298 LOST IN THE WOODS. 



segments separate when the animals are captured. 

 Although apparently so inert and helpless, in many in- 

 stances they are provided with means of aggression and 

 defence by no means despicable, consisting in long, 

 sharp, arrow-headed bristles. Many of these setigerous 

 forms, as Aphrodite, Eupkrosone, and some others, prove 

 most troublesome to the zoologist, when examining the 

 contents of the dredge, penetrating the skin by means of 

 their fasciculi of smah 1 sharp spicula, and producing the 

 same unpleasant irritating effects as the spicula of some 

 sponges, the hairs of certain caterpillars, and the DolicJios 

 pruriens, and many other plants. 



On the 27th of November we left the pleasant Batani 

 Islands, and on the 1st of December, arrived at Pa- 

 tchung-san, one of the Meia-co-shimah Group, and I shall 

 now proceed to offer a few observations connected with 

 the natural productions of these islands, merely premising 

 that the scientific details will be published in another work. 



Every one of the party seemed to enjoy himself on 

 the occasion of our survey of this island, and each one 

 had some little adventure to relate which had happened 

 to himself. In one trip, as I was astride a wretched 

 apology for a horse, a most miserable " Rosinante," fur- 

 nished with heavy uncouth stirrups, a wooden saddle, a 

 preposterous bit, and grass-rope bridle, in hot pursuit 

 after a curious Land-Crab, a most cunning and active 

 species of Biryus, I unfortunately lost my way, and wan- 

 dered about the woods, perfectly " at fault." Trusting, 

 however, to the intelligence of my beast, and thinking he 

 must be better acquainted with the intricacy of the forest- 

 paths than myself, I gave him the reins, such as they 



