X INTRODUCTION. 



nieiise fields, propelled both by tbe swift, warm current and soutberly 

 winds to a far more northerly point than usual; indeed, instances are 

 known, one very recently, where turtles have been captured while float- 

 ing on the water within 100 miles of Haliftix. 



The denizens of this favorable cover, thus brought within a compara- 

 tively short distance of the northeast coast of America, wander away 

 riglit and left, and many strike the shores and are captured, to afford 

 wonder to those who are unaccustomed to their singular forms. Thus 

 it is that on the coast of Nova Scotia are found, almost every summer, 

 examjiles of West Indian BaUstes, Fifitularia, Hemirliamplius, Uxocoetus, 

 &c., also the well-known " Portuguese Man-of-War " {PhysaUa pela- 

 gica) ; while many large seeds of West Indian plants, such as Entada 

 sccaidens, Mucuna urens, and others chiefly belonging to the family Legu- 

 minosce, are picked up at Sable Island, which lies 80 or more miles off 

 the is'ova Scotian coast. 



North and west of the islands, at a distance from shore in some di- 

 rections of 10 or more miles, lie what are known as the outer reefs, a 

 belt of submerged rocks coated with 8€r2)iihv, whose hard, irregularly- 

 twisted calcareous tubes often form incrustations an inch or more in 

 thickness, and various other forms, particularly nullipores, stony sea- 

 weeds of a rosy color, which occur as wartlike j^rocesses on all portions 

 of the reef rock. Within the outer reefs, and coating the inner edges of 

 these submerged rocks, grow numerous sjiecies of corals. 



Thousands of other objects help to form the population of these outer 

 reefs and contribute not a little to their growth, while myriads of tropic 

 fishes lurk in the snug holes and corners formed in the wave- worn rocks. 

 Through certain channels in this reef vessels reach the harbors within; 

 but without the aid of the pilots, a daring, clever set of fellows, with eyes 

 as sharp as hawks and nerves that never fail, it would be useless to 

 attempt an entrance. 



The latitude of the light-house on Gibb's Hill is 32° 15' 4" X.; longi- 

 tude, 64° 51' 36" W. In shape the Bermudas form a narrow elongated 

 strii) of land about 23 miles long, running east and west, bent in- 

 wards at one extremity like a fish-hook, and indented throughout by 

 inlets, with numerous little inlets scattered over the whole extent. The 

 distance fronr Cape Hatteras is about 600 miles ; and from Halifax 750 

 miles. The land lies very low, but it is pleasingly diversified through- 

 out its whole area with little hills and dales. It is covered over large 

 areas with groves oi ctdar {Junijyerus ba rbadcns is), hiwiug an under- 



