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bunkers, and it is to this coal trade that the island owes its
importance.
After a cursory inspection of the little town, which presented
a very neat and orderly appearance, we strolled out into the
country, following the direction of the western shore of the bay.
The country exhibited a tolerably green appearance, and we
were informed that vegetation had been exceptionally good
during the previous two years, owing to the rainfall having been
much above the average. Of trees of course there were none to
be seen, and of shrubs only a few stunted representatives, scattered
singly or in patches. A species of rank grass, however, flourished,
and here and there a rather stately fungus raised its head as if in
defiance of its otherwise sterile surroundings, the blown sand of
the foreshore supplying sufficient nutriment for its humble wants.
Of dead shells a great variety were picked up on the beach
between tide marks, including representatives of the genera Area,
Patella, Cardiuin, Plarpa, Littorina, and Strombus; a very perfect
Spii'ula shell was also noticed. The blown-sand ridges above
high-water mark were everywhere perforated by the burrows of
a very active grey-coloured crab {Remites scutellatus), whose feet
terminated in sharp incurved claws admirably adapted for the
creature’s mining operations. Its burrows extended obliquely
downwards, and to a depth of two feet from the surface of the
blown-sand ridges. A couple of grasshoppers were the only
other additions made on this occasion to our zoological collection.
The afternoon of the next day (24th October) I was enabled
to devote to dredging operations, working over the bay at depths
varying from two to twelve fathoms. From these I obtained
some large and active specimens of a large wing-shell, the Strombus
pugilis, whose gymnastic performances, when subsequently placed
in a vessel of sea water, excited general interest. Armed with
his long powerful foot, he struck out boldly in all directions, the
operculated extremity acting like a sword blade, and alarming
me for the safety of the seaweeds and other more delicate
organisms which occupied the same vessel. When disposed to
turn about, it protruded the foot so as to half encircle the shell,
and by then rapidly straightening the organ the desired change
of position was effected. It was very interesting to see the
complete control which the animal thus exercised over its heavy
and apparently unwieldy shell. In twelve fathoms of water we
came upon a great quantity of blue-spined Echini, the tangles
of the dredge in one short haul bringing up about two dozen.
Phshing-lines were also brought into requisition, resulting in the
capture of some fishes of a pale crimson colour, belonging to the
blenny family.
In the evening of this day (24th October) we sailed from St.
Vincent. Up to the 29th instant the north-east trade wind
proved fairly propitious, but it now failed us completely ; and as
we were at this time in latitude 8° N., and there were otherwise
unmistakable indications of our having arrived at the “ Doldrums”
(the region of equatorial calms), steam was had recourse to.
Under this artificial stimulus we proceeded at a rate of from five
to six knots, a speed unfortunately too great for the use of
the tow-net; and on this occasion the circumstance was all the
more vexatious, as the surface water seemed peculiarly rich in
animal life. Ultimately, however, determining on sacrificing some
bunting in the cause of science, I put a tow-net over the stern,
and the captain aided me materially by towing from the end of
the lower studding-sail boom a ten-foot trawl-net. Between the
two we succeeded in capturing some water insects of the genus
Halobates, several beautiful large lanthince, but unfortunately
with their fragile shells partly broken and severed from their
rafts ; also a Physalia, a small free-swimming Actinia, some
discophorous Medusae, and several Pteropod Molluscs of the
genus Hyalea. For several consecutive days the surface water
after dusk was thronged with the above-mentioned Medusae, whose
tough gelatinous discs, of three inches diameter, continually
clogged up the meshes ot the tow-net. On the 2nd of November