hill overlooking The Briars, in the cutting of the road from
Jamestown to Longwood, about 1200 feet above the sea-level, and
about two miles in a direct line from the spot where the larger
JBulimi were found.”
I have examined the spot above The Briars referred to by Mr.
Blofeld, and the soil, with its embedded shells, gives unmistakable
evidence of having been washed down to its present
resting-place from some higher altitude by the agency of heavy
rains.
C LA S S I .— C E P H A L O P O D A .
Or d e r D ib ra nch ia ta .
Farti. Octopidee.
Octopus, Cuv.
*0. sp. ?—This repulsive-looking creature, commonly known as
the Cat-fish, is plentiful in the nooks and rocky holes on the coast,
about high water-mark, occasionally reaching a considerable size,
and measuring from eighteen to twenty-four inches across the
arms from tip to tip. The natives use it as food, in spite of its
appearance, but more generally cut it up as bait for fishing.
Argonauta, Linn.
A . a r g o , Linn.—The Paper Nautilus is rarely seen, but I found
two small shells, which had been washed or blown ashore, on the
beach at Sandy Bay.
C LA S S I I .— G A S T E R O PO D A .
Or d er P ulmonobranchiata.
Fam. limacidce.
Limax, Linn.
L . g a g a t e s , Draparnaud.—This British Slug is probably an
introduction through the medium of Wardian cases containing
living plants.
* L . n . sp. { Two species of Garden Slugs which are very abun-
jdant and very destructive. They are chiefly confined
* L . n. sp. (to the high central land.
Fam. Helioidne.
Succinea, Draparnaud.
*S . p ic t a , P f r—This native of the Island is still to be
found feeding upon the plants of boxwood (Mellissia begonifolid),
which grow on Long-range and other south-eastern parts of the
outskirts of the Island. The ground beneath those bushes is
covered with its reddish-amber-coloured dead shells. This species
appears to keep to the lower and hotter climate at an altitude
of five or six hundred feet above the sea, as it is not found on
the high land.
*S . a s p e r u la , Pfr.—A native shell, found abundantly in a dead
and somewhat fossil state in the surface soil on Flagstaff Hill, The
Barn, and Sugarloaf Hill. The ground under the bushes of
Samphire (Salsola salsa) and other scrubwood is covered with its
pure white, opaque, and bleached dead shells, some of which are
found embedded in the limestone beds on the south side of Sugar-
loaf HilL
*S . r u d o r in a , Gould.—Still found alive feeding upon the
cabbage trees and native vegetation which grow on the high central
ridge, 2600 feet above the sea. I t may be distinguished by its
light amber-coloured shell.
*S. b e n s o n i a n a , Forb.-—Found now only in a subfossil state,
embedded in the surface-soil. This species is figured and described
“ Proceed. Geol. Soe.,” March 10, 1852, p. 198, pi. v. f. 7.
*S . s o l id u l a , Pfr.—A small species still found living underfieath
and clinging to the rocks and stones on the low land, at New
Ground, &c., altitude above the sea 1200 feet, where it appears to take
refuge from the Wire Bird {/Egialitis sandce helence), which inhabits
those parts and feeds upon it. The little shells of this species become
coated witb earth, which, being of the same colour as the rocks
and stones, serves to conceal them.
*S . h e le n s e , Forb.fg-A small species, the delicate little white
shells of which are found only in a dead state in the neighbourhood
of The Barn.
Helisiga, Less.
*H . s a n c ts e h e le n s e , Less.—This very beautiful bright amber-
coloured creature, a true native of the Island, may easily be distin