with its variations in climate, its different altitudes, its alternating
valleys, sheltered glens, and exposed plains, in some parts richly
clothed with verdure, in others barren sunny wastes, there is an
immense diversity of habitations for insect life. I t is remarkable how
in many cases insects occupy little colonies of their own, and I have
often found that a turn in the road, the intervention of a small hill,
òr the addition of a few yards in altitude, would take me completely
out of the habitat of that particular insect for which I was seeking.
I t has been remarked, and I am to some extent inclined to agree
therewith, that introduced insects, after a period of existence, disappear
from the Island. This is known to have been the case with
the Honey Bee and also the Death’s-Head Moth ; and as peach trees
are again plentiful and no insect now exists answering to the
following description, it may be presumed that it also has taken its
departure :— “ The Peach used to be the most abundant fruit in the
Island, but there are few of these now remaining. This valuable
fruit tree, which was introduced here many years ago, throve and
multiplied amazingly.” . “ But about thirty years ago an
insect, imported either from the Mauritius or from the Cape of Good
Hope, along with the Constantia Grape., has destroyed almost all the
Peach trees, and no means have hitherto been found of checking its
ravages. I t settles on the trunk of the tree, which becomes covered
with a white crust, and shortly after withers and dies. The
inhabitants have tried all methods of destroying it, but hitherto
without effect. They have smoked the trees, scraped off the white
crust, and washed the stem with a decoction of tobacco, &c. But
none of these methods have answered. This destructive insect is so
minute that it is not visible to the naked eye. I t attacks some other
trees, particularly the native Gum-wood trees and the Mulberry ;
but the trunk of the Peach seems to be its favourite lodgment. I t
is a curious circumstance that this insect, which, according to the
testimony and belief of the inhabitants, was imported with the
Constantia Yine from the Cape of Good Hope, or with some shrubs
from the Mauritius, should not now settle on any of thè plants on
which it is supposed to have been brought hither. Its ravages are
almost exclusively confined to the Peach, the Mulberry, and one or
two of the native island shrubs. An old inhabitant, describing and
lamenting the ravages it had-made, could not forbear crying out, the
tears almost, starting into his eyes—‘ We would with pleasure have:
given up to it half the trees of the place had it only spared our
Peaches, which we valued so much.’ But this inexorable little foe
will listen to no such composition; and, having hitherto resisted
every offensive means employed against it, is likely to continue its
progress till it has completely deprived the inhabitants of this
wholesome and delicious fruit. *
As the inhabitants at the present time enjoy perfect immunity
from any insect of this kind, and rejoice in their peaches as fully as •
ever their ancestors did, they have every reason to take courage and
look for the realization of their devout hope that the Termites or
White Ants, which have destroyed their homes and property in
Jamestown, may before very long be exterminated.
I t is not difficult to account for the presence of imported insects.
The Island having shared for about three centuries and a half
in Europe’s traffic and commerce with the Eastern World,
they would be conveyed thither in ships, in bales of merchandize,
and even in timber, just as the White Ant was taken all the way from
South America to Africa and thence to St. Helena.
There is another mode of conveyance, which will doubtless
account for the presence of those European and garden insects which
are common, and that is the Wardian cases filled with earth and
living plants, which have been so largely introduced through many
years into the Island.
O rd er C oleóptera.
Eleven years ago, a few species of Beetles, which Mr. Bewicke
collected at St. Helena were investigated by Mr. T. Yernon Wollaston,
M.A., F.L.S., who published an adcount, with figures of some of
them, in the Journal of Entomology fox December, 1861, and it is
from the same eminent naturalist and high authority that science
has receive'd a careful examination and report of 95 species,f nearly
all of which, mainly owing to his encouragement, I collected at the
Island during my residence there. Mr. Wollaston s most valuable
-
* A Description of the Island of St. Helena, published by R. Phillips, 6, Bridge Street,
Blackfriars. 1805.
‘j’ Since writing this account, Mr. Wollaston has increased the total number of species to 96,
by the addition of Cydonia vicina, Muls., which Mr. f¡§ E. Crotch informs him he possesses
from St. Helena, and which Mr. Wollaston records in the Annals of Natural History for
February, 1872, together with a diagnosis of Hficroxylobius westwoodii, which he had lately
had an opportunity of examining and recording as a distinct species from 3f. vestifus.
K 2