XVI INTRODUCTION. 



seeu, while aloug the coral strand are found rare sea-weeds and shells, 

 mingled with the pink-colored nullipore and debris of the reefs. 



Devil's Hole. — This is a cavernous recess filled with salt water on the 

 south side of Harrington Sound, about midway between Walsingham 

 and the Flatts. For years it has been one of the " lions" of Bermuda, 

 as it generally contains a stock of groupers {^Serrani), and sundry other 

 fishes ; which swim about and can be as easily seen as if in an aquarium. 

 Here will be found a species of ground shark, which, although not un- 

 common on the east coast of America, is, from its retired habits, very 

 rarely seen. The angel-fish {Rolacanthus) will be observed disporting 

 itself in the clear waters, as if proud of its splendid livery. The group- 

 ers themselves are easily recognizable, as they crowd together with oi)en 

 mouths in hopes of a feed when the visitor arrives. 



Harrington Sound, which lies before the visitor as he emerges from 

 the entrance door to Devil's Hole, probably possesses in itself and its 

 surroundings more i)icturesque scenery than any other localitj^ in the 

 islands. Its surface is usually calm, owing to its land-locked position, 

 and a boating excursion on its waters, especially about the shores of 

 Trunk Island, will reveal many submarine wonders to the eye of the 

 naturalist, in the form of gorgonias, sponges, corals, and hosts of other 

 things. Its northern shore, westward of Bailey's Bay Church, presents 

 a series of high cliffs, in many places quite inaccessible, much to the 

 satisfaction of the several pairs of tropic birds which here annually, in 

 perfect security, make their nesting places aud rear their young. From 

 the water is seen the high cliff known as " DeviFs Head," its face all 

 ragged and torn by the storms of many winters. From out its numer- 

 ous crevices spring dwarf trees and shrubs, whose only holdfast appears 

 to be the solid rock on which they grow, while circling around its shat- 

 tered brow the tropic birds lazily float, mingling their plaintive cries 

 with the sounds of the rippling wavelets which dash on the rock-bound 

 shore a hundred feet below. Harrington Sound, owing to the fact that 

 the rise and fall of the tide is almost nothing, is one of the best places 

 for collecting corals, such as MiUepora Ocvlina, Mwanclrina, PoriteSj 

 Mycediiim, and Siderastrcea. Here occur in great numbers the Bermuda 

 scollop, Pecten ziczac, fished for at a depth of 5 or G fathoms by means of 

 long-handled nipper. 



Flatt's Bridge. — At the western end of Harrington Sound there is an 

 outlet into Flatt's Harbor, through which the tide ebbs aud flows with 

 great impetus. This channel has from the earliest times been spanned 



