plants upon which it feeds, it does not appear to succeed in the
Island. I t was reintroduced a few years hack, but a few only of
the insects remain, and these, about two years ago, were at Maldivia
Gardens.
*C. sp. ?—A white insect, which covers the stems and branches
of the apple tree and ultimately kills the plant. In appearance it
much resembles the Cochineal, but is smaller, and produces no dye
colour.
O r d e r M a j .l o p h a g a .
For assistance in identifying the few insects which live as parasites
on birds taken at St. Helena, I am indebted to the late Mr.
Henry Denny.
Fam. Philopterida.
Docophorus, Nitzsch.
D . p h a e to n i , Denny.—A small insect taken from the feathers of
the Tropic Bird. ,
Lipeurus, Nitzsch.
L . p ro c e l la r ia e , Denny.— An insect from the feathers of the
"Whale Bird [Frocell'aria glacialoides).
Fam. Acanis.
Hypoderas ?
H. sp. ?
O r d e r T h y sa n d r a .
One solitary representative of this Order has been detected by
Mr. Walker.
Fam. Lepismidce.
Lepisma, Linn.
L . sp. ?—This creature is best known by the appellation of The
Mackerel Moth.” I t is abundant all over the Island, and most
destructive to books, clothes, papers, &c. I t is generally found in
houses, hut I have also seen it amongst the barren rocks on the
sea coast, at Egg Island and in its neighbourhood.
C LA S S I I .— M Y R IA P O D A .
The small Wire Worm and the Centipede are perhaps the best
known of this class : the former is very troublesome and destructive
to all root-crops; the latter, though its bite is said to be severe, is
seldom seen, but it inhabits old timber yards, old stone walls, and
similar places in Jamestown, Rupert’s Valley, Lemon Valley, Ladder
Hill, and the low land along the northern side of the Island. I t is
never seen inland, but may generally be found under loose stones on
the warm barren portions of the Island in the localities above
mentioned. In size it averages about 3 to 4 inches, but in some instances
attains as great a length as 7 or 8 inches. Mr. Walker
identifies ten species under this class, as follows:—
Fam. Scolopendridce.
Cermatia, Hardw.
C. e o le o p t r a t a , Linn.—Inhabits also the South ofi| These ex-
Erance, and along the Mediterranean coast. j- tremely
C. r u b r o l i n e a t a , Newp.—Inhabits also N. Africa. J elegant
little creatures, known as “ Thousand Legs,” are very abundant, both
on the high land and in Jamestown, where, during the evenings,
they may often be seen venturing out of their hiding-places, and
crawling over the walls or ceiling of a room in search of moths and
flies.
Scolopendra, Linn.
S . a n g u s t a , Lucas.— I t is quite probable that on a further investigation,
two species of Centipede may be found in the Island. Mr.
Walker stages, in reference to the specimen submitted to him, as
follows :—“ I t does not seem to differ from S. leacMi, Newport, a
West African species. S. leachii is the S. morsitans of Leach, not
the S. morsitans of Linn., wThich is a South American species. The
Egyptian S. canidens, of Newport, is nearly allied to S. angusta.”
Lithobius, Leach.
L . f o r f lc a tu s , Linn.—A dark-red creature, about two inches in
length, resembling in form a small Centipede, very abundant on
the high land in gardens, earth banks, under stones, in o ld stems