114 HORTA AND 



sunning* themselves on the sea cliffs. A heavy 

 shower of rain, by bring-ing" out the land-shells, 

 enabled me to pick up half-a-dozen species of 

 Helixy Bulimus, and Pupa, at the foot of the 

 hedg-e-rows ; I was anxious to procure some to 

 ascertain whether any were non-European forms; 

 one was even quite a new species. On a white- 

 flowered convolvulus with succulent leaves, I found 

 numbers of the caterpillars of a larg'e hawk-moth 

 (Sphinx Convolvnli) which some rag'ged urchins 

 who followed me shewed g-reat dread of, running* 

 away when I picked one up and shouting* to me to 

 throw it away, else I should die. One was after- 

 wards broug"ht on board by an English resident — as 

 a very venomous reptile, which had caused three or 

 four deaths during* his stay on the island. The 

 recurved horn on the tail has been reg'arded as a 

 sting', and the poor harmless creature, having* once 

 g*ot a bad name, is now by the Fayalese, in the 

 absence of snakes or scorpions, made to supply their 

 place. 



The town of Horta contains, I was told, upwards 

 of 10,000 inhabitants. It is prettily situated on the 

 shores of a small bay, extending* between two rocky 

 headlands. The landing*-place is at the remains of 

 a mole under the walls of Fort Santa Cruz, the only 

 one of numerous ruinous fortifications where a few 

 g*uns are mounted ', even these are in so wretched 

 a condition that the commandant admitted that it 

 would require several hours' preparation before they 



