Notes on tlie Natural History and Statistics of the Island of 

 Cerigo and Its dependencies. By ROBERT JAMESON, Esq. 

 Assistant Surgeon, 10th Regiment of Foot, Corfu. 



(Continued from last Number.) 

 ANIMALS. 



Invertebrate Animals. We shall now make some general re- 

 marks on the animal kingdom, as it presents itself in the island 

 and its environs. The invertebrate animals are numerous, more 

 especially those in the lower part of the scale; but their minute ex- 

 amination required more time than was afforded. Among the Zoo- 

 phyta we met with various genera of polypi, as sertularia, flustra, 

 corallina, gorgonia, madrepora, spongia, &c. Coral of a red and 

 white colour occurs at the Ovo Rock and Dragoneres Islands, and 

 is occasionally fished for in the following manner : A diver goes 

 down, makes a strong net, something similar to that used for 

 oysters, fast to a coral bed, which, on being dragged along by 

 people on the waters surface, breaks off branches of coral and is 

 brought up when sufficiently weighty ; from repeated trials, the 

 longest period those divers have been known to remain under 

 water was two minutes. Sponges, also, of a fine description are 

 met with along the coasts of the island. In the months of July 

 and August a fleet of boats sometimes comes from the Morea 

 to drag for corals and sponges, but of late years the trade has 

 decreased much in value, indeed so much so as to be little pro- 

 fitable. A tolerably good sponge in Cerigo sells for about six- 

 pence, but, like all other commodities where they are produced, 

 scarcely any thing except the dross is to be met with. 



In the class Medusaria, various genera occur on the coasts, 

 but more especially after the prevalence of particular winds ; 

 and in Echinadermata, the gorgonocephala, echinus, asterias, &c. 



Molluscous animals are rare on account of their forming a chief 

 article of food during the long fasts prescribed by the Greek 

 Church. The principal genera met with are, serpula, spirobis, 

 balanus, chiton, patella, pholas, solen, tellina, lucina, cardi-um, 

 terebratula, mactra^ donax, cytherea, venus, spondylus, pectun- 

 culus, pecten, pinna, haliotis, helix, pupa, clausilia, trochus, turbo, 

 monodonta, janthina, natica, columbella, cassis, buccinum, fusus, 

 cerithium, murex, cyprina, conus, argonauta. In violent south 



