the “Curly Palm,” and Kentia Forsteriana, the “Thatch Palm’’), and is called by Mr. Brazier, Vitrina Etheridget. In a similar position we also found Helicarion Hilli, Cox,4 but did not trace it above a height of 400 to 500 feet. On the other hand Mr: Morton quotes** Helix Hilli, from the summit of Mount Gower, but as there is no species of that name on the Island, he probably refers to the Helicarion. * Description of new Land Sh»lls from Australia and the Solomon Islands. Proce. Zool. Soc., 1873, p. 148. + Description of Six new sp2cies of Land Shells from Australia and Lord Howe’s Island, loe. cit., 1872, p. 617. ) ft Proc. Zool. Soc., 1885, p. 92. $ Ibid, 1854, p. 288. 3 || Report to the Trustees of the Australian Museum, (Lord Howe Island, Present State, §c.), 1882, p. 12. | | { Description of New Land Shells from Australia and the Solomon Islands. Proc. Zool. Soc., 1773, p. 151, t. 16, f. 7, a-b. **# Loc. cit. | GENERAL ZOOLOGY. 27 Some years ago Mr. Brazier described * a species of Tornatellina from Lord Howe, but from the fact that only one fragment was found amongst our large gatherings from the North Ridge gullies, it must be very rare. In the paper referred to he also described Simpulopsis Mastersi,t one specimen of which occurs in the present collection. Equal only in abundance, even if not commoner than the characteristic Helix Sophie, is Bulimus bivaricosus, Gaskoin,t found everywhere under cover, and in immense numbers. Like the Helix, this shell appears to avoid open spaces as a rule, and prefers shady damp situations and the scrubby hill sides where composed of the Coral-sand rock. It is sparingly represented even at the higher altitudes, being reported as scen under the “ wall” of Mount Ledgbird. The egg-cases are usually met with at the base of the palm leaf sheaths, between the latter and the stems. There is great varia- tion exists in the thickness of the shell of this species, and I believe it was on a thin shelled variety that Dr. Cox established his Bulimus cuniculinsule.§ It occurs on Rabbit or Goat Island, and is,as Dr. Cox says, both smaller and lighter than the typical form of the main island. Numbers of gradations can, however, be traced amongst a series of the latter, and it seems more in keep- ing with facts to regard the Rabbit Island shell simply as a variety. This variation in the thickness is carried to the extreme condition in the sub- fossil examples of B. bivaricosus, in which the shell becomes thickened to an enormous extent, but in this case even gradations can be traced to the existing condition of the species. This variety I purpose calling B. bicaricosus, var. solida. We may now pass to the operculate section of the Pulmonifera consisting of three genera and seven species. Two forms are common, Omphalotropis exquisita, Pfr.,|| and Diplommatina Macgillivrayi, Pfr.,{ both originally collected at Lord Howe by the late J. Macgillivray. Two other species of the last genus were collected both by Macgillivray and ourselves, D. capillacea, Pfr.,** and D. Cantori, Pfr.,t+ but are not as plentiful as the former shells. A fourth species of Diplommatina is said by Dr. Pfeiffer to exist on Lord Howe, called by him D. chordata,tt but we did not obtain it. The list may be concluded by one specimen of Realia. Under very trying circumstances we were fortunate enough to discover fresh water non-pulmoniferous forms at a considerable height on the eastern flanks of Mount Ledgbird in steep gullies running down to the shore. These consisted of two species of Bythinella, crawling over stones. One, a spirally striated shell, with a deep suture, will be described as B. Whiteleggei, by Mr. Brazier, and the other as B. Ramsaii, as an appreciation of the interest taken in our proceeding by the Curator of the Australian Museum. The bivalve mollusca (Pelecypoda) are not largely represented at Lord Howe Island. Within the Lagoon at, and a little below low water-mark, * Description of six new species of Land Shells from Australia and Lord Howe’s Island Proce. Zool. Soc., 1872, p. 619. + Loc, cit., p. 619. f Proc. Zool. Soc., 1854. p. 152. § Description of new land shells from Australia and the South Sea Islands. Proc. Zool. Soc., 1872, p. 19, t. 4, f. 3. || A Monograph of the Genera Reilia and Hydrocena. Proc. Zool. Soc., 1854, p. 307 (=O. Pfeiferi, Crosse). : {] Descriptions of eighteen new species of Cyolostomacea from Mr. Cuming’s Collection. Proc. Zool, Soc., 1854, p. 303. ** Tbid, p. 303. ++ Descriptions of sixteen new species of Pneumonopoma from the Collection of H. Cuming, Proc. Zool. Soc., 1856, p. 336. ff Proc. Zool. Soc., 1855, p. 105. 28 LORD HOWE ISLAND. occur Pinna (sp. nov.?), Lucina interrupta, Lamk., Cardium unedo, Linn., and Mesodesma glabrata, Lamk., all, with the exception of the last, very common. Large numbers are cast upon the beach, but they may be obtained wherever the sand has a slight admixture of argillaceous matter, as at the north end of the Lagoon, off the Old Settlement. Cardium unedo, the “‘ Strawberry cockle,” exhibits endless varieties in its colouring. Some are almost colourless, others with a few of the strawberry seeds on the anterior sides; others yellow tinted towards the ventral margins, or even a delicate red tint ; some have the red specs carried on to the posterior slopes, whilst again many are beautifully besprinkled across the whole breadth of the valves. The colourless condition appears to represent old shells. The genus Pecten is peculiar by its absence. We did not meet with many bivalves of importance on the reef, but the commoner forms are Mytilicardia variegata, Brug. ; two species of Avicula, A. fimbriata Reeve, and A. malle- oides, Reeve; a few Lima multistriata, Sby.; two species of stunted oyster, a Modiola met with in all the pools and crevices, but specifically unknown to Mr. Brazier; and two species of Arca, A. (Litharca) decussata, Sby., and A, divaricata, Sby. The first is moderately common, and distorted into all sorts of shapes ; whilst the latter, unlike individuals from the more tropical islands of the Pacific, are small and uncommon, Perhaps the most characteristic bivalve found on the reef is a small clam, Zridacna elongata, Lamk., lying half buried in cracks and depressions of the surface. Itis also found on the rocky ledges of the east coast. An example of Crassatella pulchra, var. Cumingi, A. Ad.,and a dead valve of Pectunculus costatus, Reeve, were also picked up. Neither Brachiopoda, nor Pteropoda were met with. The following is the complete list of Mollusca collected, as determined by Mr. Brazier :— Spirula Peroni, Lamk. Onychoteuthis Banksi, Leach. Sepia latimanus, Q. g G. ‘Fusus Hanleyi, Angas. Ranella leucostoma, Lamk. Nassa mucronata, A. Ad. elegans, Kiener. 5» paupera, Gould. Purpura succincta, Martin. var. striata, os ud var. textilosa. amygdala, Kiener. » Smithi, Brazier (sp. nov.) Cominella tritoniformis, Blainv. Ricinula morus, Lamk. Sistrum chaidea, Duclos. = marginalba, Bean. Voluta nucleus, Lamk. Columbella versicolor, Sby. 9) 9) +P] 3$ = Tyleri, Gray. ie varians, Sby. a Cumingi, Reeve. a sp. Engina armillata, Reeve. » lineata, Reeve. Mitra scutulata, Chem. ? 99 Sp. -GENERAL ZOOLOGY.. Vermetus, sp. Cypreea erones, Linn. moneta, Linn. ? annulus, Linn. caputserpentis, Linn. staphylea, Linn. felina, Gray. vitelus, Linn. Natica picta, Recluz, var. Dolium variegatum, ‘Lamk Scalaria perplexa, Pease. Conus anemone, Lamk. 9 >P) +P] 29 ebreus, Hvwass. coronatus, Dilo. capitaneus, Linn. vermiculatus, Hwass. Strombus floridus, Lamk. 99 Vertagus obeliscus, Brug. Cerithium, sp. Lampania australis, Quoy. Potamides ebeninus, Brug. Littorina diemenensis, var. mauritiana, Lamk. 9 99 luhuanus, Linn. nodulosa, Gmelin. undulata, Gray. Planaxis mollis, Sby. Hipponyx antiquatus, Linn. Nerita melanotragus, H. A. Smith. 9? ? b] 99 Turbo imperialis, Linn. Trochus Torresi, #. A. Smith. Clanculus, sp. Ricella plicatula, Phil. Thalotia, sp. Halitis, sp. Patella tramoserica, Martin. Scutus unguis, var. corrugatus, Reeve. Siphonaria. denticulata, Q. § G. Chiton, sp. Anthochites, sp. Bulla ampulla, Linn. Aplysia tigrina, Rang. Pleurobranchus, sp. Onchydium, sp. Dolabrifera Brazieri, Sby. Janthina exigua, Lamb, 9 antiquata, "Reeluz. albicella, Linn. plicata, Linn. casta, yee ~~ Helix Sophie, Gask. rh) 29 J TF +P] a var. conica, Brazier (var. noy.). howinsule, Cox. Catletti, Brazier. Whiteleggei, Brazier (sp. nov.) 29 30 LORD HOWE ISLAND. “Helix textrix, Pfr. — , Ledgbirdi, Brazier (sp. nov.). : » Balli, Brazier (sp. nov.) = 5, | OS, ee, —~ 5; Unwini, Brazier (sp. nov.). a ee Wilkinsoni, Brazier (sp. nov.). Bulimus bivaricosus, Gask. var. cuniculoides, Cox. Helicarion Hilli, Cox. Vitrina Etheridge, Brazier (sp. nov.). Tornatellina inconspicua, Brazier. —Simpulopsis Mastersi, Brazier. Omphalotropis exquisita, Pe. of Pfeifferi, Crosse. Realia, sp. Diplommatina Macgillivrayi, Pfr. ‘ capillacea, Pfr. “ Cantori, Pfr. chordata, Pfr. Bythinella Whitleggei, Brazier (sp. Nov.). a * Ramsayi, Brazier (sp. nov.) Ostrea, sp. a. ” sp Avicula acteiots, Reeve zi malleoides, Reeve. Pinna, sp. Lima multicostata, Sby. Modiola, sp. Litharca decussata, Sdy. Arca divaricata, Sby. Pectunculus tenuicostatus, Reeve. Chama, sp. Tridacna elongata, Lamk. Carduim unedo, Linn. Lucina interrupta, Lamk. Crassatella pulchra, Reeve, var. Penne. A. Ad. Tapes literata, Linn. ~ Mesodesma elabrata, Lamk. Mytilicardia variegata, Brug. Tunicata—Ascidians are excessively common on the stones and blocks, and in the depressions and hollows of the Coral-reef, and many of a very marked appearance. Our knowledge of the Australian species is too limited to permit of any remarks being made. Insecta—The Insecta, and allied classes were not made a special object of search, but were simply captured when presented to our notice. Indeed, the season was not sufficiently advanced for collecting one order at all—the Lepidoptera, a solitary individual being the only one seen and that shortly after our arrival. So far as our collection can be taken as a test, the Coleoptera are the most abundant, and as it happens this order has been, through the researches of the Hon. W. Macleay, Mr. F. P. Pascoe, and Mr. A.S. Olliff, and others, more systematically worked out than the others. Amongst the Longicorn Beetles we obtained what is believed to be Onemoplites Howei, Thomson, and Oerestwm simplex, Gyll. Two examples of Blax Wollastoni, White, were discovered, and El == — os tC GENERAL ZOOLOGY. 31 also two of the beautiful green beetles peculiar to Lord Howe, Lamprima insularis, Macleay,* found by Mr. Thorpe, one on Rabbit Island, the other on the main island. Although not obtained during our visit it may be mentioned that Mr. Olliff has in course of description two species of Staphylinide — not hitherto recorded; one he calls Hesperus pacificus, differing from the mainland species, H. hemorrhoidalis, Macleay, in several important particulars; the other is Creophilus erythrocephalus, Fab., an abundant and widely distributed species. The same author has already recorded} two species of Cucujidee, viz, Dendrophagus australis, Erich., a widely distributed Australian form ; and Cryptamorpha Desjardinsii, Guer., found on the banana trees of the Island, but probably introduced. The most numerously represented divisions of the Coleoptera are the Carabide, and Rhynchophora. Amongst the former we have the very uncommon Scara- phites Macleayi, Westw., a new discovery at Lord Howe, but found in New South Wales; Chlenius peregrinus Cast., a widely distributed Australian species, and one found in Norfolk Island. The Rhynchophora are all recorded species, but we were not fortunate enough to find any of them, although they are peculiar to Lord Howe Island, viz., Orthorhinus lateralis, Pasc.,t Tranes msularis, Pasc.,§ Embaphoides pyxidatus, Pasc.,|| 4ithreus cicatricosus, Pasc.,4{ Sphaeropterus barbipes, S. & J., and Hybomorphus melanosomus, 8. & J., the most peculiar form of insect found there; and lastly a strange, and perhaps new species of Telephorus, locally known as the “bug.” By far the two commonest and most widely distributed beetles on Lord Howe are the little Saragus exulans, Pasc.,and S. Gulielmi, Oll., to befound under every stone and in every rotten stump. ‘They are peculiar to the island, and when disturbed immediately feign death, tucking their legs underneath the body and remaining still for an incredibly long time. Since our return from Lord Howe, Mr. W. E. Langley has brought from thence a true water-beetle of the family Dytiscide, referable to the genus Cybister. The Hymenoptera are conspicuous by their absence in our collection. Bees are plentiful and cultivated ; but whether or no there is a native bee, we are unable to say. Nests are occasionally taken from the banyan trees, probably those of bees escaped from confinement, and I regret to say that I saw more than one instance of these noble trees felled for the purpose of obtaining the comb. As before stated, our visit was paid at too early a season for Lepidoptera, with the exception of a few WHeterocera, chiefly small forms. There is, however, one exception in Dasypodia cymatodes, Guénée, which occurs under very interesting circumstances in some caves at the North Bay. These occur in the Coral-sand rock, and extend for a limited distance underground, the roofs of both being completely clothed by thousands upon thousands of this moth. The most important members of the Orthoptera we obtained were a large Blatia, probably a new species, which is invariably found in and under decayed logs: a mole-cricket, Gryllotalpa australis, Eric., not hitherto recorded from the island; and an immature grasshopper of the genus Phaneroptera, and of which there appeared to be large numbers about. The so-called “Tree Lobster, ” Hurycantha australis, Montr., peculiar to Lord Howe, was found to occupy the hollow trunks of the smaller trees along * Revision of the Genus Lamprima of Latreille, &. Proc. Linn. Soc., N. S. Wales, x, pt. 2, p. 137. + Proc. Linn. Soc., N. S. Wales, x, pt. 2, p. 218 and 220. ft Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 1882, 1x, p. 381. _ § Lbid, 1874, x111, p. 387. || Tbid, loc. cit. p. 419. §] Ibid, 1875, xvI, p. 65, t. 1, f. 8. 32 LORD. HOWE ISLAND. parts of the flats in some quantity. Their presence is at once discerned by the small heaps of droppings collected either at the open base of the hollow, or on the ground, at the foot of the tree inhabited by them. To obtain specimens, the hollow in the trunk must be followed out, and a hole cut at the particular spot occupied by the insect, their habit and power of closely clinging to an object preventing the adoption of any other method except, perhaps, that of smoking out. We found the females greatly predominating over the males. Since our return from Lord Howe Island, Mr. W. H. Langley has brought from thence a specimen of the Water Scorpion, Belostoma indicum, L. & 8. It is, however, possible that it may have been introduced. The only Hemipterous insect met with by ourselves was an immature bug, belonging to the family Scutellaride, and perhaps even of the genus Scutellera itself. This bug was obtained in large numbers by the writer, on the flat at the back of Blenkinthorpe Beach, where it occurred in hundreds on the tree-trunks and branches, and covering many yards square on the ground. A few years ago a Coccus seems to have played sad mischief with the ban- yans. Mr. Duff remarks on this subject,—‘“I noticed with regret that many of the large banyan-trees (Ficus columnaris) on the low land were in an unhealthy and decaying state, mostly their leaves having fallen off, whilst those remaining were infected with an insect (Coccus) underneath the leaves, causing them to have a sickly yellow appearance. The Coccws insect is the same as that which attacked and damaged the Moreton Bay fig-trees in Sydney parks and gardens a few years ago.”’* Passing to the Myriopoda, several forms of Julus are met with, particularly a slender black species. This occurs wherever there is a superabundance of rotton woody matter, and frequently at the bases of the palm sheaths, between the leaf stalks and the stem. The first order of this class, the Chilopoda, is represented by a Centipede, Heterostoma, met with under much the same circumstances. Lastly we obtained a number of Spiders, but these appear to be immature individuals, and of doubtful identity, and this group would undoubtedly repay further research. The following Arachnid genera are recorded by Mr. E. 8. Hill—Epeira, Lycosa, Olios, Thomisus, Clubiona, Delena, and Amourobius (7) The following is as complete a list of the “ Insecta” of Lord Howe, using the term in its broadest sense, which it has been possible to get together.f Cnemoplites Howei, Thom. Leptops Etheridgei, OJ/. (sp. nov.) Blax Wollastoni, White. Lamprima insularis, Macleay. “Hesperus pacificus, O71. *Creophilus erythrocephalus, Fadr, Scaraphites Macleayi, Westw. Chlenius peregrinus, Cast. Lestignathus fugax, Ol. (sp. nov.) Dyscolus hilaris, Ol/. (sp. nov.) Diaphoromerus iridipennis, Ch. *Orthorrhinus lateralis, Pase. *Tranes insularis, Pase. * Report to the Hon. J. B. Wilson (Lord Howe Island, Report on Present Prospeets, ¢.), loc. cit., p. 10. [This seems to be a mistake. The insect was the larva of a species of Galeruca (Coleoptera. )—E.P.R. ] + Those species marked with an asterisk are quoted from authorities, GENERAL ZOOLOGY. 33 *Embaphiodes pyxidatus, Pase. * Ethreus cicatricosus, Pase. *Hybomorphus melanosomus, S. & J. *Sphaeropterus barbipes, 8. & J. *Dendrophagus australis, Eric. *Cryptamorpha Desjardinsii, Guer. Cybister tripunctatus, Oliv. Nyctobates sterrha, Ol/. (sp. nov.) Telephorus apterus, O//. (sp. nov.) Saragus exulans, Pasc. Saragus Gulielmi, OJ/. (sp. nov.) Dasypodia cymatodes, Guénée. Blatta, sp. nov. ? Gryllotalpa australis, Eric. Phaneroptera, sp. Eurycantha australis, Montr. Belostoma indicum, L. & VN. Scutellera, sp. ? Julus, sp. Heterostoma, sp. Crustacea.—This group does not call for a prolonged notice, although Crustacea may be found in great abundance, throughout the surrounding seas, and to a great extent on the rock-bound shores of the island. So far as Mr. Whitelegge has been able to determine them, from 27 to 30 genera, comprising 35 species, were collected, chiefly Decapods, with an Isopod, a Stomapod, and a few Cirripedia. In Dr. Haswell’s Catalogue none are recorded from Lord Howe Island. The task of determining the collection has proved of no small difficulty to Mr. Whitelegge, from the almost entire absence of the more important illustrated works bearing on the subject. The Carcinology of Lord Howe Island is practically an unworked branch, and its study would well repay the student of this interesting group, the large variety of forms to be obtained there having already been commented on by Mr. A. Morton.* No better hunting ground could exist than the deep pools, and rocky eastern coast of Lord Howe, and the numerous shelter places on the western Coral-reef. Although one or two rare forms were taken by us, we did not collect any of large size. The preponderance of Decapoda can hardly be taken as implying a superabundance of this division of the Crustacea, but only so far as came under our notice. The Inachide are represented by a funny little species, Menethius mono- ceras, Lath., found on the Coral-reef amongst stones and weeds, and on the approach of the collector, sits up in a grotesque and semidefiant manner. It is widely distributed throughout the neighbouring tropical seas. The Can- ceride are, as regards genera, the most numerous, and a fair series were obtained, including three species of Actwa, especially A. tomentosa, M. Edw., another reef crab but remarkable only for its abundance. A second species is believed by Mr. Whitelegge to be A. rugata, A. & W., a form not recorded by Dr. Haswell as Australian. Passing to the genus Xanthodes, we found X. atromanus, Hasw., to be fairly abundant, and are thus able to localize a very interesting crab, of hitherto unknown habitat, and a species which may be a Medeus, but, perhaps distinct from that hitherto recorded as Australian, We found £tisus longimanus, a Queensland, Fiji, and Sandwich * Report to the Trustees (Lord Howe Island, Report on Present Prospects, &¢.), loc. cit,, p, 12. D 34 LORD HOWE ISLAND. Island species, common on the reef. Other representative tropical forms are Phymodius ungulatus, M. Edw., and Ohlorodius niger, Forsk., the latter being very abundant. By far the commonest Decapod at Lord Howe is Ozius truncatus, M. Edw., found everywhere on the rocks between tide © marks. It is of a remarkably active disposition, and possesses the faculty of making its way into all sorts of crevices and corners. The largest we obtained measured two and a half inches across the carapace, by one and three-quarters. Another small species of Oziuvs, as yet unnamed, with the fingers of the hand tipped with dark red, occasionally came under notice, and is a very distinctly marked form. The Eriphide, besides the genus Ozius, are represented by a species of Pilwmnus, apparently not recorded as Australian by Haswell, Actumnus tomentosus, Dana, a Queensland species, and Trapezia cymodoce, Herbst, a rare form. Small individuals of Neptunus pelagicus, Linn., were caught, and, with Thalamita prymna, Herbst, represent the Portunide. The former is one of the edible crabs sold in the Sydney market, and a very widely-distributed species, but does not appear, so far as our observations went, to attain any size at Lord Howe Island. A second small species of Thalamita was collected, covered with many spines, but is at present undetermined. When visiting Blenkinthorpe Bay, Mr. Thorpe and the writer obtained numerous examples of a sand-crab, to all appearance Ocypoda ceratophthalma. Dr. W. A. Haswell states* that the hands are not spinous, but in our specimens they are decidedly so, and correspond more closely with the description given by Stark+ than they do with that of the other writer. This crab burrows in the sand between tide-marks, to a depth of two feet or more, the burrows running obliquely in a direction from the approaching water. The apertures of these retreats are circular, and at a first glance resemble those of some mollusca. The largest crab we met with at Lord Howe was Grapsus variegatus, Fabr., and it is without doubt also the commonest. It is a species found every- where throughout the Pacific, reaching even to the coasts of Chili.t Another cosmopolitan member of the Grapside is Planes minutus, Linn., and besides this we found Paragrapsus quadridentatus, M. Edw., and Plagusia chabrus, Linn. The identification of the former is open to some doubt, although the females were obtained having the characteristic line down the hand to the forefinger. The latter is another species having a very wide distribution. The little Letolophus planissimus is common under stones, exceedingly quick, and, like some spiders, has the habit, when disturbed, of crouching we with its legs tucked under it, when its almost flat carapace is difficult to detect. By far the most important member of the Decapoda was Mr. Whitelegge’s discovery of a fresh-water crab, plentifully distributed in the water-carrying gullies of the North Ridge, behind the Old Settlement, at a height of from 200 to 300 feet above high-water mark. It is a species of Hymenicus. After leaving Newcastle in the s.s. “Taupo,” on our way to Lord Howe Island, a derelict waterman’s wherry was picked up, and in the joints of the timbers and along the keel we found a small crab, probably the larval condition of Mycteris longicarpus, Latr., a species found in Port Jackson, and, according to Dr. Haswell, in New Caledonia also. It is frequently met with marching in large companies over sandy flats. The elegant Ranina dentata occurs at Lord Howe, but although at times plentiful enough, we did not succeed in taking it. A specimen was, however, obligingly presented py Mr. W. Nichols. * Cat. Austr. Stalk and Sessile-eyed Crustacea, 1882, p. 94. + Elements Nat. Hist., 1828, 11, p. 148. {Fish and Fisheries of New South Wales, 1883, p. 125. GENERAL ZOOLOGY. 35 The Hermit Crabs, so far as our observations went, are not plentiful. Pagurus punctulatus, M. Edw., was secured in a dead specimen of Turbo imperialis ; it is a widely distributed species. A second and very pretty crab was found in a young shell of the same mollusc, the ambulatory legs cross-banded in variegated colours. Fragments of a Palinurus were shown to us, perhaps those of P. ornatus, Fabr., and we were informed that the Sydney Crawfish, P. Huegellii, Heller, was also indigenous to the island. Should this be so, it is possible that the well-stocked waters of Lord Howe Island would form an excellent preserving ground for this most delicious of all the Australian Crustacea. The Crangonide are represented by Alpheus Edwardsi, Aud., one of the “Nippers.” This Crustacean afforded Mr. Whitelegge much amusement when collecting, by the peculiar clicking noise made when an individual was thrust into the collecting jar, just like the sudden cracking of a bottle. So deceptive was the noise, that on several occasions the jar was examined to ascertain if it had burst, and it was some time before the obvious explana- tion was grasped. Dr. Coppinger, in his account of the “ Alert’s’’* cruise, describes a similar phenomenon. Speaking of a dredge-haul in Port Curtis, he says :—“ Conspicuous by their abundance amongst the contents of the dredges, and by their curious habit of making a low, snapping noise, with the large pincer-claws, were the shrimps of the genus Alpheus. When placed in water ina glass jar, the sound produced exactly resembles the snap which is heard when a tumbler is cracked from unequal expansion of hot water.” The only Stomapod noticed was the well-known Australian tropical reef Squilla, Goniodactylus chiragra, Fabr. Not the least interesting crustacean we obtained was an Isopod, a species of the genus Owrozeuktes, which lives parasitically within the oral cavities of fish. We found it frequenting the Sweep, Scorpis eqguipinnis, Rich. A small Cirripede is attached freely to a multitude of marine terrestrial objects scattered about the beach. It is probably Lepas pectinata, Spengler. This habit of fixing itself in small clusters to almost anything is referred to by Darwin,t who mentions, amongst other things, Spirula, on which we also saw it. Its geographical range is wide, extending from “the North of Ireland to off Cape Horn,” and it is also common under the tropics. The equally widely distributed Lepas anserifera, Linn., also occurs at Lord Howe. The voleanic rocks at Ned’s Beach, along the high-water mark, and possibly also those at other parts of the Island are thickly dotted over with Zetraclita rosea, Kraus, [= Balanus Cumingii, Chenu.], a barnacle common to the east coast of Australia from Moreton Bay to Twofold Bay, attached, Darwin says, to “ littoral rocks and shells.” The following is a complete list of the Crustacea, so far as at present determined by Mr. Whitelegge :— Menethius monoceros, Lath. Lophactea granulosa, Rip. Acta tomentosa, IW. Edw. Actea rugata, A & W. Actzea, sp. Xanthodes atromanus, Hasw. Xantho ? integer, De Haan. Medeus, sp. * — of the “ Alert,” 1883, p. 182. + Mon. Sub-class Cirripedia. Lepadide, 1851, p. 85. 36 LORD HOWE ISLAND. Etisus levimanus, Randall. Phymodius ungulatus, WZ. Edw. Leptodius, sp. Chlorodius niger, Forsk. Ozius truncatus, JZ. Edw. Ozius, sp. Pilumnus, sp. Actumnus tomentosus, Dana. Trapezia cymodoce, Herbst. Neptunus pelagicus, Linn. Thalamita prymna, Herbst. Thalamita, sp. Ocypoda ceratophthalma, Pallas. Grapsus variegatus, Fabr. Planes minutus, Linn. Paragrapsus quadridentatus, WZ. Edw. ? Plagusia chebrus, Linn. Leolophus planissimus, Herbst. Hymenicus, sp. Ranina dentata, Latr. Petrolisthes, sp. Pagurus punctulatus, IZ. Edw. Pagurus, sp. Calcinus elegans, WZ. Hdw. Alpheus Edwardsi, Aud. Goniodactylus chiragra, Fabr. Palinurus ornatus, Fabr. 7 Palinurus Huegellii, Heller ? Ourozeuktes, sp. Lepas anserifera, Linn. Lepas pectinata, Spengler. Tetraclita rosea, Kraus. A glance of this list will at once indicate the tropical facies of the crustacean fauna of Lord Howe Island. Annelida.—The state of our knowledge at the present time, even of Aus- tralian worms, quite forbids our instituting any comparison with those of extra Australian localities. The earth worms of Lord Howe, of which we obtained numerous examples, resemble in general appearance those of this continent. Several ciliated marine worms were also found under loose stones on the Coral-reef. The Hirudinea are possibly well represented, the shady dark pools of the Deep Creek being admirably suited for their propagation. Land leeches occur, one form being found at the top of Mount Gower, and another in the gardens in the lower parts of the island. Two species of Sipunculus were found attached to stones on the Coral-reef; but the most interesting of all are the Planarian worms, of which there are large numbers. At least five or six species were obtained, both from rotten logs, from under bark lying on the ground, and from those parts of the palm stem where protected by the leaf-sheaths. In all probability the species are quite undescribed, and as they are all two-eyed, may for the present be placed in the genus Rhynchodemus. Echinodermata.—Professor Jeffery Bell,* in describing the Echinodermata collected by Dr. Coppinger during the voyage of the “ Alert,” in 1881-82, * Report, &c., Voyage of H.M.S. Alert,” 1881-82, p. 171. GENERAL ZOOLOGY. 37 records four Echini, as in the collection of the Australian Museum, from Lord Howe Island, viz. :— Echinometra lucunter, Leske. Strongylocentrotus tuberculatus, Lamk. Echinostrephus molare, 4. Agas. Breynia australasize, Leach. In the subsequently published “ Catalogue of the Echinodermata in the Australian Museum,”* Dr. E. P. Ramsay mentioned the same species, and also Tripneustes angulosus, Leske, as occurring there. During our late visit we obtained the whole of these except Hchinostrephus molare, but in addition two other forms not previously recorded. The beautiful family of the Diadematide is represented hy Centrostep- hanus Rodgersii, A. Agass, distinguished at once by the dark purple-claret colour of the test and spines. We met with this magnificent species in the pools and hollows of the dead coral on the large reef, and, if I mistake not, rather more plentifully in similar cavities on the basaltic ledges of the west coast, but no where is it plentiful. Speaking of those found in Port Jackson, Dr. Ramsay makes the following remarks, which are equally appli- cable to the specimens observed at Lord Howe Island. ‘These Urchins frequent the reefs and rocky shores just below low tide mark, where they obtain their food; they progress with considerable rapidity for an Urchin, when once disturbed, until they find a secure retreat in some crevice of the rocks, from whence it is difficult to remove them without destroying either the spines or test. . . . . . The peculiar pigment or dye contained in the spines and within the test itself is worthy of investigation. I know of no other species on our coast which has this peculiarity. In cleaning the tests, the fingers and nails become stained with the pigment, which is very difficult to remove.” Their habitat at Lord Howe, at any rate, is between tide marks as well as below. Ina paper “On the habits of some Australian Echini,’+ the Rev. J. E. T. Woods refers to the restricted habitat of this species, so that its discovery at Lord Howe Island is of some importance. He remarks on the species that “it clings to the rock with its powerful suckers with the surface free. It is very careful to select as a place of repose a very narrow cell with just room enough for its body.” Our obser- vations quite bear out the fact that it does occupy most peculiar holes and crevices, but we saw it quite as frequently in open pools with plenty of room around. The Cidaride are represented by a Phyllacanthus, perhaps P. baculosa, Lamk. We did not obtain this, but a much damaged example has been presented to the Museum by Mr. Campbell Stevens. Echinometra lucunter, Leske, is by far the commonest Urchin, as it appears to be also on some parts of the Australian coast. It was invariably met with in holes just large enough for its reception on the flat table surface of the Coral-reef, when it became an exceedingly difficult matter to effect the extraction of individuals. Of one thing I am quite satisfied, some do not leave their cells but continue to enlarge them as their growth progresses. This is obvious from the overhanging upper edges of their domiciles, rendering the opening in some degree smaller than the Urchin’s test, and to effect the extraction of such, a hammer was requisitioned. This habit of frequenting restricted spaces may, perhaps, to some extent, explain * Catalogue Echmodermata, Australian Museum. Part1. Echini. 1885, p. 45. + Proc. Linn. Soc., N. 8. Wales, y, pt. 2, p. 196. 38 LORD HOWE ISLAND. the absence of suckers around the actinosome, which, according to the Rev. J. E. T. Woods, are wanting in this species.* As it is the commonest, so it is the most variable Urchin in the colour of its spines. We observed examples with light drab spines; others with those organs of a greenish- yellow, tipped with a lighter shade; and lastly, a less common variety, in which the whoie of the spine is dark-brown, and the lips a yellowish-grey, forming a very strong contrast, but there are even gradations to be traced in these varieties. Another remarkable feature; and one not referred to by Alexander Agassiz in his ‘‘ Revision” and the generality of writers, is the want of symmetry in the test of a larger number of examples. Some certainly appear to be more or less circular, but in by far the larger number, the test is laterally compressed, assuming a more or less oblong outline. This is even very apparent in non-denuded examples. Another member of the Echinometride found at Lord Howe Island, where it is common, is Strongylocentrotus tuberculatus, Lamk. Itis a large olive-spined form, not then known from the mainland according to Dr. Ramsay,+ but almost peculiar to the island.t We obtained a few moderately large examples, and many young individuals. With the exception of the succeeding species it is the largest Urchin found at Lord Howe. The Rev. J. E. T. Woods quotes§ this species as found generally in “N. E. tropical Australia,’ and he mentions also one example from Port Stephens and another from New Zealand. The edible Urchin Zripneustes angulosus, Leske, grows to large propor- tions in the genial waters of the Lagoon at the island, the sandy beach within the harbour being an excellent locality for obtaining examples cast up alive from deeper water. We obtained several large specimens. Breynia australasie, Leach, occurs in great abundance in the sandy bottom of the Lagoon, at some little distance below low-water mark, and of large size, some of our own examples measuring four and a halfinches by four, and some nearly five from before backwards. It varies from a deep cholocate to a dark fuscous-brown and burrows in the sand, sometimes to a depth of six inches. Although authorities differ as to its geographical distribution little doubt can exist that Lord Howe Island is its principal habitat. Dr. Ramsay says “it has been seldom found in Port Jackson or on the adjacent coast,’ whilst Mr. Tenison Woods remarks “found from Cape York to Port Jackson.” Very fresh specimens must be obtained if it is desired to examine the soft parts, for they decompose with great rapidity, leaving the shells more or less filled with foraminifera on which they appear in a great measure to live. : Lastly Messrs. Whitelegge and Thorpe obtained five examples of a very: pretty little Hchinoneus on the flat reef running out from the south side of Ned’s Beach. The specimens are of a dark chocolate-brown colour, com- pletely covered with a fur of delicate, short spines, and were found under stones. The smallest was somewhat over half an inch in its longest diameter, whilst the largest was quite one and a half inches. The species has been determined by Dr. Ramsay to be Z. cyclostomus, Leske. The Asteroidea collected are not numerous, four genera and species com- prising the series. Asferias calamaria, Gray, is exceedingly common on the * Proc. Linn. Soc., N. 8S: Wales, v, pt. 2, p. 197. + Cat. Echinodermata, Australian Museum. Part I. Echini. 1885, p. 46. t It has lately been found at Shark Point, Port Jackson, by a Mr. Hunt. § The Echini of Australia, Proc. Linn. Soc., N. 8S. Wales; m1, pt. 2, p. 158. ~ GENERAL ZOOLOGY. 39 Coral-reef ; scarcely astone of any size can be overturned but what examples of this species are to be seen clinging to it. Asterina exiqua, Lamk., a disc- like form, is almost as frequent as the last species, and so much resembles the colour of the rocks to which it adheres, that it is at times distinguished with difficulty. Ophidiaster Germani, Per., is sparingly met with, of a dull red colour, and with long finger-like arms. It is very similar, except in colour, to a blue species met with in Torres Straits. We also found a fourth small species, Patiria crassa, Gray, somewhat solariform, with six or seven rays, and grey in colour. Both in the Australian Asteroidea, and the succeeding group of the Ophiuroidea, much yet remains to be done ; in fact, they may be practically said to be unworked groups. We obtained Ophiocoma breviceps, Peters, and O. crenacea, M. and T. We have reason to believe that many fine MHolothurians will be met with in the future over this prolific hunting ground, although we only succeeded in capturing four species, chiefly under stones and in the pools of the Coral-reef. The smallest and commonest of the four, a Holothuria, of a brownish colour, emits, when touched, a white, sticky, fibrous discharge, which congeals like india-rubber. This is probably allied to the “milk-fish” deseribed by the Rev. J. E. T. Woods*, from the reefs of the south-east coast of Australia. He says, “ Another species is the “ milk-fish,” or ‘“ cotton- fish,” so called from its power of emitting a white viscid fluid from its skin, which clings to an object like shreds of cotton.’ Another species is a large form, a foot in length, perhaps Holothuria vagabunda, Seleneka, of a black- brown colour ; a third and rather common Holothurid, brown, mottled with white, we believe to be Stichopus chloronotus, Brandt, and obtained by the “Challenger” expedition in the Fiji Islands. The last is a Owcwmaria of a pale straw yellow. Actinozoa.—We experienced great disappointmentin our efforts to obtain a representative series of the corals forming the fringing reef at Lord Howe. The long continued foul weather quite prevented our visiting those portions of the reef best adapted for the study of its actinology. Quantities of dead fragments are scattered about the sandy beach of the Lagoon, but usually in such a comminuted, or rolled condition, as to be quite useless for identification. In this manner we obtained convoluted masses of a Turbin- aria ; finger-like colonies of a Stylophora, very like S. cellulosa ; globose masses of Cyphastrea Bruggemanii, Quelch; and flabellate expansions of a Madrepora. In the pools of the shore ends of the reef Caloria dadelia, E. & S., or at any rate a coral we believe to be this species occurs plentifully, forming irrecular rounded masses from a few inches upwards to specimens of large size. Accompanying these are short small colonies of a Tubipora of very curious structure, and so far undetermined by us. The upper portions of each corallite, above the terminal platform or external tabulum, is uncal- cified, and remains membranaceous, and soft. Alcyonarians are plentiful. We recognized small creeping clusters of a Zoanthus, of a greyish purple ; flattened disk like expansions referable to Polythoa ; Ammothea thrysoides, H. & Ehr., in arborescent finger—like tufts, and a number more at present undetermined. An Alcyonium must however be mentioned, forming flat irregular table-like masses with small convolutions, and an Anicella not unlike A. australis, Gray, previously found at Port Essington, by the late Professor J. B. Jukes, when acting as naturalist to H.M.S. “Fly.” Sea- anemones are very plentiful on all rocky ground between tide marks. We observed three varieties—the dark carmine-red, green, and a small brown * Proc. Linn Soc., N. S. Wales, v, pt. 2, p. 128. 40 LORD HOWE ISLAND. form. It would have taken up far too much of our time to have attempted to kiil these when expanded, without which spirit specimens are of very little value. The Fringing reef itself forms “a simple broad platform, as an extension apparently of the dry land,” at both its northern and southern ends where it impinges on the shore at North Bay, and under Mount Ledgbird respectively. There are no less than five channels communicating between the Lagoon and the open sea. Two of these channels are navigable, the northernmost giving five fathoms, and that at the south end seven fathoms. Inside the Lagoon the depth varies from a sixth up to two and a quarter fathoms; but there are here and there holes, yielding much deeper water. Immediately outside the sea face, the depth varies from one and three quarters fathoms to five fathoms, rapidly descending to fifteen, twenty, and twenty-five fathoms within a comparatively short distance of the reef. The latter at its greatest distance from the shore is about two-thirds of a mile. The seaward edge is but little broken up; but the Lagoon margin is much more sinuous. The reef varies in width from less than a cable up to four and six cables. The longest section between any two channels penetrating it is over a mile in length. The beach immediately contiguous to the shore ends of the reef is composed of large coral blocks intermingled with others of basalt, and piled up into a regular terrace, extending to a height of from fifteen to twenty feet above high-water mark. This terrace graduates outwards from the shore forming the central ridge of the reef built up of dead coral blocks, and is always bare at from half to three-quarter ebb. Around this central portion is a lower shelf or platform, composed chiefly of dead coral in situ, and always more or less a-wash at low tide. Its surface is furrowed with narrow water channels and excavated into deep pools containing great abundance of life, and many fine living examples of Calaria dadelia, E. & 8. ?, and TLubipora. The blocks generally are profusely covered with Nullipores. The appearance of the inner portions of the Lord Howe Island reef corresponds well with Dana’s description of the shore platforms of some of the Paumotus Islands. He says, “ Much of it is commonly bare at low tide; there are places where it is always covered with a few inches or a foot of water; and the elevated edge, the only part exposed, often seems like an embankment preventing the water from running off.’’* The seas which break over the Lord Howe reef during gales from the westward are very heavy, and simply as a display of nature, remarkably grand. The destruction, however, caused by them does not seem to be particularly heavy, which is perhaps accounted for by the very gradual in- crease in the soundings outside. The two southernmost channels through the reef are opposite the mouths of partially dry freshwater creeks. Doubt- less at times a good deal of floodwater traverses these, but it can hardly be of sufficient continuance or volume to gradually influence these openings. In some well-known fringing reefs the channels are opposite main valleys, and it is supposed that the growth of the coral polyp is influenced by the sediment discharged from them. This can scarcely be so at Lord Howe for the reason given above, the discharge from these creeks being more of the nature of torrent freshets than continuous streams constantly conveying the products of slow denudation to interfere with the healthy existence of the coral polypes. * Corals and Coral Islands, 1872 (Engl. Edit.) p. 176. GENERAL ZOOLOGY. 4.1 The width of the Lord Howe fringing reef is very variable, and in con- sequence its distance from the shore equally so. It is however, from one to three-quarters of a mile, but as the bottom of the Lagoon shoals very gradually this is perhaps to be accounted for. The depth of the channels passing through the reef differs much. The main north-west entrance varies from a little less than four to six fathoms. The south entrance im- mediately in the gut-way has six and seven fathoms of water, outside in- creasing to nine, whilst just inside the Lagoon it shoals to two anda quarter fathoms. The Lagoon wherever examined by us showed a sandy bottom, except off the “Old Settlement,” where it becomes rather more argillaceous. We anticipated finding it teeming with life, but it proved very barren, and com- paratively destitute of isolated coral growth. The coral life of Lord Howe Island was one of the points to which we were least able to pay satisfactory attention, and will afford a wide field of inquiry for future researches. Hydrozoa.—Like the Actinozoa this group required a much larger amount of time than we were able to afford for its study. The specimens obtained were chiefly collected from weed thrown up on the sandy beach of the Lagoon. One very important discovery, however, was made by Mr. Whitelegge, namely, Ceretella fusca, Gray, with the polypes protruded, and which by very careful manipulation he was able to kill in that condition. I believe I am correct in stating that the zodids of this hydrozoon have not before been observed. The Siphonophora are very plentifully represented by Physalia and Velella. At certain times the Lagoon beach is simply covered by myriads of the Physalia megalista, Brandt; but what is very singular, on those days on which the Velella is washed ashore in equal quantities, Physalia is entirely absent. The stinging properties of P. megalista are very powerful. Not only is intense inconvenience caused to the part brought in contact wth the animal—say, for instance, the hand—but the irritation so caused can be conveyed from that member to any other part of the person touched, such as the face. Although losing the beautiful dark purple-ultramarine blue when placed in spirit, the bladder retains this tint for a considerable time, in more or less perfection, when left lying on the sandy beach. The remaining Hydroids collected, as determined by Mr. Whitelegge, are :— Ceratella fusca, Gray ? Sertularella solidula, Bale. Eucopella campanula, Lendfel. Sertularia minima, D’A. W. Thompson. Halicornaria, sp. nov. ? Halicornaria, sp. nov. ? Plumularia, sp. nov. ? Plumularia spinosa, Bale. Campanularia tincta, Hincks. Porvfera.—Of large sponges but few were obtained, and these wholly as dead specimens. The blocks and stones about the reef foster several forms of small incrusting sponge which would probably repay study. The determinations so far, made by Mr. T. Whitelegge, are as follows:— Tantheila flabelliformis, Gray. Cacospongia, sp. Euspongia officinalis, Zinn., vars. 42 LORD HOWE ISLAND. The purple-blue fan-shaped growths of Janthella probably grow to a con- siderable size at Lord Howe. Several varieties of the sponge of commerce occur, and are used by the Islanders. They are, however, small. The tufts of Cacospongia are the most numerously represented. Protozoa.—We found that the beach sand, besides comminuted coral, and some shell detritus, is to some extent composed of Orbitolites complanatus, Lamk., and either Tinoporus or Calcarina. The latter is that peculiar radiated, tuber-like Foraminifer discovered by the late Prof. J. B. Jukes, in Torres’ Straits. R. ETHERIDGE, Junr. No. 2 NOTES ON THE OOLOGY OF LORD HOWE ISLAND. BY A. J. NORTH. wT. vin , : eh, mp,” by! 4 > > ‘ ! NOTES ON THE OOLOGY OF LORD HOWE ISLAND. Our knowledge of the nesting and eggs of the Lord Howe Island birds is very limited, and until an excursion, fitted out by the Trustees of the Australian Museum, in September, 1887, very little had been done towards recording authentic information relative to the breeding season, or the eggs of the birds found there. Of the sixty species recorded in Dr. Ramsay’s “ List of birds found in Lord Howe Island,” only eleven are strictly peculiar, and of only one of these is the nest and eggs known; much remains therefore to be done, and it is to be hoped that any one favourably situated for acquiring further information, will not fail to make notes on this interesting subject. HALcyON VAGANS, Lesson. Mr. E. H. Saunders, who has lately returned from Lord Howe Island, states that he found this bird breeding freely during the month of November, 1887, in the hollow limbs of trees. The eggs, five in number, for a sitting, are rounded in form, and of a beautiful pearly-white tint. The dimensions of a set are as follows :—Length, (A) 1:14x0-92inch(this specimen is somewhat sharply pointed at one and ; (B) 1:08 x 0°91 inch ; (C) 1:12 x 0°91 inch ; (D) 1:1 x 0°9 inch ; (E) 1:08 x 0-92 inch. APLONIS FuSCcUS, Gould. According to Mr. Saunders, the nidification of this bird is entirely different from that of the allied genus Calornis, of the Australian continent, resorting to the hollow branches of trees to construct their nests ; several were found with young birds, but only one containing eggs. In every instance these nests were built of dried grasses, and placed in a hollow at the end of a branch. Eggs, four in number, for a sitting, varying somewhat in form even in the same set ; two eggs of this set are swollen ovals, being thickest at the centre, and slightly pointed towards each end, the other two are long ovals, slightly tapering at one end only ; in colour they are of a pale bluish green, freckled with markings of a reddish and wood-brown tint, equally disposed over the surface of the shell, some of the markings are very indistinct. Length, (A) 1:97 x 0°78 inch; (B) 1:06 x 0°77 inch (thick ovals; (C) 1:14 x 0°76 inch; (D) 1:12 x 0°75 inch. CHALCOPHAPS CHRYSOCHLORA, Wagler. The nest of this bird is composed of a few thin twigs placed crosswise on the horizontal branch of a tree, not far from the ground. The eggs are two in number, oval in form, of a light creamy-white colour, and give the average measurement of of 1°47 inch x 0°8 inch. 46 LORD HOWE ISLAND. This bird, previously plentiful upon the island, has already become very scarce and will probably soon be exterminated with other species by the Islanders. STERNA FULIGINOSA, Gmelin. This bird was found breeding on the rocky ledges and flat parts of the cliffs, but more often on the bare sand ; little or no attempt was made at forming a nest, except in a few instances where a little debris was found scraped around the single egg laid by this bird for sitting. Mr. Saunders, who visited the island during the breeding season, collected a large number of the eggs during November. Im a series of over one hundred eggs examined, there is a great variation in the size, colour, and disposition of their markings. The predominant form is oval, tapering slightly towards the thin end, the colour a dull white, some being nearly devoid of markings, others uniformly freckled and spotted over the whole surface of the shell with reddish-brown markings, others have large irregularly-shaped confluent blotches of purplish-red and slaty-grey, the latter appearing as if beneath the shell, these markings pre- dominating in some towards the larger end of the egg, and a number have rounded spots of rich-red evenly distributed over the surface of the shell. In comparatively few instances do the markings assume the form of a zone. Length, (A) 2-13 inches x 1°42 inch. (B) 2 5 <= a,; (OC) 185 ~.,, ee (D)215 ,, x145, (E241, x14 ,, (F)204 , x 134 ,, (G) 202 ,, x47 , (H)214 ,, x148 ,, ANOUS sTOLIDUs, Linneus. This bird was found breeding during October and November. Its single egg is deposited on a nearly flat nest of sticks, twigs, and seaweed, placed upon low bushes. The eggs, usually oval in form, are slightly pointed at one end, and vary in colour from white to creamy-white, some being minutely spotted all over with brownish-black, others being largely blotched, more particularly towards the larger end, with blood-red markings, and nearly obsolete spots of the same colour appearing as if beneath the surface of the shell. Two average specimens measure as follows :—Length, (A) 2:03 inches x 1:45 inch ; (B) 2°18 inches x 1°47 inch. ANOUS CINEREUS, Gould. This species was found breeding in the early part of September, also during the month of November, The eggs were rather difficult to obtain. For the purposes of breeding this bird usually resorts to almost inaccessible ledges of rocks, but sometimes deposits a single egg on the bare sand. In form the eggs are nearly true ovals, being but slightly tapered at one end, of a dull creamy white ground some colour, being sparingly freckled and spotted with faint reddish-brown and slaty-grey markings, the latter colour predominating in some instances, and appearing as if beneath the surface of the shell; others have short, thick, wavy markings, resembling ill-shapen letters and figures, OOLOGY. AT equally distributed over the surface of the shell, which although not thickly yet, are in some places confluent, and more indistinct than usually found on other Terns eggs. There is very little variation in their size and shape, two average specimens measure as follows :—Length, (A) 1°63 x 1:16 inch ; (B) 1°67 x 1:2 inch. PUFFINUS SPHENTEUS, Gould. During the months of November and December, this bird was found breeding in great numbers, and like most of the Procellariide, they dig a long tunnel or burrow in the sand or the soft earth, many of these burrows are several feet in length, and asingle egg is deposited at the extremity, which when fresh, is snow-white, but soon becomes stained and soiled. There is great variation in the shape and size, true ovals, lengthened and swollen ovals predominating, some terminating abruptly at one end, others being sharply pointed. Length, (A).2°35 inches x 1°67 inch. (B)245 , x16 ,, (C) 245 4, x168 ,, (D)257 , x164 ,, NECTRIS BREVICAUDUS, Brandt. This bird was likewise found breeding in great numbers, during the months of November and December. The mode of nidification is so precisely similar to that of the preceding species, that a separate description is not necessary. Like all Petrel’s eggs they have a peculiar musky odour, which they always retain, even when emptied of their contents and kept for many years. Only oneeggislaid fora sitting. Six specimens measure as follows :— (A) 2°63 inches x 1°78 inch. (B)28 , x17 ,, sie , wit . (D)265 ,, x18l ,, (E)282 ,, x172 ,, (F)287 ,, x181 ,, PHAETON RUBRICAUDA, Bodd. This bird is found breeding during November and December, its single egg is laid under the shelter of projecting ledges, of almost inaccessible rocks, on the face of cliffs, and are consequently very difficult to procure. The eg are oval in form, being thickest at the centre, and tapering slightly at one end, of a dull reddish-brown colour, which is nearly obscured by minute freckles and spots of purplish-brown and grey, in some instances they are blotched and smeared, not unfrequently on the smaller end. Two specimens obtained are nearly white, and entirely devoid of markings. Length, (A) 2°6 inches x 1°85 inch. eae, xiS ,, Reece 4 £105" ,, 4S LORD HOWE ISLAND. SuLa cyanops, Sundevall. The Masked Gannet was found breeding from September to December ; little or no attempt is made at forming a nest, the eggs, two in number, usually being deposited on the bare ground, when nearly laid, they are of a pale greenish-white colour, which in most instances is covered with a thick coating of lime ; after being sat upon for a few days, the eggs become soiled and assume a dirty brown hue. In form they vary from short to long ovals. Length, (A) 2°47 inches x 1°84 inch. (B) 262 4 7s 1) ST ce Ls (D) 263 54 pox t Sl =. (2k ee ee eo Gee CP) PST y er eK 8D a A. J. NORTH. No. 3. THE REPTILES AND FISHES OF LORD HOWE ISLAND). BY J. DOUGLAS OGILBY. Assistant in Zoology, Australian Museum. ine, - we y eee 4 tae ‘. 2 1%, ¢ » J bs ia ¥- x p 4 iow Elie. “e* Bes $ ¢ A ay 4 é * t Fi Z ¢ - : 4 = Le y i a , rae%, -ee% "Tritt. Te a ; ‘ ~ ¢ “t= oe y A ‘ ’ = + 4 . £ *? < ' ; ; >.4 eh a> eer | Val . " : * o aw j | nr * { » : . us S 9 4 # ¢. G r ‘ ¢ ' ¥ as ’ or bd 1 ' ae i ee ; : 1] i. x iS, ro a U - eae 4 ut wy . 8 oF, mil i i" L2 j ¥ ai at ; ® . ‘ la + 4 7 # We r : 4 4 . ' ' ‘ ' THE REPTILES AND FISHES OF LORD HOWE ISLAND. REPTILES. Ir we exclude the Green Turtle, which has not been found since 1789, the recent Reptiles recorded from Lord Howe Island are but three in number, and all belong to the Lacertilian group: of two of these the Museum now possesses excellent series. So far as I know none of them have as yet been obtained in New Zealand*, and only the first of them has heen recorded with any degree of certainty from Australia, this example, which is in the British Museum, having been obtained at Champion Bay, N. W. Australia, but not recorded from any intermediate locality ; it is also found on Phillip Island, an outlying rock off Norfolk Island, on which latter strange to say no reptiles whatever occur. The second has a very wide range through Polynesia and New Guinea to the Moluccas, and has been doubtfully recorded from Port Essington, while the third species seems to be peculiar to the island. GECKONIDA. PHYLLODACTYLUS, Gray. PHYLLODACTYLUS GUENTHERI, Big. There is now in the Museum a fine series of this Gecko in all stages of growth. The members of the various expeditions agree in stating that it is much more abundant in the vicinity of the coast than on the more elevated districts inland. GEHYRA, Gray. GEHYRA OCEANICA, Less., sp. The British Museum contains a specimen collected on the island by the late Mr. J. Macgillivray. SCINCIDZ. LYGOSOMA, Gray. _Ly@osoMA LICHENIGERUM, O’Shgn., sp. The remarks under the first species apply equally to this Lizard. * There is no record, so far as I am aware, of the occurrence of Gehyra oceanica in New Zealand, though from its wide Polynesian range it seems strange that it is not found at least in the northern district of the North Island. 52 LORD HOWE ISLAND. FISHES. THE present catalogue of the Fishes of Lord Howe Island is as complete as the means at my disposal allow, having been compiled from the following sources :—(1i) The British Museum Catalogue of Fishes, 1859-70, by Dr. Albert Giinther, who however appears to have been acquainted with a single species only, and that of very doubtful authenticity ; (ii) specimens collected by Captain Armstrong, late Resident Magistrate of the island, and forwarded by him to the Museum ; (111) a collection made by Mr. A. Morton; (iv) a fish presented to the Hon. Wm. Macleay by the late Mr. H. T. Wilkinson, at that time the Visiting Magistrate, and which is undoubtedly the most interesting of the entire collection, as proving the existence of the genus Tetragonurus in the southern hemisphere, while the species itself is absolutely identical with Lowe’s Atlantic species*; (v) Fishes presented to the Museum from time to time by Mr. Langley; (vi) specimens in the Macleay Collec- tion at Elizabeth Bay, and kindly placed at my disposal by the owner ; (vii) the collection formed by Messrs. R. Etheridge, jun., T. Whitelegge, and J. Thorpe; and (viii) the specimens obtained by Mr. E. H. Saunders. The two latter collections, the first of which was specially organized and equipped by the Australian Museum, yielded by far the most important results, and added greatly to our knowledge of the Biology and Paleontology of this interesting oceanic islet. It is unfortunately out of my power to give any definite account of the Paleichthyan fishes of the island, but from information elicited from Messrs. Etheridge, Langley, and Saunders, I am convinced that Galeocerdo raynert, and Carcharodon rondeletii will prove to be the most abundant of the large sharks. The number of species included in the present list is eighty-eight, five of which, a Petroscirtes, a Lotella, a Pseudoscarus, a Balistes, and a Gobioides, ~ are irrecognizable owing to the bad condition in which they now are. Of the remaining eighty-three species fourteen are described as new, one of which belongs to a new genus of deep-sea fishes (Sternoptychide) ; these are as follows:—Apogon chrysurus, Chetodon aphrodite, Haplodactylus etheridgii, Cirrhitichthys splendens, Pempheris unwini, Gobius eolosoma, Pomacentrus fasciolatus, Glyphidodon polyacanthus, Anampses elegans, A. variolatus, Solea ramsait Sternoptychides dentata, Monacanthus howensis, and Tetrodon callis- ternus; While of the sixty-nine species then left, no less than twenty-one are here recorded for the first time from Australian waters. These are as follows :—Anthias cichlops, Scorpena cooki, Plesiops nigricans, Salarias variolosus, S. marmoratus, S. quadricornis, Acanthoclinus littoreus, Cossyphus atrolumbus, Labroides paradiseus, Anampses twisti, Stethojulis axillaris, Platyglossus pseudominiatus, P. trimaculatus, Julis lunaris, J. trilobata, Saurus varius, Exocetus dovi, Sprattellaides gracilis, Congromurena mellisst, Ostracion fornasini, and Tetrodon valentini. Of the remaining forty-eight species, one of which, Serranus owatalibi, has a very doubtful record, thirteen only have been recorded from New Zealand, of which number eleven are also known from the Australian coast; it therefore follows that so far as the fishes are concerned the fauna is strictly Australian, only two species, Acanthoclinus littoreus and Ostracion fornasini, having been recorded from New Zealand, and not from Australian seas, while the former was, previous * See the paper ‘‘On the genus Jetragonurus,” by Dr. Ramsay and the author, published in the Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, 111 (2), i888, p. 9. FISH FAUNA. 53 to this record, a purely New Zealand family,* and the latter is sure to turn up sooner or later on our north-eastern seaboard. Five species—Plectro- poma cinctum, Trachypoma macracanthus, Apogon norfolcensis, Platystethus cultratum, and Parma polylepis—are peculiar to Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands. ACANTHOPTERYGII. PERCIDZA. ANTHIAS, Bloch. ANTHIAS CicHLoPs, BIk., sp. _ A single example, so far as I am aware the second which has fallen into the hands of any naturalist, was picked up dead, but ina fresh and perfect state, on the beach by Mr. E. H. Saunders during last April; its length is three and four-fifths inches. SERRANUS, Cuvier. SERRANUS OUATALIBI, Ouv. § Val. This species is mentioned here on the authority of Dr. Giinther (Catal. i. p. 120), but the occurrence in Australian waters of a West Indian fish belonging to this genus is so improbable that I am inclined to believe either that the specimen will eventually turn out to belong toa different species—the fin rays are noticed by Dr. Giinther as slightly differmg from the normal number —or that the example may by some chance have been erroneously labelled. SERRANUS FUSCOGUTTATUS, Lipp. A single young example under seven inches in length. SERRANUS DEMELT, Ginth. The “ Black Rock Cod” of the islanders. It is plentiful and grows to a large size ; one which Mr. Saunders collected weighed seventy-five pounds, and measured forty-two inches, while Captain Langley brought a rather dilapidated skin measuring no less than fifty-four inches, and it is said to attain to even greater dimensions. As it is caught solely by hook and line, it may be imagined that tackle of great strength is required, since, in addition to its weight, it fights with great determination in its efforts to escape. Small examples up to ten pounds in weight are excellent for the table; and with reference to the Sydney market, where however it is scarce and of small size, not more than halt a dozen species excel it. At the Solitaries, a group of islets about two hundred miles north of Sydney, it is said ta: reach the weight of one hundred pounds. PLECTROPOMA, Cuvier. PLECTROPOMA CINCTUM, Ginth. The “Striped Rock Cod” is common both in rock pools and in the oper sea; it grows to at least eighteen inches in length, and both it and the succeeding species are used as food. * Since writing this sentence I find that Mr. Francis Day has described a species from Madras (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1888, p. 264). 54 LORD HOWE ISLAND. TRACHYPOMA, Giinther. TRACHYPOMA MACRACANTHUS, Gath. The “ Red Rock Cod”* of the islanders is also common, and grows to about ten inches in length. It is usually taken by hook off the rocks, but Mr. Saunders’ exampies were obtained under stones between tide-marks, a rather anomalous position for a Serranoid fish. ARRIPIS, Jenyns. ARRIPIS SALAR, Rich. The “Salmon” is abundant, and going as it does in large schools along the shore is easily caught in great numbers. It is considered one of the best fishes} for the table, whether fresh or smoked, and attains to a length of over three feet. APOGON, Lacépéde. APOGON NORFOLCENSIS, Ogilby.t The “ Big-eye” is abundant, and grows to the length of six inches. APOGON CHRYSURUS, sp. nov. B, vii. D. 7.1/9. A. 2/8. V. 1/5. P. 15. C. 17. L.L, 25. L. tr. 2/6. The length of the head is one-third, the height of the body three-tenths of the total length ; the diameter of the eye is from three to three and one-fifth in the length of the head ; the snout is obtuse, from two-thirds to three-fifths of the diameter of the eye, while the interorbital space is flat, three-fourths of the same, and, along with the snout, divided by broad ridges into four deep poriferous areas. The upper surface of the head is flat. The lower jaw | protrudes slightly beyond the upper, and the maxilla, which is provided with a strong median ridge reaching to the truncate posterior margin, extends to the vertical from the posterior fourth of the orbit. The opercle is armed with a short flat inconspicuous spine; the outer limb of the preopercle is very finely serrated on the vertical edge and rounded angle, the horizontal edge and the inner limb being entire; the post-temporal is denticulated in some specimens, but smooth in others. Teeth—The jaws, vomer, and palatines are armed with bands of villiform teeth. ims.—The dorsal spines are strong, the third the strongest and highest, five-sevenths of the length of the head ; the origin of the second dorsal is above the ninth scale of the lateral line, and is situated midway between the tip of the snout and the extremity of the caudal fin ; its spine is strong, one-half of the length of the head, and the anterior rays are about one-third longer than the spine: the anal com- mences beneath the anterior ray of the soft dorsal, and ends a little behind that fin ; its second spine is strong and compressed, three-sevenths of the length of the head; the rays are similar to those of the dorsal, and the last is divided from the very base: the ventral fin is rounded, two-thirds of the length of the head, and not reaching beyond the origin of the anal fin; its spine is strong and compressed, sub-equal in length to that of the second dorsal: the pectoral fin is rounded, from two-thirds to four-sevenths of the length of the head: the caudal fin is slightly rounded, from four and * The colonists of Lord Howe Island evidently show a more critical appreciation of the affinities of species than do the fishermen of New South Wales, among whom the name of ** Red Rock Cod” is impartially given to Scorpena cruenta and 8. cardinalis. + In Sydney this fish is not considered fit to send to table. It is in my opinion coarse, dry, and tasteless, and as it decays very rapidly great care should be taken in choosing only the freshest-specimens, especially during the summer. { Described in the Proc. Linn. Soc. N. 8S. Wales, 11 (2), 1887, p. 99. FISH FAUNA. 5D three-fifths to four and four-fifths in the total length. The scales are large, etenoid, and firmly adherent; there are two scales between the occiput - and the origin of the first dorsal fin, and ten on the ridge of the tail behind the second dorsal. The lateral line is strongly curved to opposite the termination of the soft dorsal, and the tubes are simple throughout its entire length ; the elongate scale on the caudal fin bears three or four large open pores on either edge. Colovs—Head and body uniform yellowish- brown without ornamentation, excepting an iridescent spot on the opercle ; the dorsal, anal, and ventral fins are of a darker shade, and the upper third of the spinous dorsal is jet black, while the basal third of the anal, the pectoral and the caudal fins are brilliant orange. Mr. Saunders, who collected three specimens of the length of from three and two-thirds to three and four-fifths inches, informs me that they are rare, and are quite unknown to the islanders, who are well acquainted with the receding species. His examples were taken from a pool between tide-marks. Register numbers, I. 1799-1801. CHATODONTIDZ.* CHAETODON, Cuvier. CuzTopon stricatus, Cuv. & Val. Very common, growing to six inches in length, but not used as food.t CHZTODON APHRODITE, sp. nov. Plate ITI, f. 2. B. vi. D. 12/26._ A. 3/21. V.1/5. P.15. ©.17. L.1. 39/12. L. tr. 8/18. The length of the head is three and one-fourth in the total length, the height of the body, which is strongly compressed and very high, five-ninths of the same measured above the vent. The eye is large, situated close to the upper profile of the head, in the length of which its diameteris contained two and three-fourths times ; the snout is but little produced, not being as long as the diameter of the eye, and the slightly convex interorbital space is even less than the snout. The upper profile descends abruptly from a short distance in front of the dorsal to the snout, which is concave ; the ventral profile, though considerably rounded, is not nearly so much so as that of the dorsal. The preopercle is entire. Zeeth.—Brush like. Fins.—The dorsal spines are moderately strong, the fifth the longest, three-fourths of the length of the head, and longer than the rays ; the soft portions of both this and the anai fins are rounded posteriorly : the anal spines are stronger than those of the dorsal, the second and third equal in length, and five-ninths of the length of the head: the ventral fin reaches to the third anal spine, and the pectoral somewhat further, the latter measuring one-fourth of the total length, while the truncate caudal only measures five and two-thirds in the same. The scales are of moderate size and ctenoid. The Jateral line ceases opposite the twenty-fourth dorsal ray, there being thirty-nine tubular scales up to that point. Colors—The upper surface of the snout and the interorbital * I can see no reason why the ordinary rule, which provides that the name of a family shall invariably terminate in “ide,” should be ignored in the present case, and I have therefore adopted Richardson’s name; that he included species belonging to a totally different family in his Chetodontide is no argument against the use of the name, and even if it were a similar objection might be made to the use of Cuvier’s Squamipinnes. ‘+ C. strigatus is sometimes offered in considerable numbers in the Sydney market, and I have on several occasions used them for the table and found them delicious eating. 56 LORD HOWE ISLAND. space yellow, the extreme tip of the snout and chin black, the preorbitals and mandibular region whitish; the ocular band is narrower than the eye, and runs obliquely forward from the hinder margin of the occiput to the eye, beneath which it curves backward in a lesser degree to the isthmus, but does not join the corresponding band on the opposite side ; behind this there is a broad grey band, tipped with orange on both profiles, running from between the origin of the ocular band and the second dorsal spine downwards in front of and across the base of the pectoral to that of the ventral fin ; the rest of the body, as faras the anterior dorsal and anal rays, dark purplish-brown, the fins only being tipped with orange; behind this there is a narrow golden band which is lost at the base of the anal; a large oval black spot between the sixth and sixteenth dorsal rays, below which is a brown band which suffuses itself over the entire base of the anal fin ; the remainder of the dorsal and anal fins golden with a narrow black margin ; the pedicle is golden, while the caudal fin is uniform grey, with a narrow dark brown basal band. Mr. Saunders collected but one specimen of this beautiful little fish, and saw two others only. Our example measures just one inch and four-fifths, both the others having been larger. He states that they are very quick in their movements, and easily baffled him in his attempts to capture them. He found them in pools at very low water. Register number, I. 1791. SCORPIS, Ouv. & Val. ScorPIS -2QUIPINNIS, Rich. Two fine examples, the larger eleven inches in length, were brought back by Mr. Etheridge’s party. ATYPICHTHYS, Giinther. ATYPICHTHYS STRIGATUS, Gath. The “ Leather Jacket” of the islanders. It is not used as food, though it grows to a length of ten inches,—almost double that of the largest of the many scores which I have seen from the neighborhood of Port Jackson,—and is common, especially so in a deep hole inside the reef known as the “ Comet’s Hole.” MULLIDA, HYPENEUS, Cuv. & Val. HYPENEUS sIGNATUS, Ginth. Three specimens of this handsome Red Mullet have been brought back by our collectors, who state that it is considered rare. They are all of large size, measuring from eight and a half to ten inches in length, a size which is much greater than any I kave seen from Port Jackson. As food they are soft, watery, and flavorless. SPARIDZ. GIRELLA, Gray. GIRELLA CYANEA, Macleay. The “ Blue-fish” is abundant at all seasons, and is one of the staple articles of food among the inhabitants, being used either fresh, salted, or smoked. It is taken principally if not altogether by means of hand-lines, and grows to about thirty inches in length. Its flesh is better flavored than that of the other species of Girella, which is probably owing to the fact that it habitually feeds on such substances as soft molluscs, crustaceans, and small fishes, instead of confining itself to a purely vegetable diet like its congeners. FISH FAUNA. 57 HAPLODACTYLUS, OCuv. & Val. HAPLODACTYLUS ETHERIDGIT, SP. NOV. B. vi. D. 16/21-22. A.3/6. V.1/5. P.9/vi. ©.15. Ll. 96-102. L. tr. 13/30. The length of the head is five and a fourth, the height of the body four and three-fourths in the total length. The eye is situated in the upper third of the head, and encroaches slightly on the dorsal profile ; its diameter is one-fourth of the length of the head, and two-thirds of that of the snout ; the interorbital space is slightly concave, and a trifle more than the diameter of the eye. The snout is obtuse, and rises almost perpendicularly until opposite the lower margin of the eye, whence it ascends in an arcuate form to the middle of the interorbital space, while the profile formed by the occiput and the nape of the neck 1s slightly concave. The cleft of the mouth is small and transverse, and the upper jaw considerably overhangs the lower: the maxilla extends to beneath the posterior nostril. The anterior nostril is large and oval, and is furnished with a rather low ciliated mem- branaceous flap, much longer in front and behind than at the sides, while the posterior is smaller, sub-circular, and with the flap greatly reduced. The opercle is armed with a moderately strong and acute spine, which however does not extend to the margin of the skinny flap, and is separated by a deep semi-circular notch from an upper blunt point. Zeeth.—The jaws are provided with several series of moderately elongate and compressed incisor teeth, some of which are simple, but the majority possess one, two, three, or even four pairs of lateral lobes ; there are no vomerine or palatine teeth. Fins.— The dorsal fin commences above the extremity of the opercle; its spinous part is strongly convex along its outer edge, and is continuous with the soft part, the anterior rays of which are longer than the fifth and longest spine, which is four-sevenths of the length of the head ; the upper margin of the soft dorsal is truncate and obliquely descending ; the length of the pedicle between the extremity of the dorsal and the origin of the caudal fins is contained nine and three-fourths times in the total length, and is a little more than its height beneath the last dorsal ray: the anal fin is very short, the length of its base being only one-third of the distance between its extremity and the base of the caudal fin; it commences beneath the sixth or seventh dorsal ray, and terminates beneath the twelfth or thirteenth ; the spines are short, the third, which is the longest, being but a third of the length of the anterior rays, which are equal in length to the head, and much longer than those of the dorsal fin: in one of my specimens the ventral fins reach to the vent, inthe other only three-fourths of that distance,* never- theless both bear a similar proportion to the head, than which they are a trifle shorter: the pectoral fin is more pointed than in H. lophodon; the six lower rays are simple, and the lowermost branched and first simple rays are appreciably longer than the others and equal in length to the head : the caudal fin is emarginate with acute lobes, the lower of which is the longer, one-fifth of the total length. The scales are small, cycloid, and adherent ; the cheeks and opercles are covered with minute scales, as also is the throat, the bases of the dorsal and anal fins, and a considerable portion of the caudal fin. Colors.—The body and head are brownish green, the abdominal region grey, and the fins brown; all the lower parts of the body, the tail, and the fins are closely studded with small round white spots, and the outer half of the simple pectoral rays is uniform yellowish white. — a * The latter example being a gravid female, this difference may prove to be sexual or perhaps only apparent owing to the condition of the fish. 58 LORD HOWE ISLAND. Two examples of this handsome Haplodactylus were collected by Messrs. Etheridge and Thorpe on the Admiralty Islets, about a mile to the north of the main Island. They were found in a rock-pool between tide-marks, and would probably have spawned there, as the ova of the female was ready for extrusion, and the milt of the male was in almost as forward a condition. The lengths of the specimens were respectively sixteen and fifteen inches; and the stomachs of both were filled with sea-weeds. I have much pleasure in dedicating this species to Mr. Robert Etheridge, jun., the able leader of the expedition. Register numbers, I. 1515-6. LETHRINUS, Cuvier. LETHRINUS OPERCULARIS, Cuv. & Val. Mr. Saunders collected a single specimen, measuring over sixteen inches, of this fine Sea-Bream. He informs me that the residents cail it the “‘ Red- mouthed Schnapper,” and that it is not common, but is reported to be so at Norfolk Island. It is only caught by hook in deep water, and is said to be generally very good eating, but at certain seasons of the year to develop poisonous properties. 3 PAGRUS, Cuvier. Pagrus uNrIcotor, Quoy J Gaim. One half-grown example ; said to be uncommon. CIRRHITIDA. CIRRHITICHTHYS, Bleeker. CIRRHITICHTHYS SPLENDENS, sp. nov. Plate IT. B. vi. D. 10/12. A.3/6. V.1/5. P. 8/vi—7/vii. C.13. L.1. 43. 1. tr. 5/11. The length of the head is three and a half, the height of the body three and two-thirds in the total length; the eye is placed in the upper third of the head, and encroaches considerably on the profile; its diameter is four and three-fourths in the length of the head, and one and three-fifths in that of the snout, which is rather pointed; the interorbital space is deeply concave, and three-fourths of the diameter of the eye. The upper profile of the head is obliquely flat, and the upper jaw is decidedly longer than the lower; the maxilla reaches to the anterior fourth of the orbit, and its length is two-thirds greater than the diameter of the eye. The preorbital is as deep as long, and entire; the opercle bears two blunt flattened spines, the lower of which is much the larger; the preopercle forms a perfect arc, and is strongly denticulated on its hinder limb, the lower being entire; the post-temporal is crescentic in form, and is coarsely serrated ; there is also a strong blunt spinous process at the postero-superior angle of the eye. The anterior nostril is furnished with a narrow, moderately long, ciliated flap behind. TYeeth.—In the jaws villiform, with an outer row strongly conical, some of the posterior lateral teeth in the mandibles being curved and caninoid; there is an angular band of villiform teeth on the vomer, sparingly intermixed with conical teeth, while there is a similarly-consti- tuted patelloid patch on the front of each palatine bone. Fins.—The dorsal fin begins vertically above the opercular spines, and terminates at a short distance from the caudal, the distance between the base of its last ray and the origin of that fin being equal to the least height of the pedicle, and one-third of the length of the head; there is a deep notch between the two- FISH FAUNA.. ; 59 portions of the fin, and the length of the base of the soft dorsal is five- sevenths of that of the spinous; the spines are moderately strong, the fourth and fifth equal and highest, five-twelfths of the length of the head, and four- sevenths of the anterior ray, which is elongate; the margin of the spinous dorsal is convex, that of the soft—with the exception of the anterior ray— straight and gradually descending: the anal is very short; it commences beneath the second dorsal ray, and ends beneath the ninth; its spines are strong and acute, the third the longest, two-fifths of the length of the head; the rays are much longer than the spines and than all the dorsal rays except the first: the ventral fins are inserted far back, their origin corresponding to the base of the fifth dorsal spine, and they reach to the vent; their spine is rather shorter than the third of the anal fin, and is five-eighths of the length of the longest ray, which is three-fifths of the length of the head: the pectoral fins are composed of, on one side, seven branched and seven simple rays, on the other, of eight branched and six simple, the latter being probably the normal number; the ninth ray is the longest, nine-tenths of the length of the head, and two-fifths longer than the longest-branched ray, the remaining simple rays grow gradually shorter: the caudal fin is slightly rounded, and measures five and three-fourths in the total length. The scales are cycloid, firmly adherent, large on the body and opercle, but minute on the cheeks, throat, and bases of the fins. The lateral line is almost straight,and its tubes are slightly branched. Colcrs.—The head is rich brown with numerous round crimson black-edged spots, about two-thirds of the size of a body scale; the body is pale yellowish-brown with six broad dark brown bands which almost totally obliterate the ground color superiorly, © but are discontinued on the lower third of the sides, while many of the scales above the lateral line are crimson, occasionally even forming short longitudinal bars, and in front of the bases of the pectorals there are several spots similar to those on the head; the spinous portion of the dorsal fin is mottled with black, crimson, and grey; the soft is light-colored witha broad black basal band, and indications of a dusky median longitudinal band more pronounced posteriorly ; the anal fin is reddish brown; the ventral fins are crimson on the inner side, while the pectoral rays are crimson, with the intervening membrane grey; the base of the caudal is crimson, the remainder grey, and it is ornamented with two rows of oblong black spots. Mr. Saunders, who obtained a single specimen of this superb fish by hook in deep water, tells me that it was quite unknown to the islanders; it measures eight and a quarter inches. Register number, I. 1,841. CHILODACTYLUS, Lacépéde. CHILODACTYLUS VITTATUS, Garr. Although Mr. Saunders was fortunate enough to secure a dozen examples of this species, some of which are a foot in length, he states that they were hardly known to the inhabitants. All his specimens were taken from rock- pools far out on the reefs at very low tides. SCORPAINIDZA. SCORPAENA, Artedi. SCORPENA COOKI, Ginth. Abundant, and considered very good eating by the islanders, who call it the “Sandy Bay Cod”; it grows to over a foot. in length, and is taken in large numbers with hand-lines off the rocks. 60 LORD HOWE ISLAND. ScorPENA scaBRA, R. gf. O., sp.* A single specimen, three and a half inches in length, was collected by Mr. Saunders in a rock-pool. PTEROIS, Cuvier. PTEROIS VOLITANS, Linn., sp. The “ Butterfly-fish ” occurs in small numbers at all seasons of the year, and is not unfrequently washed ashore dead ; it grows to a foot in length. NANDIDZ. PLESIOPS, Cuvier. PLESIOPS NIGRICANS, Riipp., sp. A single specimen, four and a half inches in length, was obtained by Mr. Etheridge’s party from a pool on the reef at low water. CYRTIDZL. PEMPHERIS, Cuv. & Val. PEMPHERIS UNWINI, sp. nov. Plate IIT, f. 1. B. vii. D. 5/8 A.3/22. V.1/5. P.16. ©.17. L.1. 67. L. tr. 5/14. The length of the head is three and one-third, the height of the body three and nine-tenths in the total length ; the diameter of the eye is three-eighths of the length of the head, while the snout is four-sevenths of the diameter of the eye, and the slightly concave interorbital space three-fifths of the same. The body is oblong-oval, and greatly compressed posteriorly, and the dorsal profile is not nearly so much arched as the ventral. The lower jaw is prominent, the cleft of the mouth moderately oblique, and the maxilla, which is dilated and sub-truncate posteriorly, reaches to a little behind the middle of the orbit. Zeeth—There is a single row of small sharp teeth on the jaws, vomer, and palatines. #ins.—The dorsal fin commences immediately behind the base of the pectorals, and terminates above the vent, the distance between its origin and the tip of the snout being two and four-fifths in the total length ; the last spine is much shorter than the first and longest ray, which is rather more than half the length of the head: the anal fin is short and its rays are lower than those of the dorsal, the anterior one being just four- ninths of the length of the head: the ventral fin does not nearly reach the vent, and its length is about equal to that of the longest anal ray: the pec- toral fin is rather long and pointed, extending backwards to opposite the vent, and is three-fourths of the length of the head: the caudal is forked, and its length is one-fifth of the total length. The pedicle is strongly com- pressed and low, its height being three and three-fourths in that of the body. The scales are small and strongly ctenoid, and the bases of the dorsal and anal fins are naked. Colors.—Brick-red, the head being rather darker than the body. The species here described probably belongs to Dr. Steindachner’s genus Parapriacanthus founded on a Japanese fish; but as the only notice of the genus which I have seen is that in the “ Zoological Record ” for 1870 I am unable to speak positively on this point; the two species however agree in the greatly decreased number of anal rays. The foregoing remarks apply * Described in the Proc. Linn. Soc. N. 8. Wales, x, 1885, p. 577, under the name of Sebastes scaber. FISH FAUNA. 61 equally to the genus Pempherichthys of Dr. Klunzinger (Zool. Rec. 1871), originally described from the Red Sea, with which my fish agrees in the etenoid scales and the naked base of the anal fin. The specimen, which measures a little more than four inches in length, was picked up dead on the beach in a fresh condition. At the request of the members of the expedition, I have named this species after Mr. H. A. Unwin, of the Chief Secretary’s Office, who accompanied them, and proved of great service in many ways, Register number, I. 1,478. | TETRAGONURID. TETRAGONURUS, Risso. TETRAGONURUS ATLANTICUS, Lowe. Full information as to the occurrence of this genus will be found in the Proc. Linn. Soc. N. 8. Wales, X. 1885, p. 718 ; I. (2) 1886, p. 511; and ILI. (2) 1888, p. 9. CARANGIDZ. CARANX, Lacépéde. CaRANX GEORGIANUS, Cuv. § Val. The “Trevally’ is very common and grows to a large size, specimens measuring thirty inches having been recorded. It is considered one of the best food-fishes, and is used fresh, salted, or smoked. SERIOLA, Lacépéde. SERIOLA LALANDII, Cur. & Val. The remarks on the preceding species apply equally to the “ Yellow-tail.” PLATYSTETHUS, Ginther. PLATYSTETHUS CULTRATUM, Forst., sp. Mr. Saunders brought back three fine examples of this fish, the largest of which measures twelve and a half inches. The islanders call them “ Herrings,” and when the dorsal and anal fins are laid back within their sheaths they bear a strong outward resemblance to some Clupeoids; they also go in large _ schools, and are considered delicious eating, whether fresh, smoked, dried, or salted; they take a bait readily, but small hooks have to be used on account of the size of the mouth. LOPHIIDZ.* ANTENNARIUS, Commerson. ANTENNARIUS coccinevs, Less. § Garn., sp. Two examples, the larger four inches in length, were obtained by Mr. Etheridge’s party from a pool on the reef. GOBIIDZ. GOBIUS, Artedi. GOBIUS EHOLOSOMA, sp. nov. B. v. D. 6. 1/9. A. 1/8. V. 1/5. P. 20, C. 15. L. 1. 36. L. tr. 11. The length of the head is from four and one-third to four and one-half, the height of the body from six and one-fifth to six and four-fifths in the total * For the same reason that I have adopted the name Chetodontide for the Squamipinnes, I would suggest the name Lophiide for the Pediculati. (See note on p. 55.) 62 LORD HOWE ISLAND. length. The eyes are situated high up on the head, and their diameter is three and four-fifths in the length of the head, and equal to that of the snout. The interorbital space is slightly concave, and but two-fifths of the diameter of the eye. The head is much broader than high, and the snout is very obtuse, and rises abruptly to the level of the occiput; the cleft of the mouth is but little oblique, being entirely below the level of the orbit; the .Jaws are equal, and the maxilla extends to the vertical from the middle of the eye. Yeeth—Both jaws are armed with a broad band of villiform teeth, the outer row being greatly enlarged and conical, while the front teeth are the strongest and slightly curved. Fins.—The dorsal fins are separated by an interspace equal to the diameter of the eye*; the spines are weak and terminate in silky filaments; the third is the longest, about one-half of the length of the head, but not so high as the second dorsal: the anal fin com- mences beneath the first and ends beneath the eighth dorsal ray: the ventrals do not extend to the anus, their length being five-sixths of that of the head, while that of the pectorals is about equal to the head ; these latter extend to the vertical from the anus, and have the five or six upper rays silk-like: the caudal fin is wedge-shaped, its central rays being the longest, and about one-fifth of the total length: the length of the pedicle is equal to that of the postorbital portion of the head. The scales are ctenoid, and extend forward to opposite the posterior edge of the preopercle ; there are eleven rows between the origin of the second dorsal and the anal; the cheeks and gill-coverts are naked. Colors——Rich brown above, yellow below ; a series of about nine oblong. dark-brown spots along the middle of the sides, each about one scale in breadth, and from two to four in length ; some irregular dark spots between these and the dorsal profile; a dark spot on the opercle ; mandibles yellowish ; chin dark brown; remainder of head mottled in two shades of brown ; all the fins hyaline, the dorsals and caudal with brown dots. Two specimens of this handsome little Goby were brought back by our collectors, both having been obtained under stones between tide-marks, and the larger measuring almost three inches. Register numbers, I. 1,488 and I. 1,849. | GOBIOIDES, Lucépéde. GOBLOIDES, sp. A single example, which has evidently been washed ashore, was presented by Dr. James Cox to the Hon. Wm. Macleay, in whose collection it now is. BLENNIID/A, PETROSCIRTES, Rippell. PETROSCIRTES, sp. A five-inch example in bad condition, having evidently been dried, was obtained by purchase in 1882. SALARIAS, Cuvier. SALARIAS VARIOLOSUS, Cuv, & Val. Several examples, the largest measuring five inches, were obtained by Mr. Saunders under stones at low water. ate SALARIAS MARMORATUS, Beni., sp. Three specimens; largest, four and a half inches, with last species. — * Measured from base of last spine of first to origin of second dorsal. FISH FAUNA. 63 SALARIAS QUADRICORNIS, Cuv. & Val. Three specimens ; largest five inches; in rock-pools and under stones between tide-marks. CRISTICEPS, Cuv. 5 Val.* CRISTICEPS AURANTIACUS, Cast. A single example, about four inches in length, was presented to the Museum by Mr. Juangley. . CRISTICEPS ROSEUS, Ginth. Mr. Saunders brought back a small Cristiceps in bad condition, which agrees better with the above species than with others with which I have had an opportunity of comparing it. ‘ TRIPTERYGIUM,; Risso. TRIPTERYGIUM ATROGULARE, Ginth. Mr. Saunders brought back numerous examples of this pretty little Blenny ; they vary greatly in the amount of black on the head and breast, several specimens being absolutely without any idication of this color. ACANTHOCLINIDZ. ACANTHOCLINUS, Jenyns. ACANTHOCLINUS LITTOREUS, Forst., sp. Plate ILI, f. 3. This species was found by Mr. Saunders to be very common under stones and in pools between tide-marks ; like the preceding it is variable in its coloration, one specimen especially being distinctly banded. I give a figure of this individual for whom, should it prove distinct, A. fasczolatus would be a most appropriate name. : MUGILIDZ. MYXUS, Giinther. Myxus Enoneatus, Gianth. These Mullet are abundant at all seasons, and form a staple article oi food among the islanders, either fresh, salted, or dried. GOBIESOCIDA. DIPLOCREPIS, Ginther. DrpLocrEPis cosratus, Ogilby.* There are two very small specimens among the fishes brought by our collectors, both, as usual, taken while adhering to the lower side of a stone between tide-marks. * Count Castelnau has described so many (seven) species of Cristiceps without sufficiently diagnosing them, that I am unwilling to add to the confusion caused thereby by describing these two species as new. The specimen which I have called C. aurantiacus differs from all other examples which I have seen by the great length and tenuity of the caudal pedicle, which is two-thirteenths of the total length without the caudal fin, and whose height is but a sixth of its length. Its color is pale yellowish-brown, the fins of a rather darker shade. Should it prove to bea good species, C. pedicillatus would be an excellent name for it. + Described in the Proc. Linn. Soc. N. 8. Wales, x, 1885, p. 270. 64 LORD HOWE ISLAND. ACANTHOPTERYGII PHARYNGOGNATHI. GLYPHIDODONTIDZ, AMPHIPRION, Bl. Schn. AMPHIPRION MELANOPUS, B/k. Mr. Saunders brought back two fine specimens—the larger measuring four and a half inches—of an Amphiprion, which agrees in everything with the above-named species, except that in both the dorsal and pectoral fins are black, and in the larger the opercular stripe is absent; he informs me that they are rare, and were taken in a rock-pool. POMACENTRUS, Cuvier. POMACENTRUS FASCIOLATUS, sp. nov. B.v. D.13/17. A.2/13-14. V. 1/5. P.20—21. ©.15. 1.1.29. 1. tr. 8/11. The length of the head is from four and a half to four and three-fourths, the height of the body from two and seven-tenths to two and nine-tenths in the total length. The diameter of the eye is from three and one-third to three and two-thirds in the length of the head, nine-tenths of that of the snout, and four-fifths of the convex interorbital space. The upper profile from the tip of the snout to the origin of the dorsal fin is a regular and gentle curve. The greatest depth of the preorbital, which is entire, is about two-thirds of the diameter of the eye. The suborbital ring and the pre- opercle are coarsely denticulated, the teeth at the angle of the latter being much the strongest; there is a single small spine on the opercle. The maxilla extends almost to the anterior margin of the eye. Fins.—The dorsal spines are of moderate length and strong, the last eight sub-equal in length, and from three-fifths to four-sevenths of the length of the head, and about three-fourths, of the middle dorsal rays, which are slightly longer than the base of the soft dorsal, as also are the anal rays, both of these fins being pointed : the second anal spine is very strong, longer than the longest dorsal spine, being about two-thirds of the length of the head: the first ventral ray is produced into a filament which reaches to the vent, and is equal in length to the head, while the pectoral fin is of a similar length : the caudal fin is slightly longer than the head, and is emarginate, each lobe being obtusely rounded. Scales——The inferior half of the dorsal and anal fins are covered with scales which are much smaller than those on the body. Colors.—Dark brown, each row of scales on the body and tail having its anterior half pale yellowish-brown, so as to form numerous bands slightly broader than the intervening ground color; the opercles, cheeks, throat, and base of the anal fin are prettily marked with round light blue spots ; all the fins are black, except the pectorals, which are bluish-brown. Mr. Saunders collected several specimens of this handsome fish, all obtained from rock-pools, in which he tells me they are very common ; the largest measured six and a half inches, the smallest one and two-thirds. This species is undoubtedly closely allied to Pomacentrus scolopsis, but the constancy of the number of the dorsal spines, of the slightly larger number of scales on both lateral and transverse lines, of the more elongate form, and of the absence of the black spot on the dorsal fin have induced me to consider it distinct. Register numbers, I. 1,897—I. 1,902. GLYPHIDODON, Lacépéde. GLYPHIDODON C@LESTINUS, Cuv. & Val. This species is very abundant in pools on the reefs, and numerous examples were obtained by Mr. Saunders. FISH FAUNA. 65 GLYPHIDODON POLYACANTHUS, sp. nov. B.vi. D. 14/18. A. 2/14. V. 1/5. P.16—18. C.17. L. 1.27. L. tr. 4/L0. The length of the head is from four and a half to four and three-fourths, the height of the body rather less than three in the total length. The diameter of the eye is from two and four-fifths to three and two-fifths in the length of the head, equal to or in large examples rather less than that of the snout, and equal to or five-sixths of the interorbital space, which is slightly convex. The greatest depth of the preorbital is almost equal to the diameter of the eye. The maxilla does not nearly reach the anterior margin of the orbit. Hins.—The dorsal spines are strong and moderately high, the middle ones rather higher than the posterior, about three-fifths of the length of the head, and two-thirds of that of the middle dorsal, rays, which are one-half longer than the base of the soft portion of the fin, which is rather pointed: the second anal spine is very strong, slightly curved back- wards, and equal to or but little more than the longest dorsal spine; the soft portion of the fin is rounded, the middle rays being barely Jonger than the base : the first ventral ray is produced into a filament, which reaches to the middle of the anal fin, and is one-third longer than the head : the pectoral fin is well developed, about one-sixth longer than the same: the caudal fin is forked with the lobes, more or less rounded in adults, but acutely pointed in young and half-grown examples, the upper much longer than the lower, and from one-seventh to one-third longer than the head. The /ateral line ceases beneath the middle of the soft dorsal. Colors—Varying with age; adult specimens are dull brown without any trace of markings whatever ; the soft dorsal, anal, caudal, and ventral fins black, the pectorals yellowish-brown ; half-grown examples are pale violet-brown shading into yellowish-brown on the lower third of the body ; cheeks, opercles, and preorbitals with numerous round spots and short streaks of sky-blue; occiput and scales on the anterior part of the back above the pectoral fins with minute dots of the same color ; a row of similar spots from the snout, where it joins the corresponding one of the opposite side, through the upper part of the eye to the dorsal ocellus, which is black, surrounded by a circle of blue spots, and lies beneath the tenth to thirteenth dorsal spines; a similar but smaller spot on the last two rays and the anterior part of the pedicle; vertical fins of the same shade as the body ; ventrals and pectorals yellow or grey; a black spot at the base of the lateral line and another in the axil of the pectoral. In the young the ground color of both body and fins is pale buff, and the arrangement of the ornamental markings is similar to that of the half-grown, but the spots are much more accentuated, and the naso-dorsal line is composed of confluent blue black-edged spots. In the series of ten examples received through Mr. Saunders, there are almost endless modifications of the colors above given, which however appear to be typical of the three stages of growth mentioned,and I am satisfied that they are the various ages of the same fish, while the difference in coloration is to my mind easily accounted for thus: The young frequent shallow rock- pools with a sandy or coralline bottom, exposed to the full light of the sun, and naturally assume a tint similar to their surroundings, but as they increase in size they gradually retire to the larger and deeper pools near the outer edge of the reefs, which are only exposed at low spring tides, and whose sides are covered with a rank growth of seaweeds, and here they take on the more sober livery of the adult fish. Both in the inconstancy and the pattern of its coloration the present species bears a striking resemblance to Glyphidodon brownriggii but here again I am confronted by the unbroken constancy through a most typical F 66 LORD HOWE ISLAND. series of a number of dorsal spines, not only abnormal in that species, but, according to all the authors whom I have had an opportunity of consulting, also abnormal in the genus, where thirteen is given as the maximum. It is however worthy of remark that in the ninth volume of the “Atlas Ichthyolo- gique’’—of which I have not seen the letter-press—Dr. Bleeker figures Glyphidodon leucogaster and Glyphidodontops zonatus with fourteen dorsal spines. Now in the “Fische der Sudsee,” Heft v. p. 232, Dr. Giinther makes the latter species a synonym of G. brownriggii, but still holds to the thirteen dorsal spines; so that Dr. Bleeker’s G. zonatus may be the same as the species above described, though none of my examples show the slightest trace of a zone, in which case my name would have to stand, his having been previously utilized by MM. Cuvier and Valenciennes. : My specimens measure from two to six inches in length; they are very common in all the reef-pools. According too to Dr. Day (‘Fishes of India,” p. 387) G. brownriggiit has only five branchiostegal rays, whereas my species undoubtedly has six. Register numbers, I. 1903—I. 1910. PARMA, Giinther. PaRMA POLYLEPIS, Gath. This species is well known to the islanders by the name of “Sailor Fish,” and though it grows to a foot in length is not used as food. They are common in the rock-pools, and Mr. Saunders tells me that he could only get the larger examples by hook and line, and that each has his own lurking- place, whence he rushes out to seize the bait, and carries it back immediately to devour at his leisure. Our eight specimens measure from one to ten inches. Owing to their similar habits of life, it is not surprising to find that they are quite as variable in coloration as the last species; the adults being uniform purplish-black, and provided with four coarse bony protuberances on the head, one above the middle of each eye, and two on the occiput, these latter being sometimes confluent. HELIASTES, Cuv. & Val. HELIASTES HYPSILEPIS, Guth. Though originally described from Port Jackson, no example is to be found in the Australian Museum nor in that of the Hon. Wm. Macleay, and I was therefore agreeably surprised to find two specimens among the Lord Howe Island collections. Both were obtained from reef-pools, and they are said to be rare ; they measure respectively six and two-thirds and five and a half inches. LABRIDA. COSSYPHUS, Cuv. & Val. CossyPHUs atroLtuMBts, Cuv. & Val. Mr. Saunders obtained a single specimen of this beautiful fish, which was taken by hook in water about twelve fathoms deep, and is said to be very are. pie LABRICHTHYS, Bleeker. _ LABRICHTHYS INscRIPTA, Rich. This “ Parrot Fish” (all the members of the family go by the same name) is abundant, and as it grows to at least eighteen inches and is easily obtained, it is esteemed as an article of food ; it is almost entirely taken by hook and line. FISH FAUNA. 67 LABRICHTHYS LUCULENTA, Rich. Quite as common as the preceding species, but of no value, since its maximum length does not exceed seven inches. The variety with only a black spot between the two first dorsal spines, and that with other spots on the rays and lines on the snout are about equally divided as to number. LABROIDES, Bleeker. LABROIDES PARADISEUS, B/k. Mr. Saunders collected from a pool on the reef an example measuring close on five inches, and informs me that it is both scarce, and from its quick movements difficult to capture. ANAMPSES, Cuvier. ANAMPSES ELEGANS, sp. nov. B. vi. D. 9/12. A. 3/12. V. 1/5. P. 12. C. 14. L. 1. 26. L. tr. 4/10. The length of the head is three and a half, the height of the body four in the total length. The diameter of the eye is four and two-thirds in the length of the head, two-thirds of that of the snout, and rather less than that of the flattened interorbital space. The mouth is small and oblique, and the maxilla does not extend to the vertical from the anterior nostril. The curve of the lateral line commences beneath the eighth dorsal ray. Colors——Upper half of the head and back pale brown ; sides and tail yellowish-gray ; lower half of the head and thoracic region silvery; some blue dark-edged spots and lines on the upper surface of the head and behind the eye; scales between the lateral line and dorsal fin with numerous blue dots and trans- verse lines ; below the lateral line seven longitudinal golden bands, as wide as the interspaces, which are ornamented by numbers of blue spots, which however fade gradually towards the abdominal region, which is immaculate. The dorsal and anal fins are golden with a very narrow dark border, the former with a basal and median row of pale-blue dark-edged spots, the latter spotless; the caudal fin is golden with its outer margin greyish; the oka and ventrals are grey, the base of the former with a broad golden and. Mr. Saunders collected several specimens of this handsome Anampses, all of which measure between four and five inches in length, and were obtained from pools on the reefs. Register numbers, I. 1932—I. 1987. ANAMPSES TwisTI, Blk. A. young example, but four inches lon g, was brought back by Mr. Saunders, and belongs I think to this species. ANAMPSES VARIOLATUS, sp. nov. B. vi. D. 9/12. A. 3/12. V. 1/5. P. 13. C. 14. L. 1.28. L. tr. 6/11. Colors.—Pale reddish-yellow with a broad brown band from the middle of the operculum through the eye to the anterior edge of the snout, where it joms the corresponding band on the opposite side; a curved band from the centre of the cheek to the angle of the preopercle ; occiput brown; body with brown blotches, which sometimes coalesce to form semi-transverse bands, and are visible but indistinct on the dorsal fin; a broad silvery band from the ‘mouth to the opercle, partly interrupted by the curved brown band, and con- tinued as far as the caudal fin by means of large irregular blotches; above 68 LORD HOWE ISLAND. this is a much narrower and more indistinct band of similar blotches; the fins are pale yellow, with a small round black spot on the two penultimate rays of the dorsal and anal. I have a single immature specimen only of this species, but the colors are so different from those ordinarily found in this genus that I am compelled to describe it as new. Register number, I. 1938. STETHOJULIS, Ginther. STETHOJULIS AXILLARIS, Quoy & Gaim. A single small example was taken from a rock-pool by Mr. Etheridge’s party. PLATYGLOSSUS, Giinther. PLATYGLOSSUS PSEUDOMINIATUS, BIk. A single specimen, collected by Mr. Saunders, and measuring four and a half inches, seems to belong to this species. PLATYGLOSSUS TRIMACULATUS, Quoy J Gaim. A number of examples, of from five to seven inches in length, were obtained by Mr. Saunders from pools on the reefs where they are common. — JULIS, Cuv. & Val. JULIS LUNARIS, Linn., sp. Abundant in the larger pools on the reefs, where it grows to at least ten inches in length, but is not used as food so far as I can ascertain. JULIS TRILOBATA, Lacép., sp. Not uncommon, and taken principally by means of lines on rocky ground off shore, but small examples may occasionally be found in pools left uncovered by the lowest tides; they grow to eighteen inches in length, and are used, but not esteemed, as food. CORIS, Lacépéde. Corts ayGuLa, Lacép. The colors of these fishes vary so greatly with age, and no doubt also with their surroundings, that when the size of the scales and the comparative measurements* are found to differ but little in individuals from the same locality, it seems to me unnecessary and unscientific to describe such as new species from the mere fact of this variance. I have therefore decided to content myself with giving the life-colors of the five specimens which I have determined as belonging to this species, in the hope that such a course will tend to elucidate the life-history of this remarkable Labroid, and perhaps throw some light on the causes, the outcome of which is the varia- tion here recorded. This is as follows :— Nos. 1 & 2 are adult specimens, measuring respectively twenty-three and twenty-eight inches ; the body and head are very dark purple, while the fins are violet, and the head is furnished with a prominent bony knob on the occiput, similar to that which is found on the adult Schnapper (Pagrus unicolor). * All Ichthyologists will of course make allowance for the great differences which occur almost invariably in the measurements of the young and adult stages of the same fish. FISH FAUNA. — 69 Our next specimen, No. 3, which is slightly over eight inches in length, is much lighter in color, and has the vertical fins of the same shade as the head and body, but with a darker intramarginal line; at this age there is no sign of the occipital knob. Specimen No. 4 is four inches long; its head is purple, beautifully orna- mented on the cheeks and opercles with bluish-white spots and short cres- centic or wavy lines, while the opercular flap is jet black; on the abdominal region the lines are longer and more pronounced, forming partially inter- im bands between the isthmus and the vent; the colors grow gradually lighter on the body and tail, and the stripes, which are very irregular in direction and often broken up into rows of spots, are duller and broader ; the dorsal and anal fins are yiolet, with a narrow white margin, the former with numerous oblique silvery streaks running downwards and backwards, the latter with a median longitudinal dull grey streak, which is joined to the base of the fin by similar bars; the caudal fin is also violet, with small white spots on the rays and a white terminal border, broadest at the angles; the ventrals have the three inner rays white, the others purple; the pectorals are grey with a broad purple basal band. Specimen No.5 is but two inches and one-third in length ; its ground color is also .purple, and grows gradually lighter posteriorly ; the head is orna- mented with milk-white bands and spots, the upper of which runs from the angle of the intermaxillaries to the middle of the interorbital space, and throws off a narrow forked band opposite the front margin of the orbit, the anterior branch of which is very short, while the posterior branch forms a very narrow streak which skirts the upper margin of the eye, behind which it forms an irregularly oblong blotch, which itself terminates in a. narrow band at the origin of the lateral line; a similar but interrupted narrow band runs from immediately above the angle of the mouth to the- axil; on the mandibulary region there are several series of white bands and spots, which are continued on the ventral and abdominal regions; the back is beautifully ornamented with three large milk-white blotches, the anterior: of which lies beneath the five first dorsal spines, upon which however- it does not encroach, and through the middle of which the lateral line runs,. while some of the scales near that line are very dark purple with a central milky dot; the second lies between the lateral line and the median line of the third to seventh rays, while the third ornaments the inferior third of the last two rays and forms an arch across the pedicle almost as far as the base of the caudal fin ; below this there are four similar blotches, the anterior of which is hidden by the pectoral fin: the dorsal and anal fins are deep violet with the tips of the rays white, the former with some spots and oblique white stripes, the latter with a basal band of the same hue; the caudal fin is purple with two slightly convergent oval spots on either side of the base, and a crescentic spot with the are pointing forward between and behind their posterior angles; the entire margin, especially at the angles, is: broadly tipped with silver, and a few other scattered white dots are visible ;; the ventrals and pectorals are similar to those in the preceding form. If Dr. Day is correct in placing Labrus cingulum and L. aureomaculatus among the synonyms of Lacépéde’s Ooris aygula (vide “Fishes of India,” p. 408), it is evident that this species is more than ordinarily variable in its colors, even in a family so variable as that to which it belongs. This fish is common, and is taken when young or half-grown in the rock- pools, while the adults are taken by line in the open sea and are eaten with avidity. They are called “ Double-heads” by the islanders. 70 LORD HOWE ISLAND. | Coris sEemMIcrncta, Ramsay.* The type specimen was sent from Lord Howe by Capt. Armstrong, some years ago; the species appears to be rare everywhere, two only having come to hand since that time, these being respectively from Broken Bay and Port Jackson ; all three measure about ten inches. SCARICHTHYS Bleeker. ScaRICHTHYS AavRITUS, Ouv. & Val. Young examples up to six inches in length are common in the rock-pools all the specimens have nine anal rays. PSEUDOSCARUS, Bleeker. ° PSEUDOSCARUS, sp. A twenty-six inch specimen, in an advanced stage of decomposition, was picked up on the beach by Mr. Whitelegge, but is in so bad a state that I am unable to determine the species. ANACANTHINI. GADIDZE. LOTELLA, Kaup. Loretta, sp. The only specimen I have seen was obtained by purchase in February, 1882, and is, besides being small—less than five inches in length—in such bad condition as to render it impossible to determine the species with accuracy. ? PLEURONECTIDZ. SOLEA, Klein. SOLEA RAMSAII, sp. nov. Plate ITI, f. 4. D. 71. A.47. V. 5. C. 14. L. 1. 87. The length of the head is one-fifth, the height of the body three-tenths of the total length. The upper eye extends half its diameter in advance of the lower ; the diameter is equal to the length of the snout, and the interorbital space, which is scaly, is three-tenths of the same. The upper jaw overhangs the lower, and is produced into a lobe. The cleft of the mouth hardly extends beyond the anterior margin of the lower eye. The anterior nostril on the colored side is tubular, and the snout is provided with a few filaments. Teeth.—Distinct on the blind side. ins.—The dorsal fin commences in front of the middle of the lower eye, and ends one diameter of the eye from the base of the caudal; the anterior rays bear a filamentous appendage, some of which, on the upper surface of the head, are as longas the ray itself : the anal fin commences behind the vertical from the gill-openings: the ventral fins are separate from the anal: pectorals absent: the height of the pedicle between the terminations of the dorsal and anal finsis half of the length of the caudal, which is equal to that of the head. Scales.—Ctenoid on both sides, and extending a short distance up the rays of the vertical fins. The lateral line is straight, and there is a second short line on the blind side from the middle of the snout immediately below the base of the dorsal to beneath the eighteenth ray of that fin. Colors—Pale yellow with many small black spots and short wavy lines on the head and body, which on the lateral line take the form of streaks extending over from two to five scales ; the fins are hyaline, © all except the ventrals being closely dotted with white and black. A small example three inches in length was obtained by Mr. Saunders. Register number, I. 1,951. * Described in the Proc. Linn. Soc. N. 8. Wales, viz, 1882, p. 301. FISH FAUNA. 71 PHYSOSTOMI. SILURIDA. PLOTOSUS, Lacépéde. PLorosus ARAB, Forsk., sp. Abundant both in rock-pools and in the open sea, where it is taken by hand-lines ; it grows to at least twelve inches in length, and is not used as food. SCOPELIDA. SAURUS, Cwoier. SavuRUS VaARIUS, Lacép., sp. A single specimen measuring seven inches was taken in a seine, and secured for us by Mr. Saunders, who considers it rare. SCOMBRESOCIDA. SCOMBRESOX, Lacépéde. ScoMBRESOX FORSTERI, Cuv. & Val. Two specimens, each of a length of twelve inches, were obtained by our col- lectors, who state that they are rare, one or two only being taken in the nets along with the succeeding species. HEMIRHAMPHUS, Cuvier. HEMIRHAMPHUS INTERMEDIUS, Cant. Abundant at certain seasons and growing to at least fifteen inches ; they are taken in vast numbers by means of the seine net, and are much and justly esteemed as food. EXOC(&TUS, Artedi. Exocetus povit, Gili. Like Scombresox forstert this species occurs occasionally in the nets among the Garfishes. STERNOPTYCHIDA. STERNOPTYCHIDES, Ogilby.* Pseudobranchie present. Head and trunk much elevated and compressed, the latter passing gradually into the moderately long pedicle. yes large, directed upwards and outwards, and divided by an elevated bony ridge ; cleft of mouth deep, and almost vertical ; jaws equal when closed. The margin of the upper jaw is formed of the inter-maxillary and maxillary, each of which bears a row of long recurved teeth at a considerable distance from one another ; mandible with a similar row, one of which on either side is much more developed. Dorsal fin short, preceded by an osseous plate pierced by neural spines. Adipose fin present or absent. Pectoral fins well developed. Ventrals moderate. Gull-openings wide; gill-rakers long. Body covered with a silvery pigment, but with no distinct scales. A series of imbricate scutes along the edge of the abdomen, forming with the prolonged pubic bones a slightly-serrated margin. Two series of phosphorescent spots along the lower side of the head, body, and tail. | STERNOPTYCHIDES AMaBILIS, Ogilby. D. 5/11—12. A. 18 (?). V ?. P. 10 ?. C. 6/18/6.+ The greatest height of the body is three-fifths of the total length. Least height of pedicle about one-tenth of that ofthe body. Length of the snout one-half of the diameter of the eye. Teeth and fins as in generic diagnosis. Colors.—Silvery. * Described in the Proc. Linn. Soc. N. 8. Wales, 111 (2), 1888, p. 1313. + The specimens are in such bad condition that it is impossible to give the fin formula with certainty. 72 LORD HOWE ISLAND. The three specimens examined by me, the largest of which is barely two inches in length, were picked up dead on the beach by Mr. Thomas Brown, who brought them to Sydney and gave them to Mr. George Masters, by whom they were placed in the Macleay Museum where they now are; and I am indebted to the Hon. Wm. Macleay for permission to describe them. GONORHYNCHIDZ. GONORHYNCHUS, Gronovius. GONORHYNCHUS GREYI, Rich., sp. This species is common on the sandy beaches, and grows to at — eighteen inches in length ; its flesh is excellent. CLUPEIDZ. SPRATTELLOIDES,* Bleeker. SPRATTELLOIDES GRACILIS, Schleg., sp. A three-inches example was collected by Mr. Etheridge’s party, and was the only one seen. MURANIDE. ANGUILLA, Cuvier. ANGUILLA AUSTRALIS, Rich. Very common in all the fresh and brackish water pools on the island, but seemingly not growing to a size of more than two feet ; it takes a bait freely but is not eaten. CONGROMURANA, Kaup. CoNGROMURENA MELLISSII, Gath. An eel sent to the Museum in 1882 agrees so well with this Atlantic species that I consider it unnecessary to separate them, at least until I can obtain other specimens in better condition. MURANA, Artedi. Mouraya arra, BI., sp. This seems to be the most common Eel on the shore, and is easily obtained under stones between tide-marks up to a length of at least two feet; its flesh is excellent. Mvra£na NEBULOSA, Al. One example, which was obtained in a small pool on the reef, was brought back by Mr. Etheridge’s party ; it is said to be uncommon. LOPHOBRANCHII. SYNGNATHIDZ. SOLENOGNATHUS, Kaup. SOLENOGNATHUS SPINOSISSIMUS, Ginth, Frequently washed ashore after heavy storms. HIPPOCAMPUS, Leach. HipPpocaMPUS ABDOMINALTS, Less. Not uncommon in the pools on the reefs, or washed ashore with the pre- ceding species ; it grows to the length of twelve inches. * Surely this is the correct orthography. FISH FAUNA. 73 ~PLECTOGNATHI. MONACANTHIDZ,* BALISTES, “a a a _— , ve pas oat THE INSECT FAUNA OF LORD HOWE ISLAND. . f 5 . ad eet ’ ” \ . = * ‘ ’ & 4 - . d ' 7 -“ Fy 7 ad = oe Wei Y ap > F ol ph 4 J ‘ a "4 Nae « . : 7 : ‘ Ae FOUL SURG MOUS Aa Le ‘- 1 , * 2 omea ae 4 74 ' - 5 _ = 7 P ¥ ~. rte = a : : _ eee - .—.-pe ‘ ; rt PAR tye ttn wey ™ - hee 7: ‘ a i ae a t. 246" é | es wee : ‘ ’ i! Ory: Wha a x th ara 1 - ° i a > 6 ee 9 ’ THE INSECT FAUNA OF LORD HOWE ISLAND. Wirs the exception of two Rhynchophora, described by MM. Saunders and Jekelin 1855, and two Longicorns, made known by Messrs. Adam White and J. Thomson, nothing of importance was published concerning the insects of Lord Howe Island until the year 1874-5, when Mr. F. P. Pascoe described a few remarkable forms from material collected by Mr. G. Masters. Beyond these scattered but interesting descriptions nothing has appeared on the insect fauna of the Island, and I, therefore, propose in this paper to submit all the material to which I have been able to obtain access to a careful examination. The greater part of this material is contained in the col- lection of the Australian Museum, but I have also had at my disposal a few species from other sources. The collections from Lord Howe Island in the former are mainly the result of Mr. Masters’ labours, during three days collecting in June, 1869, and of those of Mr. Etheridge’s party, which visited the island, at the instance of the Trustees of that Institution, in August, 1887, and of the efforts of Mr. E. H. Saunders, who made considerable collections there in the beginning of the following year. ‘The latter collection is of special interest in that it contains a number of insects from the summit of Mount Lidgbird, a rocky peak, some 2,500 feet high, of which the entomology was previously unknown. The insect fauna of Lord Howe, viewed in relation to generic distri- bution, displays a marked affinity to the fauna of the Australian sub-region, such as we should expect from the geographical position of the island. In- deed, with the exception of the endemic genera, the only extra-Australian forms with which I am acquainted are two genera of Longicorns, Somatidia and Xyloteles, both typical of New Zealand. I have already stated* my belief that the insect-fauna of Norfolk Island, the other oceanic dependency of New South Wales, is essentially Australian in its character, and in support of my conclusion I have given a list of the species as far as they are known to me. I now propose to adopt a similar course with the insects of Lord Howe Island, and to illustrate the relationship of the Coleoptera with those of the mainland by a table showing the distribution of the genera and species. A glance at this table will bring to light the two prominent features of the fauna,—Ist. That the more conspicuous genera (e.g., Scaraphites, Lamprima, Lsodon, Saragus, Leptops, &c.) are peculiarly Australian ;—2nd. That the Island contains a number of highly-modified endemic forms, e.g., Cormodes, Emba- phiodes, ithreus, Hybomorphus, Blax, &c. * Report on a Small Zoological Collection from Norfolk Island.—Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, 1887, 11, pp. 1001-1014. ~J 10 8) LORD HOWE ISLAND. TABLE OF COLEOPTERA SHOWING GEOGRAPHICAL AFFINITIES. DOO Wb . Genera or Species of wide or cosmopolitan range. Genera or Species which extend to Malaysia or the Polynesian Islands. Genera or Species which are common to Australia and New Zealand. . Genera or Species which are confined to Australia. Genera or Species which are confined to New Zealand. Genera or Species which are peculiar to Lord Howe Island. . Genera or Species which are common to Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands, Sogouuo Scaraphites Macieayi fs ae een VagaDs. ....-..00. ee Chlaenius ......... peregrinus...... ) see eee see] eee) eee Diaphoromerus..,| ... iridipennis ...| Lestignathus | nee Dyscolus hilaris Cybister ......... tripunctatus ... Sternolophus nitidulus Metoponcus cyaneipennis... fugitivus Creophilus eeeree wee erythrocephalus ... Hesperus .......<. - pacificus ...... Pkagonophana... 2 Saprinus ss gayndahensis... Ostoma pudicum Neotrichus lucifugus Phormesa epitheca Gempylodes tmetus ......... Pyecnomerus moestus......... Dendrophagus ... australis Cryptamorpha ... Desjardinsii ... *Lamprima insularis ...... Figulus..... isms regularis waeewe eee eee a oN aa | da c ae 8 salt dl | a? = d d ve:| vel ae la | at a we tava CA aes) che. ve mn’ _) al Cc wal 2 pad Cc eve Cc ear ..| d i: we fo bt > ea SR ae al Se ee ( a ek’ fo fo, ee ye eats ef her gf a fe Of ee ae a a a bh: z Telephorus ..||Cormodes .|| Aphodius + Magn Wogs ¢ t ss -||Omadius 7 OREM; MMs: : lividus .||Heteronychus ... vulgivagus...... HEBGEON |. ade cose Melobasis ........ purpurascens...| ... empyria......... .||Monocrepidius ... striatus apterus ......... Darwini......... prasinus.......... Hylecoetus pervagus .||Hopatrum ......... calvulum Platydema spicata oo | PAPORUS .1..-.... +0. E Nyctobates......... exulansi......0. gulielmi......... sterrha ...|| Meneristes..,.....- a Mordella .||/Tranes vulgaris ......-.. curtulus......... australis......... a, ee ae .||Sphaeropterus ... barbipes -|| Leptopsi.... ... .0.+=.| «++ P Etheridgei......| ... .||Orthorrhinus lateralis......... VEU 0. a505,-- ee insularis AR a cteddiirs ones acrobeles .||[sacantha .....-... incalte® ......... Iba fe BT cont 1 See Ad cod dee 6) Aco ee ol scope) Se bos ae wea idl ea a oa) th ng oe site ee ek ba, od om |e d Ate = iP soe ia Sh dad) od a) salh ated OS) See ies Pa i pe Cask oy Sie fe] todd: SB eee, pe * This genus extends as far as Waigiou, North-west New Guinea. Ea ike i | aa te J f f ool SP) ses f | oan f INSECT FAUNA. Ja|elo|p)x |r |a | Jajplc|nlelr la Embaphiodes ...} ...| ...| ... 1 7 ee een ft WY suck Oe Brags g pyxidatus ...... | ee a ee ey a ee ~toh EES see g Imalithus ........ Me AE dela atl OE Sia) a a i a's YE (a, | ESE ee en ere sao] este P), °. 2 \iementnooerm 1) ced)... os-f GO|...) CD ane Euthyrrhinus ...| ... Bible Pivaatincal a8 cof] Reelin, ...:.. cage cecal a meditabundus..| ...| b ree eee) Te oo oS ee Aethreus ......... “i at awit [own Galen - +... SEL” ESB anal oe EM Giewbricosus ...| ...| ...] ... i AR ey dee a OH ee 5 f Hybomorphus ...| ...| ... ...| £ | .../] Wollastoni eA f melanosomus...| ...| ...| ...| ...| ... f | ...||Xyloteles .........) ... i ih tach tees Idotasia....:....... ee | ey aoe eee ee S| eae ae eee | MEIER 22.22) oe) wee} 2] vox) «| £ | --.|Somatidia ......... oa here 2 eee ee Sqmmmigera ...| ...| .-.| .«.| ...| ...| £ pulchella ...... RSs | ame oni Calandra ......... a | ...| € PPS fase oe capillosa ...... Jit Aer ae granaria......... an bees ia ee es en ee Pe | eee Bd Gryze............ Ay us) fy ..d) \