REPORT ON A SMALL ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTION FROM NORFOLK ISLAND. I. Introductory Remarks. Bv J. A. M. Millington. II. Reptiles and Fishes. By J. Douglas Ogilby. III. Mollusca. By John Brazier. IV. Insecta. By A. Sidney Ollief. I. Introductoky Remarks. By J. A. M. Millington. At the instigation of ray friend Mr. A. Sidney Olliff, during my recent visit to Norfolk Island, as Assistant to Mr. W. A. Harper, A.M.I.C.E., who w;is making a survey of the Island, I gathered together such specimens as came under my immediate observation. Unfortunately the time at my disposal was so fully occupied that any attempt at serious collecting was out of the question, and I obtained little but what actually thrust itself upon me when engaged in field-work. Small as the results are, I trust they are not without interest, as I believe that the investigation of isolated faunas like that of Norfolk Island may throw some light on that most important problem, the geographical distribution of animals. Norfolk Island,* situated in 29° 2' south latitude, and 168° 1' east longitude, is a well-wooded, fertile, and very rugged island, seven miles in length, with a superficial area of some 89G0 acres. On the southern side and closely associated with it are Phillip and Nepean Islands, the former distant about five and the latter half-a-mile, which together with a few small bare I'ocks on the northern side known as the Bird Rocks, constitute the whole of this isolated group. * For a concise general account of the island, see Dr. C. T. Downing's 'Norfolk Island, its Character and Productions.' Proc. Royal Soc. Tasma-nia, 1859, pp 195-212. 63
BioStor
