2842 The Zoologist— November, 1871. 



razorbill, oystercatcher, the gray as well as white gannet, and 

 the curlew. 



A large quantity of shells were scattered on the downs above, 

 as well as on the sands, but only comprising, apparently, three sorts, 

 the common limpet, trochus and cockle. 



Holy Vale is a pretty spot, situate nearly in the centre of 

 St. Mary's : it consists of a shady hollow, the only one deserving 

 the name in the island, " quo frigus captalis opacum," and is 

 embosomed in apple-orchards, and amid numerous elms, which, 

 though they by no means rivalled forest trees in size, were yet the 

 largest 1 had seen. Several willows, from which trees Forth Hel- 

 lick, " the cove of willows," derives its name, overhang fresh-water 

 pools and ditches mantled with water-cresses, and the Osmunda 

 regalis grows on the moors close by. Though the earliest potatoes 

 and brocoli are sent from Scilly to the London markets, very little 

 fruit is produced, apples and blackberries alone excepted. 



On the rocks, on the side of Trescoe facing Bryher, stands Crom- 

 well's Castle, a strongly -built edifice in good repair, while of 

 Charles's Castle, on the hill above, nothing but the foundations 

 emain. Star Castle, to the west of Hugh Town, and overlooking 

 it, is no longer the abode of the garrison, who have vacated the 

 place: the steward of Mr. Augustus Smith at present resides here. 

 Conspicuous above the rest of the coast scenery may be mentioned 

 Peninnis Head, the Pulpit Rock, Dick's Cairn and Telegraph 

 Point, as spots worthy of a traveller's visit. The coast scenery 

 around Telegraph Point, where the wire establishing communica- 

 tion between St. Mary's and the mainland is carried into the sea, 

 and in the neighbourhood of the eastern islands, is very fine. 

 Dick's Cairn is situate at the further side of Porth Hellick Bay, 

 and it is in this harbour that, at the edge of the sand just above 

 high-water mark, may be seen a barrow of small stones, marking 

 the spot where Sir Cloudesley Shovel was temporarily interred, 

 after his body was washed ashore here on the raft. An unusually 

 high tide sometimes displaces the stones, and it is currently 

 reported that the grass will not grow around this legendary tomb; 

 at a yard's distance, however, there was not only grass but also the 

 sea-pink in bloom when I visited the spot. The old town also 

 stands at the head of a picturesque cove, termed Porth Minick, 

 and at its western side the little old church, of which one wing 

 alone is standing, now used merely as a mortuary chapel. The 



