12 THE NAUTILUS. 



banks get high enough to prevent overflow, and then the country be- 

 gins to be stony. Rapids and falls are found on nearly all the 

 rivers along the western border of the old reserve, and doubtless 

 indicate an ancient seacoast. 



From the shore line seaward there extends a very gradually slop- 

 ing continental shelf, making shallow water and calm seas. 



From three to forty miles out there are keys of various sizes, the 

 largest being (Great) Corn Island. Some are treeless, while others 

 are covered with mangroves and cocoanut palms. 



From 1899 to 1903 it was my privilege to live at Wounta Haulover, 

 a little Indian village of wattled and thatched huts. Being the only 

 white man within twenty miles in any direction, loneliness some- 

 times drove me out into the forest, along the rivers or down by the 

 sea lo collect shells. Although my time was fully occupied with 

 professional duties, I succeeded in getting together a nice cabinet of 

 specimens. In another paper I shall name them and append some 

 notes. 



NOTES. 



CYPR^EA XANTHODON GRAY. Dr. T. H. May, Government 

 Health and Medical Officer of the Port of Bundaberg, Queensland, 

 Australia, has sent me three beautiful specimens of Cypraea xantho- 

 don Gray, which he says his children picked up last Christmas when 

 at his seaside cottage. The shells were alive when taken and were 

 found under rocks at low water. This species has been supposed to 

 have a deep-water habitat. S. RAYMOND ROBERTS. 



WHOLESALE PEARL FISHING. A great pearl fishery will take 

 place at Marichchikkaddi, in the Island of Ceylon, on or about 

 February 20, 1905. The banks to be fished are the southwest 

 Cheval Paar, which is estimated to contain 3,500,000 oysters, suffi- 

 cient to employ 200 boats for two days ; the mid-east Cheval Paar, 

 estimated to contain 13,750,000 oysters, sufficient to employ 200 

 boats for seven days ; the north and south Moderagam, with 25,700,- 

 000 oysters, sufficient to employ 200 boats for thirteen days ; the 

 south Cheval Paar, estimated to contain 40,220,000 oysters, suffi- 

 cient to employ 200 boats for twenty days, each boat being fully 

 manned with divers. London Globe. 



