164 NATURAL SCIENCE [September 



and forms quite a striking contrast to the white sand. Several 

 species of fish occur, of which the mullet and the pickerel-like bara- 

 cuda are the most sought after for food. Specimens of the curious, 

 almost triangular trunk-fish are easily taken with a dip-net, in 

 the shallow channels between the ' Lakes.' The remarkable fish, 

 Ficrasfcr, was often found iu the respiratory-trees of the large holo- 

 thurians, especially Miilleria, and would only come out into the bucket 

 or aquarium when the water became very impure. 



Outside of the harbour, and several miles from Port Henderson, 

 are a number of scattered islets known as the Cays. The largest of 

 these are more or less overgrown with mangroves and other shrubs, 

 but some of them are entirely bare of vegetation. They are all 

 surrounded by reefs of coral, which are a source of unfailing interest 

 to the zoologist. The variety in shape, colour and structure of the 

 corals is delightful, from the massive brain-corals to the delicate 

 feather-like alcyonarians. Inside the reefs are banks of sand, 

 covered in most places by very shallow water, and overgrown in 

 some spots with eel-grass. All over these sand-flats are slabs of 

 broken coral-rock, on and under which are a great number of animals 

 of different groups. This sort of ground makes very good collecting, 

 Drunkenman Cay offering especial attractions. Balanoglossus of large 

 size and of two or more species occurs there ; and digging in the sand 

 also brought to light several species of annelids, a small Synapta and 

 a Thallasema-\ike echiurid. Nemerteans, planarians and sipuncu- 

 lids occur on or in almost every piece of coral, while sea-anemones 

 abound not only among the crevices of the rock but in the sand also. 

 Several specimens of a small octopus were seen, but they did not 

 appear to be very common. The huge Synapta lappa lives under 

 the slabs of coral, but it is not as common there as we found it to 

 be afterwards at Port Antonio. Several other holothurians are 

 common, including a very pretty brown and yellow Stichopus. 

 Star-fishes of the genus Asterina are common, and show very remark- 

 able differences in colour. They live closely attached to the under- 

 side of the rocks, and easily escape detection. Sea-urchins are 

 represented by several species, the two largest being especially 

 common. One of these, Diadcma, is almost black, and has spines 

 six or eight inches long, while the other, Hipponoe, is white with 

 very short spines. The latter is sometimes eaten by the natives, 

 and, as a matter of curiosity, we had our cook prepare some for us ; 

 but our curiosity was soon and effectively satisfied, and sea-urchins 

 did not appear on our bill-of-fare again. Ophiurids occur under 

 every piece of coral, and doubtless a great many species might be 

 obtained by careful collecting. The most noticeable form is a large 

 Ophiocoma, almost black, often marked with grey or white, and with 

 numerous short blunt spines on the arms. Two large and very 



