144 A NATURALIST I JV MEXICO. 



there but a few months ago by a norther. Far, far out at 

 sea were seen several vessels, one a large steamer with a 

 column of black smoke pournig from her smoke stack. 

 Xhe beach was strewn with all manner of debris thrown up 

 by the storms. Lively little crabs were always very abun- 

 dant, and at every step one would start up and run for his 

 hole in the sand, and if I did not venture to pursue would 

 remain near it and stare at me, his curious stalked eyes 

 moving up and down in a very comical manner. 



Marine animals were quite abundant about Veracruz. 



Among the corals the Madreporas^ Forites, Orbicellas^ Di- 



p/orias, and S/</eras^riSus were common. The absence of Gor- 



gonias was very noticeable, and only one 



species was seen {^Plexaura Gorg07iia) 



flexuosd), and this not in great abundance. 



The large fields of Gorgonias, which so 



beautify the waters of the reefs of many of the 



West India islands, were wanting here and 



with it, of course, the host of brilliantly 



H.SiASTOM\. colored forms associated with them. 



Among the Echinoderms Diadema setosu??i, Echifiometra 

 subiDigiilaris, and Mellita pentapora^ were exceedingly abun 

 dant. The moUusks were the most common, and several 

 hundred species were obtained. Such species as Pu7-pura 

 hcEmastoiiia Fioridana, Ricinula nodulosa, CoraUiophila ab- 

 bm^iafa, Conus inns, Cohimbella nitida were the most numerous 

 in individuals. In the swamp near the city, Ai)ipuUa7'ia and 

 Planorbis was abundant. Land mollusks were very rare. 

 He/ix grtseola, Liguus princeps, and a single Succinea were the 

 only forms found. Seven species of Crustacea were found, 

 all Decapods, among which was one new form, Pcnccus 

 Brasiliensis, var Aztecus. The vertebrates were scarce, the 

 vultures being about all of this group which we saw, be- 

 sides a few sea birds. 



