438 A. E. Verrill — The Bermuda Islands. 



Shark's Hole, nearby, is a large natural archway or tunnel, leading 

 far under the cliff, with water in it deep enough for a large boat to 

 enter for a considerable distance. Corals, sponges, and seaweeds may 

 be seen growing on the bottom in the clear water, and schools of 

 large Sea Law} 7 ers or Gray Snappers and other fishes are often to be 

 seen swimming among the broken rocks in plain view, but these 

 lawyers are too sly and intelligent to be taken with a hook. (Plate 

 lxxiii.) 



Near Shark's Hole the road passes Paynter's Vale, a very old 

 estate, once highly cultivated, but now much neglected. Many 

 unusual shrubs and trees grow half wild upon it, including wild 

 coffee-trees, citrons, lemons, and many others. In front of the house 

 is the first Fiddle-wood tree planted in Bermuda, and it is said to be 

 the parent of all the trees of that kind on the islands. It was set 

 out about 73 years ago, and is now about 5 feet in diameter. It lost 

 some of its larger branches in the hurricane of September, 1899, but is 

 still a large tree. This species spreads rapidly, both by its seeds and 

 roots, and is now probably the most abundant deciduous tree on the 

 island. Its bright green foliage contrasts finely with the dark green 

 of the cedar. (Plate lxx.) 



Not far away, the road passes near the Peniston Cave (plate xciii), 

 which has not yet been opened to the public, and is rather difficult 

 to explore. It is, perhaps, the most beautiful cave now known on 

 the islands, on account of the great number of stalactites and the 

 variety of forms that they have taken, and also because of their 

 nearly pure white color. This is due to the fact that in this cave 

 torches and bonfires have not been allowed to coat over the sur- 

 faces with soot, which has been done to a deplorable extent in many 

 of the other caves. This should have been prohibited long ago. 

 (See Geology.) 



It belongs to Mr. W. S. O. Peniston, the proprietor of the Harring- 

 ton House,* close by. It is to be hoped that he will soon improve 

 the entrance and make it readily accessible to visitors. 



A short distance farther north the road passes near the famous 

 Walsingham place, which has some interesting historic associations. 

 and it is also an interesting locality for the geologist and naturalist. 



The picturesque old stone house, not now occupied, is situated 



* This boarding house was our headquarters in 1901. We found this place an 

 excellent one for our purposes. It is very near Harrington Sound on one side 

 and Castle Harbor on the other. 



