In Kamtschatka we found the Bay of Awatscha poor in Mollusca and radiated animals, owing probably to the inconsiderable ebb and flood. The objects most frequently met with, were an ugly little Turbo, the empty shell of which was tenanted by a black Pagurus and a Balanus. A large Cyanea differs from the European C. ciliata, in the form of the stomach. Another Medusa, constituting a new kind of Sthenonia N., was observed; its digestive organs resemble those of the Aurelia; and about the edge, eight bunches of very long fibres project, provided, like those of the Physaliae, with two rows of suckers.

The environs of St. Peter and St. Paul, lying under fifty-three degrees of north latitude, possess an insect Fauna, such as is in Europe only found in sixty and seventy degrees of latitude; as for instance, in Lapland and Finland. A great number of species are exactly similar in both regions; others of the Kamtschatkan insects have been met with nowhere else, except in Siberia, and a small number is quite peculiar to the former country. All have not yet been subjected to a diligent examination, and only the following can be with certainty mentioned.

Firstly, in the North of Europe also, are found: Pteroloma Forstroemii Gyllh., Nebria arctica Dej. (hyperborea Schoenh.), Blethisa multipunctata, Pelophila borealis, Elaphrus lapponicus and riparius, Notiophilus aquaticus, Loricera pilicornis, Poecilus lepidus, Dyticus circumcinctus, Staphylinus maxillosus, Buprestis appendiculata, Elater holosericeus, Ptilinus pectinicornis, Necrophorus mortuorum; Silpha thoracica, lapponica, opaca, and atrata; Strongylus colon, Byrrhus albo-punctatus, dorsalis, varius and aeneus; Hydrophilus scarabaeoides and melanocephalus; Cercyon aquaticum, Hister carbonarius, Psammodius sabuleti, Trichus fasciatus, Oedemera virescens, Apoderus Coryli, Leptura trifasciata, atra and sanguinosa, Lema brunnea, Cassida rubiginosa, Chrysomela staphylaea, lapponica, aenea, viminalis, armoracea and vitellinae; Eumolpus obscurus, Cryptocephalus variegatus, Coccinella 7 punctata, 13 punctata, mutabilis, and 16 guttata. Secondly, such as have been hitherto found only in Siberia, though their number is but small: Cantharis annulata Fisch., Dermestes domesticus Gebl., Aphodius ursinus N., and A. maurus Gebl., and Leptura sibirica.

Among the beetles which have as yet been met with nowhere else, and are therefore considered peculiar to the country, may be named: a Cicindela, between hybrida and maritima; a Carabus of the form of the cancellatus Illig., with black feelers and legs; C. Clerkii N., and another, green, with gold border, of the form of the catenulatus, caught near the line of perpetual snow on the volcano Awatscha: C. Hoffmanni N., Nebria nitidula, which is the same as the Carabus nitidulus Fabr., as appears by that preserved in Banks's Museum, hitherto the only specimen in Europe; great numbers of these are found in the valleys: a second black sort was caught on the volcano. Further, a small bright yellow Pteroloma, an Elaphrus, Bembidia six kinds, Agonum four kinds, an Omaseus, an Amara, Elater scabricollis Esch. Entomogr.; an Elater, like undulatus P., three kinds, which like Bructeri, live among stones; a wingless kind which is found buried in the sea-sand, and a perfectly black Campylus.

Besides these, a beetle forming a peculiar species between Atopa and Cyphon; Cantharis cembricola Esch., and one resembling the testacea; a Hylecoetus, scarcely differing from dermestoides; Catops; a Heterocerus, broad and covered with whitish scales; an Elophorus; two Phaleriae with a black ground; two kinds of Stenotrachelis, both larger than the European, which has hitherto borne the name of Dryops aenea; and in fact, the beetle in Banks's Museum, so called by Fabricius, is either the same, or a species very nearly resembling it, and it may therefore be conjectured that some mistake has accidentally occurred in the designation of its native country in that Museum. There still remain to be mentioned a Chrysomela, like the pyritosa, and a Coccinella with five very large spots upon both wing-covers, found on the line of perpetual snow on the volcano. It is also probable that the valley of the Kamtschatka river, although lying farther north than the environs of the Awatscha, yet possesses a richer in sect Fauna, as the climate there is much milder, and adapted to agriculture.

From Kamtschatka our course lay mostly eastward. At first the sea was strongly luminous every night; but when in the midst of this immense ocean, it one night happened, that while the ship was as usual surrounded by brilliant waves, a dark precipice seemed to open before it. On reaching this part of the water, it appeared that all the luminous matters, such as Zoophytes and Mollusca with their spawn, were entirely wanting, and from this point to the American coast the sea remained dark.

We remarked generally of this great ocean, that on the Asiatic coast, even at a considerable distance from land, (as much as thirty degrees west from Japan,) the water is always muddy; it is made so, partly by the great numbers of small Crustacea, Zoophytes, and Mollusca, partly by the impurities of the whales and dolphins, which latter especially, as well as many other kinds of fish, are very numerous here from the abundance of food to be found. On the contrary, the sea in the neighbourhood of the north-west coast of America is clear and transparent, and nothing is found in it except here and there a single Medusa.

In the principal settlement of the Russian-American Trading Company on the island of Sitcha, in Norfolk Sound, we had better opportunities of becoming acquainted with natural productions than elsewhere, as, during our stay there, in the year 1825, from March to the middle of August, we had an almost uninterrupted continuation of fine weather: we were in this respect peculiarly favoured, as in most years this island does not enjoy above one fine day to fourteen cloudy or wet ones. We ourselves experienced this sort of weather in 1824, when we passed the latter part of August and the beginning of September there.

Of the Fauna of this island, about two hundred and sixty species came under our notice: from its immediate vicinity to the continent, it is not wonderful that several large mammalia are to be found. Among these is the Ursus Americanus, of the black race; a fox; a stag, which perhaps does not differ from the Cervus virginianus, and the common beaver, which feeds on the large leaves of a Pothos, said by the inhabitants to be injurious to man. Besides these are observed a small Vespertilio with short ears, a Mustela, and a Phoca.

Of birds we remarked: the Aquila leucocephala, Astur, Corvus Corone and Stelleri, and some varieties of the species Turdus, Sylvia, Troglodytes, Parus, Alcedo, Picus, Ardea, Haematopus, Scolopax, Charadrius, Anas, and Colymbus. Trochilus rufus is not only often found here, but also under sixty degrees of latitude. A small shoal of Procellaria furcata was once driven into the Bay by stormy weather. Of Amphibia, only a small kind of toad is met with. There is no great variety in the kinds of fish, but the individuals are numerous, especially a well-flavoured sort of salmon, and herrings; a Pleuronectes several feet long, and a reddish yellow Perca two feet long and very thick, are extremely abundant.

The number of accurately examined Annulides amounts to sixteen, among which are found some of very fine and unknown forms. Most of them belong to the well-known species Cirrhatulus, Arenicola, Aceronereis, Nereis, Aphrodita, Serpula, Amphitrite. A Nereis was found swimming on the surface of the water in the middle of the bay, which measured two feet in length, and one inch in thickness; the appendages at its sides resemble round leaves. An Aphrodita several inches long, and very narrow, was not rare. An animal resembling the Amphitrite kind is found enveloped in a transparent mass like jelly.

Of Mollusca we observed, a Limacina; two Eolidiae, some of which have very beautiful colours; a Laniogerus; a Polycera; four kinds of Doris; a Scyllaea; an animal which deserves the name of Planaria, it was three inches long, two broad, and only half a line thick; on the upper surface, half an inch from the edge, are two projecting eyes; and in the same part, on the surface beneath, the mouth may be perceived; in the middle of this under surface is another aperture, from which the animal, when in a tranquil state, frequently strecthes out four small folds of skin; this creature, like the Planariae, crawls very nimbly. Besides these, a small Onichidium, and a new kind of shelled snail.

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 Acmaea, 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 Ascidiae, 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 Dicaeum; 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 Astraea, 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 Lucon. It may be here observed, that Psammodius sabuleti and cylindricus N., must be classed with AEgialia, 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 Lucon 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 Scarabaeus, six Hydrophilus, five Buprestis, five Melolontha, four Anomala. Scarabaeus 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 Salpae, Physaliae, and Velellae; 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 uvaeformis. 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 animalculae 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.

THE END