SHELLS. 401 



Land crabs* were numerous, as were also the 

 shells of the genera Cytherea, Tellina, Mactra, 

 Conns, Oliva, Cyprma, Harpa, Dolium, Murex, 

 T'urho, Nerita, and D'entalium ; but although 

 this was an indication of the number about the 

 coast, yet but very few were procured in which 

 the living animals were found. Among these 

 was a number of the Venus, and small species of 

 Voluta : the latter buried themselves with rapi- 

 dity in the sand ; the natives call them ' ' Dun- 

 kin." Almost buried in a deep black mud, 

 among which the roots of mangrove trees 

 abounded, the trees having been cut down, I 

 found a number of white bodies growing from a 

 piece of rotten wood, and being each about an 

 inch in length,! and three-eighths of an inch 

 in breadth, containing a watery fluid, called 

 " Sepur" by the natives; they were not, how- 

 ever, eaten or used for any purpose by them. 

 I preserved several specimens in spirits. 



A great number of the Pagurii, hermit or sol- 

 dier crabs, of different sizes, were running about 



* The general name for crab among the natives on this 

 coast is " Siong,'' but all the various species have distinct 

 names given them. 



f They are evidently the ova of some fish, but of wliat 

 genus it is as yet difficult to form an opinion. 



VOL. I. DD 



