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CHAPTER X. 



MAUEITIUS TO ENGLAND. 



Scenery and Vegetation of Mauritius ^Estivation of Tropical Mollusca 

 Great Indian Tortoise Habits of the Dolabella Singular spe- 

 cies of Bullsea St. Brandon Shoals The Cocoa-nut Aspect of 

 the reef and islets Sea-birds Their habits and nidification 

 Instinct in Fish Animal of Ancillaria Pelagic skeleton Crustacea 

 Anomalous Zossas Cypridina Adamsii Habits of Janthina 

 The Carinaria and Atlanta The Hyaleea and Cleodora The 

 habits and development of the Argonaut Insects at Sea Con- 

 cluding Remarks. 



MAURITIUS, so famous for its mountain of Peter Bott, 

 so immortalised by the sweet tale of Paul and Vir- 

 ginia, and so interesting to Zoologists in being the pro- 

 bable birth-place of that monstrous extinct pigeon, the 

 Dodo, is certainly a very beautiful island, abounding in 

 scenery of the most varied and delightful description, 

 any attempt to expatiate upon which, after St. Pierre's 

 glowing pictures, would be presumptuous. To fully 

 enjoy his exquisite little narrative, one should make a 

 sentimental pilgrimage, and wander from the Shaddock 

 Grove to the river of Fan-palms, from Cape Misfortune 

 to the Alley of Bamboos, and from the Pass of Saint 

 Geran to the bay of the Tomb, and what one misses in 

 sentiment, might be gained in contemplating the sweet 

 scenery of the island. No wonder such a charming spot 



