16 Cruise of the "Alert" 



bunkers, and it is to this coal trade that the island owes its 

 importance. 



After a cursory inspection of the little town, which presented 

 a very neat and orderly appearance, we strolled out into the 

 country, following the direction of the western shore of the bay. 

 The country exhibited a tolerably green appearance, and we 

 were informed that vegetation had been exceptionally good 

 during the previous two years, owing to the rainfall having been 

 much above the average. Of trees of course there were none to 

 be seen, and of shrubs only a few stunted representatives, scattered 

 singly or in patches. A species of rank grass, however, flourished, 

 and here and there a rather stately fungus raised its head as if in 

 defiance of its otherwise sterile surroundings, the blown sand of 

 the foreshore supplying sufficient nutriment for its humble wants. 

 Of dead shells a great variety were picked up on the beach 

 between tide marks, including representatives of the genera Area, 

 Patella, Cardiiun, Harpa, Littorina, and Strombus; a very perfect 

 Spirula shell was also noticed. The blown-sand ridges above 

 high-water mark were everywhere perforated by the burrows of 

 a very active grey-coloured crab (Reunites scutellatus), whose feet 

 terminated in sharp incurved claws admirably adapted for the 

 creature's mining operations. Its burrows extended obliquely 

 downwards, and to a depth of two feet from the surface of the 

 blown-sand ridges. A couple of grasshoppers were the only 

 other additions made on this occasion to our zoological collection. 

 The afternoon of the next day (24th October) I was enabled 

 to devote to dredging operations, working over the bay at depths 

 varying from two to twelve fathoms. From these I obtained 

 some large and active specimens of a large wing-shell, the Strombus 

 pugilisy whose gymnastic performances, when subsequently placed 

 in a vessel of sea water, excited general interest. Armed with 

 his long powerful foot, he struck out boldly in all directions, the 

 operculated extremity acting like a sword blade, and alarming 

 me for the safety of the seaweeds and other more delicate 



