NOTES ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OP THE BELL ROCK. 53 



the teredo navalis, or ship-worm, to the innocent barnacle, 

 whose only fault is the resistance their multitudes offer to a 

 ship's progress through the water. A log of wood which has 

 been adrift at sea for a lengthened period will generally be 

 found to have its surface clustered with pendulous barnacles. 

 The removal of these disclose minute pin-holes on the surface, 

 which, in the interior, assume the diameter of a man's little 

 finger, and permeate the log from end to end like a honeycomb. 

 Each little tunnel is smoothly enamelled with a deposit of 

 lime by this indefatigable borer, the teredo. Though boring 

 parallel with his neighbour, the thickness of paper only 

 separating them, they never, by any chance, encroach on each 

 other's bore. Their tracks are seen to abruptly diverge when 

 all but into that of their neighbour, so that they are evidently 

 cognisant of each other's proximity, an interesting fact also 

 apparent in rats on board wooden vessels, who, though they 

 will gnaw their way through any woodwork, instinctively 

 refrain from suicidal attempts on the outer skin of the ship. 



On the memorable 9th we had a bird's-eye view of the 

 Coronation celebrations in Arbroath. With the aid of our 

 telescope the crowds on the Common were clearly visible, the 

 ladies in white dresses being most conspicuous. The flash of 

 the guns firing the royal salute was seen fifty-five seconds 

 before the report reached us. In the afternoon the sports in 

 the Victoria Park occupied our attention, and the white-clad 

 competitors in the high jump could be seen taking their 

 preliminary run and rising over the obstacle. Parties 

 straying on the beach had only their heads visible, and as 

 they neared the margin appeared to vanish under water. 

 The progress of the bonfire on the Common at night was also 

 watched, and the moving figures could be plainly seen 

 silhouetted in the glare. Probably but few noticed our 

 attempt to celebrate the occasion. Two strings of flags from 

 the balcony to the rocks fluttered gaily in the breeze, while 

 the balcony railing was similarly decked. Amongst those 

 suspended from the rail was a flag of peculiar interest, 

 namely, one which had been sewn by Miss Stevenson, a sister 



