190 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 



CHAP. IV. 



THE COASTS OF SICILY. 

 THE GULF OF CASTELLAMARE— SANTO VITO. 



General aspect of the Gulf. — Formation- of clouds in a clear sky. — 

 Castellaraare. — Excursion to the ruins of Segesta. - Departure 

 for Santo- Vito. — Misadventures there. — Ants. — Researches of 

 M. Edwards on the Acalephse, Beroidge, and Stephanomiae. — My 

 observations on the mode of reprodaction of the Syllis. — Repro- 

 duction of the Medusae. — Curious approximation between the 

 Animal and the Vegetable Kingdoms. — Medusae and Fungi. — 

 Studies of a different kind, leading to the same result. — General 

 consequences. 



On leaving Torre dell' Isola we steered westward, 

 passing on the left Capaci and Carini, with their 

 rich valleys, which terminate in a low and sandy- 

 beach. Impelled by a fair wind, we had soon 

 passed Point Omo Morto, when taking a sharp turn 

 towards the south, we speedily made the Gulf of 

 Castellamare, the largest of the numerous bays 

 which intersect the coast-line of Sicily. The mar- 

 vellous clearness of the air, of which our foggy at- 

 mosphere cannot give the most distant idea, enabled 

 us to embrace in one glance this magnificent bay 

 of water, which penetrates nearly fifteen miles into 

 the interior, forming a well defined semicircle, whose 

 opposite banks present the most marked contrast. 

 To the east, the distant summits of Belvedere, 

 Montelepre, Montemitro, Firicino, and Mount Boni- 



