456 Notes on Natural Objects observed in Cuba. 



kind termed mullets, abounding in the bay and inlets adja- 

 cent. The Spaniards make their water-proof cigar-pouches 

 with the pouch of this noble bird. 



Respecting the natural history of the Baxo I have not 

 much to add. It does not abound much in fine shells, except 

 those I have mentioned, and several inferior genera. Of the 

 -Echinus family there are many species in the small pools of 

 the Baxo. During the day they conceal themselves, as well 

 as they can, in the holes of the coral rocks ; but by torch- 

 light, as I have stated, their numbers are surprising, parti- 

 cularly the large black species, whose spines arrive at the 

 length of at least 6 in., and are a formidable instrument of 

 defence and annoyance. A lobster, of 5 lb. weight, we found 

 had one of these spines passed entirely through his body. A 

 young Spaniard, fishing near us in the shoal, unluckily slipping 

 amongst a bed of these Zfchinites, had no less than twenty- 

 seven spines lodged in his feet, and, of course, was incapacitated 

 from further fishing for a time. 



With regard to the Sepia, which I have before adverted to, 

 so much has been related of its wonderful powers of sucking 

 or adhering to any substance to which it attaches itself, that, 

 without vouching for all the statements, I shall add a further 

 notice of these remarkable animals. They attain to the weight 

 of 50 lb. in the waters of the Cuba coast, and are held in 

 much esteem, by some, for their flesh. Those we caught were 

 much under this weight. One instance will suffice to show 

 the occasional use they make of their prodigious power, when 

 it is mentioned that they are able to draw out, by main force, 

 the living fish contained within the conch shells, of the large 

 size I have before described ; an operation which no human 

 strength can effect. The animal commonly closes its shell 

 with its operculum, when threatened with danger ; and the 

 only way it can be extracted is, by breaking through with a 

 heavy hammer, or a machete, a portion of the shell towards 

 the extremity ; and then, by cutting the muscle by which it 

 adheres, the fish is withdrawn. It is also affirmed of this 

 Sepia (as I presume it to be), that it even occasionally lays 

 hold of the bottoms of the fishing canoes when in shoal water, 

 one portion of the animal adhering to the rocky bottom, and 

 that with so much force and tenacity as to detain them from 

 moving. From the habits of this animal, it is probably the 

 same as that referred to by Humboldt, on the authority of 

 Columbus, as the sucker, or el reves, known by the literal 

 name of el pez pescador, the fish-fisher, long ago employed 

 by the Indian fishermen of the Cuba coast in securing their 



