Chapter VIII: Part 8

In the mossy woods live a large, yellowish, black-spotted _Limax_, and two Helices of middling size. In the bay itself are found a few of the gilled snails with spiral shells; and a considerable number on the outward coast, which is washed by the ocean. Here are several species of the genera _Murex_, _Fusus_, _Buccinum_, _Mitra_, _Trochus_, and _Turbo_. Further, there are found here a large _Fissurella_, and six species of a genus which, from its simple, unwound shell, would be immediately taken for a _Patella_; the creature, however, closely resembles the _Fissurella_, with the difference that only one gill is visible in the fissure over the neck. It is remarkable, that on the whole north-west coast of America down to California, no _Patella_, only animals of the genus _Acmæa_, were to be met with. Of the _Chiton_ genus, six species were observed; in one, the side skin covers the edges of the shell so far as to leave only a narrow strip of it visible down the back; in others, the shell is entirely concealed under the external skin. It is worthy of remark, that these latter, as well as one similarly formed, found in California, attain the considerable length of eight inches. A third kind, to be reckoned among this subdivision, Pallas obtained from the Kurile Islands, and has described it as _Chiton amiculatus_.

Among the Acephala are to be named a large _Cardium_, also found on the Californian coast; _Modiolus_, two species; _Mytilus_; _Mya_, two species; and _Teredo palmulatus_: the latter, which is brought here by the ships, is very mischievous in the harbour, and attains to the length of two feet. In this species are comprehended three _Ascidiæ_, of different forms; one _Anomia_, one _Terebratula_ attached to a _Fusus_, two _Lepas_, and a _Balanus_. Six _Holothuria_, belonging to three different species, were observed: a large _Thalassema_ gave us a long-wished for opportunity of observing, that this species belongs to the Holothuria, and not to the Annulides. Eight species of star-fish are found here, partly on the rocks, and partly at the bottom of the sea: among them, four are furnished with five _radii_, and the rest with six, ten, eleven, and eighteen: the latter sort, which is the largest, lives at the bottom of the sea, and the number of its _radii_ varies from eighteen to twenty-one. Only one _Ophiura_ was seen. Several kinds of very large _Actinia_ inhabit the rocks: all that we examined belonged to the species which is externally provided with rows of teats. A _Velella_ also was caught in the open bay: this is the first which has been observed in so high a latitude.

Of _Zoophytes_, some presented themselves of the genera _Antipathes_, _Millepora_; _Cellaria_, _Flustra_ two species, _Melobesia_, _Retepora_, _Acamarchis_, _Lafoea_, _Aglaophenia_, _Dynamena_ fives species, _Clytia_ four species, and _Folliculina_, two species. The _Antipathes_ consists of a simple stem resembling wood, which grows to the length of ten feet: it grows at a great depth in the open bay, and is often accidentally drawn up in fishing.

Although of all insects of this island the beetle is the most numerous, yet during the whole spring and summer, in almost daily excursions, with constant fine weather, only one hundred and six kinds were found. On the whole, it may be observed, that none among them belong to any of the species which have been hitherto considered as peculiar to America; yet there are some of them which form entirely distinct classes, and must therefore be natives of the north-west coast of America. The result of close examination was, that none of those found here are to be met with either in the north of Asia or in Europe, and only seven species are to be found even in Unalashka.

The Fauna is adapted to the climate and the soil; _Nebria_, _Patrobus_ and other Carabides, find a cool abode among the stones on the banks of the ice-cold brooks which fall from the snowy summits of the mountains; in the fir-woods, live several kinds of _Xylophagi_ and some _Cerambycides_; the old mossy trunks of fallen trees afford hiding-places for several kinds of Carabides, as two _Cychrus_, _Leistus_, _Platysma_; and for _Nitidula_, _Scaphidium_, _Agyrtes_, and _Boros_. On the skirts of the woods, shrubs and tall plants nourish some insects belonging to various families; as two _Homalisus_, _Omalium_, and _Anthophagus_, _Anaspis_, _Cantharis_, and _Silis_; besides _Elater_ of eight kinds, and a ninth living under stones.

The small standing waters, formed by single cavities, are proportionably rich in water-beetles, among which is found a _Dyticus_ of the form of the _sulcatus_, seven _Colymbetes_, _Hydroporus_ two species, and a _Gyrinus_. The Carabides are: _Cychrus angusticollis_ and _marginatus_, _Nebria metallica_ and three new species, _Leistus_, _Poecilus_ two, _Patrobus_, _Omaseus adstrictus_, _Platysma_ two, _Loricera_ plainly distinguished from the _pilicornis_, _Amara_, _Trechus_ three, _Bembidium_ two, and _Leja_ three species. Thirteen species of _Brachelytra_ have been found; of carrion-beetles, a _Necrophorus_, a _Silpha_, quite of the figure of the _subterranea_, and a _Catops_. Of Pentamerides are still to be mentioned the _Scydmaenus_, _Cryptophagus_, _Byrrhus_, _Cercyon_, _Psammodius_, and _Aphodius_. The number of Heteromerides amounts only to four; namely, one _Boros_ of the arched form of the _elongatus_, a small _Phaleria_, a pale yellow _Anaspis_, and a small black, flat beetle with overgrown wing-cases of a new form, which must be reckoned among the family of the Blapides. Of beetles with probosces only six were found, of Xylophagi seven, of the species _Hylurgus_ two, _Bostrichus_ three, one _Rhyzophagus_, and a larger quite red _Cucujus_. The three stag-beetles were a _Sphondylis_, a _Lamia_ with excrescences upon the sharply pointed cases of its wings, and a beetle of the flat form of a _Callidium_. Of the large class of Chrysomelides, only five varieties were to be met with; namely, two sorts of _Donacia_, a beetle of the form of a _Lema_, and two varieties, of the form of Eumolpes. Lastly, three Trimerides were discovered, namely, two _Latridii_ and a _Pselaphus_.

Our stay in the Bay of St. Francisco, in California, during the months of October and November, was unfavourable to the observations of a naturalist. A perfect drought prevails during those months; vegetation appears completely dead; and all birds of passage abandon the country. The landscape along the coast is alternately formed of naked hills, of a rocky or clayey soil, and low sandy levels, covered with stunted bushes. Further inland, the soil is more fertile, but still deficient in wood. The background every where presents lofty mountains; we visited only those to the north, at the foot of which the Russian settlement Ross is situated. Here a fine forest of lofty pines, mingled with oak and horse chesnut-trees, charms the eye. Of the mammalia of this hitherto unexplored country, only a few can be cited. The light grey American bear, with a small head, abounds in unfrequented districts, but brown bears are also occasionally killed. We nearly ascertained the existence of two sorts of polecats, and succeeded in getting a skin of one; its fur is brown below, and black above: from the forehead a white stripe runs to the middle of the back, and then divides into two, which extend to the extremity of the tail. The feet of the animal show that it treads upon its entire sole, and lives in holes like a badger. The second sort is said to have three white stripes: our sailors caught one, but it got away again. The mole here is larger than in Europe; the upper part of the body is of a greyish brown, the lower part an ash grey; the legs are covered with a white fur, and the taper tail is one-fifth of the length of the body. A shrew-mouse also was caught. Two or three kinds of large cats are said to have been seen; a _mustela_, something of the nature of the _Lutreola_, was shot near the Rio Sacramento. The sea-otter still abounds here, but its hair is brownish, and not black. The _Cervus Wapiti_ is found in great numbers in hilly districts; and there are deer in all unfrequented places. The back and sides of the latter are of a reddish brown in summer, in winter of a blackish brown; the belly, breast, and inside of the legs are white; the mouth, forehead, and the exterior of the ears are black. The antlers (of the male) divide into a fork, with round smooth branches. The animal grows to the height of two feet and a half. Near the Rio Sacramento, and in the vicinity of the Russian settlement, we saw herds of animals of the shape of goats, with long hair hanging from their legs, and short straight horns; we were unfortunately unable to obtain a specimen; we saw the animal only through a telescope, and judged it to be the _Capra Columbiana_, or _Rupicapra Americana Blainville_, so often spoken of. Lastly, we have to mention a small kind of hare, not so large as a rabbit, found in great abundance among the bushes, and a dormouse seen in the southern plains.

In consequence of the lateness of the season, most of the birds that breed here had already left the neighbourhood; we therefore saw only such birds as pass the winter here, and also a number of aquatic birds that were daily arriving from the north. Of the former we met with five kinds of _Icterus_; one quite black, except the shoulders, which were red; these were extremely numerous, and sleep, like the _Icterus phoenicius_, among rushes. The _Sturnus ludovicianus_ and _Picus auratus_ of the United States, are also found in California; the _Percnopterus californicus_, _Corvus mexicanus_, and _Perdix californica_, are already known. A large grey crane, probably from the north, remained here: upon the whole, the number of birds observed, amounted to forty.

A few Amphibia were found concealed under stones; namely, a large _Tachydromus_, a _Tropydurus_, a _Crotalus_, a _Coluber_, and four _Salamandrides_: among the latter was one with the body covered with warts, and a narrow compressed tail, the glands of the ear wholly wanting; the others had long narrow bodies of about the thickness of a common earth-worm, with short legs, standing far apart, and toes scarcely perceptible to the naked eye.

Nearly two hundred kinds of beetles were collected: with the exception of the _Lampyris corrusca Fabr._, which, according to Banks, is found on the Columbia river, all are as yet undescribed. Upon the dry ground, under stones, many Heteromerides, with distorted wing-cases, were found, and among them six new species. A large _Cychrus_ was also found, and a species closely resembling the _Manticora_, together with many other Carabides, of which we collected, in all, fifty different species.

It was at the Sandwich Isles that the greatest number of fishes and Crustacea were collected: of the former the greatest variety, and the most remarkable, were kept in the fish preserves of the royal family. Of other classes of animals, but few are to be met with. Among the dense woods that cover the backs of the mountains, there must be a number of land-birds, but we met only _Melithreptus vestiarius_, and two sorts of the _Dicæum_; in the fields laid under water were the _Gallinula chloropus_ and a _Fulica_. Of corals there is but little variety; these islands being situated nearly in the highest latitude in which coral is ever found. In the vicinity of the harbour are two sorts of _Astræa_, two _Porites_, a _Pavonia_, and a _Hornera_. The number of insects is small, as is indeed the case with all land animals; it is therefore creditable to our industry, that we are able to muster twenty sorts of beetles. A small _Platynus_ is the only Carabide; in the water, two _Colymbetes_ and a _Hydrophilus_ were found. The only _Elater_ belongs to a species (_Agrypnus N._) in which we reckon various specimens found only in the Old World, such as _Elater tomentosus_, _fuscipes_, _senegalensis_, &c.; beetles which have two deep furrows in the lower part of the neck-shield, to receive the feelers, and which go in search of their food at night. They resemble many of the European springing beetles covered with scales, and included by Megerle under the name Lepidotus; such are _fasciatus_, _murinus_, _varius_. Two Aphodii were found; one, of the size of the _Psammodius porcatus_, but very flat, lives under the bark of a decayed tree, the wood of which has become soft. Another has the almost prickly shoulders of the _Aphodius stercorator_ and _asper_; of these we form the species _Stenocnemis_, and include therein four new varieties found in Brazil and Luçon. It may be here observed, that _Psammodius sabuleti_ and _cylindricus N._, must be classed with _Ægialia_, which, on account of the horny nature of their jaws, and the projection of the upper lip, enter into the same class with _Trox_; the remaining kinds of _Psammodius_, however, do not at all agree with the character given them by Gyllenhal, and ought in their turn to be classed with _Aphodius_. Among the remaining beetles, all of which dwell under the bark of trees, a _Parandra_ was the largest.

During our two months' stay in the Bay of Manilla, we could only become acquainted with a small part of the natural productions, in which the large island of Luçon appears extremely rich, because it is difficult to procure them without travelling far into the interior; but the country round Manilla and Cavite being cultivated to the distance of several days' journey, the woods of the mountains alone remain in a state of nature. There dwell the gigantic snakes and crocodiles, of which every one has some tale to relate. A small _Cercopithecus_ is found in great abundance; but we were not able to meet with a good drawing, or even a tolerable description of it. Skins of _Galeopithecus_ were brought us; and we were assured that the animal allowed itself to be tamed, and would sit like a monkey, and take its food with the fore-feet. Two kinds of flying dogs, one of them apparently a _Pteropus edulis_, were shot and eaten in the neighbourhood. Two other animals, of the bat kind, belonged to the classes _Hypexodon_ and _Nycticejus_. A _Chelone_, three feet long, was brought us, remarkable for seven shields on the middle of its back. _Terrapene tricarinata_ is abundant. We obtained also a _Basilicus_, a large _Tupinambis_, and two _Geckos_, which do not as yet appear to have been described. _Achrochordus fasciatus_ lives in the sea, and is frequently brought up in the nets of the fishermen; on land, it is unable to move from the spot on which it is placed.

In November and December, the months we passed at Manilla, all the insects had concealed themselves; and it was only by the assistance of several active Malays, who were all day long hunting them, that we were able to collect upwards of two hundred beetles. Upon the whole, the beetle Fauna agrees with that of Java, of which island many have already been made known. A _Tricondyla_ we had ourselves the pleasure of catching on the trunk of a tree: the inhabitants did not bring them to us, as they suppose them to be large ants, and are apprehensive of being stung by them. We obtained three sorts of _Catascopus_, nineteen aquatic _Scarabæus_, six _Hydrophilus_, five _Buprestis_, five _Melolontha_, four _Anomala_. _Scarabæus Gideon_ is found in great abundance in the thick bushes, where it climbs up the branches by means of its long legs and large claws. Of _Oryctes nasicornis_, a Malay one day brought us no less than sixty, taken out of some decayed wood. A green _Cetonia_, of the size and form of the _chinensis_, of a coppery brightness, is rare. Three small Lucanides, of those called by Mac Leay _Nigidius_ and _Figulus_, are found in the wood of living trees.

Of wingless Heteromerides, we found only one _Tagenia_, and that under the dry bark of a tree. For Pimeliades the soil is unfavourable, there not being, as far as we could learn, in the country round Manilla, either stones, or low, broad-leafed plants, under which these animals can find shelter from the burning rays of the sun: they are found only under dry bark, and about the root of the _Opatrum_, _Uloma_, and similar plants. The Helopides, on the other hand, must be looked for on the dry branches in the tops of trees, but we obtained only six varieties. Of the twenty-six stag-beetles collected here, it is necessary to observe, that they are all essentially different from those found in South America.

Our passage through the Chinese Sea was rapid; and as we had constantly stormy weather in the Indian Ocean, we had no opportunities of observing marine animals. In the vicinity of the Cape, we caught some Salpæ, Physaliæ, and Velellæ; but in the Northern Atlantic, after reaching the region of the _Sargassum natans_, daily opportunities for interesting observations presented themselves. From the point at which the floating sea-weed was first noticed, (eighteen degrees north latitude, and about thirty degrees of longitude west of Greenwich,) to the coast of England, forty-three kinds of animals were observed, not noticed on our outward voyage. We were able to make a very exact examination of the whole system of the _Beroe punctata_. Three new varieties of Medusa were discovered, and an animal (_Rataria N._) between _Velella_ and _Porpita_: it has the flat form of the latter, but is provided with a sail, which it can draw in at will. We also caught the animal which Le Sueur has called _Stephanomia uvæformis_. Lastly, we had the good fortune to procure a specimen of an animal which appears to form a link between the _Salpa_ and _Pyrosoma_. This species (called _Anchinia_) consists of a number of animalculæ of the Salpa form, which, by means of a stalk, are attached to a common body, all of them being turned to the same side.

In the course of less than three years, 2400 kinds of animals were either examined, or only collected, consisting of the following classes:--

Species.

Mammalia 28
Birds 165
Amphibia 33
Fishes 90
Annulides 40
Crustacea 127
Insects 1400
Arachnides 28
Cephalopodes 20
Gasteropodes 162
Acephali 45
Tunicati 28
Cirrhipedes 21
Echinodermates 60
Acalephi 63
Zoophytes 90

FR. ESCHSCHOLTZ.

Dorpat, 7th January, 1828.

THE END.

LONDON:
PRINTED BY SAMUEL BENTLEY,
Dorset Street, Fleet Street.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] A kind of urn in use throughout all Russia, called a Samowar, or self-boiler. It generally stands in the middle of the tea-table, and is furnished with a large kettle for water, and a space filled with fire to keep it boiling.

[2] The baidars, or canoes of the Aleutians, are generally twelve feet long and twenty inches deep, the same breadth in the middle, and pointed at each end. The smaller are suited only for one man, the larger for two or three. The skeleton and the keel are made of very thin deal planks, fastened together with the sinews of the whale, and covered with the skin of the sea-horse cleared of the hair. It has a kind of deck made of this skin, but leaving an aperture for each person the canoe is intended to carry. These sit in the bottom with their legs stretched out, and their bodies rising through the apertures, which are but just large enough to allow them to move and row conveniently. The space between their bodies and the deck being so well fitted with bladders, that no drop of water can enter.

These baidars are moved very rapidly by oars, and the Aleutians put to sea with them in all weathers.

[3] This applies only to the lower classes; the Yeris are nearly all as large as at Tahaiti.

[4] This kind was known to Fabricius, for _Copris Midas_ is a variety of the male, and _Gigas_ is the female. The former has erroneously been deemed a native of America.