ST. THOMAS. 13 



exists. Probably there is a poison gland in the tube. A sharp 

 stinging pain, like that produced by the sting of a wasp, but not 

 quite so intense, is felt at the instant when one of these spines 

 pierces the flesh, and the pain lasts for about five minutes. 

 These urchins are peculiar, because they have a perfectly flexible 

 test or shell, and are, I believe, of the genus Asthenosoma (Grube). 

 Allied forms are common in great depths, but in these I never 

 experienced so marked a stinging effect as in the case of the 

 shallow-water ones. 



Large Chitons, three inches in length, were abundant along 

 the shore of St. Thomas, and a very large Annelid with 

 glistening yellow setse {Eunice), was a constant feature about 

 the water's edge, crawling over the rocks. In dredging in 

 shallow water most of the seaweeds obtained were of a brilliant 

 green colour,* and amongst these lived a crab and a Squilla 

 which were of exactly the same shade of green, evidently for 

 protection and concealment. 



There is only one kind of Humming-bird at St. Thomas. It 

 is very common, and constantly to be seen hanging poised in 

 the air in front of a blossom or darting across the roads. It is 

 remarkable how closely Humming-birds resemble in their flight 

 that of Sphinx moths, such as our common Humming-bird 

 Sphinx, named from this resemblance. There are in their flight 

 exactly the same rapid darts, sudden pauses, and quick turns, 

 the same prolonged hovering over flowers. The most con- 

 spicuous bird is called commonly in the island " Black -witch " 

 (Crotopliaga ani T). These birds are usually to be seen in flocks 

 of three or four, in constant motion amongst the bushes, and 

 screaming harshly when they apprehend danger. The birds 

 behave very much like magpies. They are somewhat smaller 

 than the English magpie and black all over. They belong 

 structurally to the family of the cuckoos (Cuculidce). 



A large ground spicier (Lycosa) is very abundant in the island, 

 inhabiting a hole in the ground about six inches in depth, and 

 from half an inch to an inch in diameter, and with a right- 

 angled turn at the bottom to form a resting chamber for the 

 spider. Some negro boys dug the spiders out for me. They 



* Udotea cyathiformis, U. conglutinata, and U. Jlabellata, and others. 



