O r d e r S ip h o n a t a .
Teredo, Linn.
T . n a v a l i s ? Linn.—The Common Sea-Worm inhabits also that portion
of the South Atlantic around St. Helena, and is as destructive to
timber under water as in other parts of the world, but fortunately it
has little opportunity for exhibiting its destructiveness at the Island;
the sea-hottom being too hard and rocky to admit of driving piles,
there are no piers or sea-works of timber in existence.
I I I . CCELENTERATA.
C L A S S I . - A C T I N O Z O A .
Or d e r C oral ligena.
The absence of coral at St. Helena is remarkable. With the
exception of one species there is none on the coast, and but two
or three kinds have been discovered in deep water. These have been
identified through the kindness of Dr. Gray, and Mr. Saville Kent,
of the British Museum.
Phymactis.
* P . s a n c t s e h e le n s e , Mine. Ed.—A dark-brown leatlier-like substance
sticking to the rocks on the shore about high-water mark,
sometimes expanded, at others closed like a hemispherical-shaped
cushion. In the pools on the West Bocks, Lot’s Wife Ponds, and
elsewhere on the coast, several other species of sea anemones exist
and exhibit their lovely purple and white tints, though only to disappear
the moment they are touched. I t is to he hoped that drawings
of them, which would he both interesting and valuable, may be made
by some future visitor at the Island.
Bugula, Oken.
*B n e r i t i n a .—A brown, fine silk-like coralline, of wide
distribution. A t St. Helena it is found entirely covering pieces of
wreck or timber that have been floating about in the sea and then
washed ashore.
Antipathes, Pall.
*A . p in n a t i f id a , Mine. Ed.— The Sea-tree of St. Helena,
where it is often brought up from deep water by fishermen’s lines and
on boats’ moorings. I t is also found in the seas of the Indian Ocean.
Sclerohelia.
*S hirtella, Mine., Ed.—The Branching Coral of St. Helena,
where it is taken, by fishermen’s lines, boat moorings, &c from a
depth of 60 or 80 fathoms. I t is of a bright reddish pink
colour when taken, but soon bleaches pure white by exposure.
Balanophyllia, Wood.
gp. ? This beautiful, bright orange-coloured, cup-shaped Coral
has been detected by Professor Duncan growing upon a specimen of
an oyster (Ostrea Crista-galli) taken from about 50 fathoms water.
I t is rare, but occasionally taken in good-sized masses by fishermen s
tackle, from deep water on the leeward side of the Island.
Mseandrina? Lamk.
*M . sp. ?— Brain Coral, found growing in small masses from
two to six inches in diameter about high-water mark on the sea-
coast, more particularly on the windward side of the Island near
Sandy Bay.
C LA S S I I .— H Y D R O Z O A .
O r d e r S ip h o n o p u o r a .
Physalis, Til.
P . atlantica, Less.—The Portuguese Man-of-War is swept ashore
at Sandy Bay beach whenever a strong south-east trade wind succeeds
to a partial calm. I t may then be picked up by thousands.
Velella, Lamk.
V. limbosa?, Lam.—A white horny substance, which, brought
in by the waves, accumulates amongst the shingle on Sandy Bay
beach.
IV. ANNULOSA.
C L A S S I .— IN S E C T A .
I t may at first appear that the insect world of so small a place is
easily mastered, but a fuller knowledge of the locality will prevent
such an idea being long encouraged. Were the whole Island
to constitute one low-lying flat or plain it might be so ; but,