370 QKarterly Journal of Conchology. 



AN HOUR'S SHELL HUNTING IN CURACAO, W.I. 



By J. S. GIBBONS, M-B. 



The West Indies are known to all Conchologists as a region 

 in which land-shells are specially abundant. I have pleasing re- 

 miniscences of several of the islands and ports in the shape of 

 numerous species collected during the few hours usually at my 

 disposal, but no place equals St. Ann'.s, Curacao, in my estimation, 

 from a Conchological point of view. 



The town itself is old and quaint — even abroad the Dutch 

 endeavour to continue their home-habits and do their best to 

 reproduce the canals and dykes of their native country, conse- 

 quently, in St. Ann's water takes the place of pavement, and one 

 employs a boat where in other places one vrould use a cab, or 

 walk. I spent but little time, however, in investigating the 

 peculiarities of the town, but hailing one of the things they call 

 boats (for all the world like a square washing tub), I was sculled 

 to the end of one of the few dry-land streets and struck out for 

 the country. I had to pass along what a week or two before had 

 been a street, parallel with, and close to the sea, but the greater 

 part of which was in ruins from the tidal- wave of September 23rd. 

 In some places the road was buried to a depth of six or seven 

 feet under a mass of shingle thrown up on the beach; houses by 

 the dozen were levelled to the ground and all bore more or less 

 evidence of the terrific power of the wave. I thought to have 

 found some marine shells washed up, but my time being very 

 limited and noting that the soldiers (stationed at intervals of a 

 few yards, with naked swords, to prevent plundering) were looking 

 at me with suspicious eyes, I decided to push on for the country. 



After all I never fairly reached the country. Near the 

 outskirts of the town there is a hill on which are a few houses; 

 here a waste piece of ground of very limited extent suppHed me 

 with occupation for all the time I had to spare. Covered with 



