THE ZooLoGisT—FEBRuUARY, 1875. 4309 
A Visit to the Gouliot Caves at Sark. 
By W. R. Hugues, Esq., F.L.S. 
Ever since the British Association met at Birmingham, in the 
year 1866, when, in the Zoological Section, that able marine natu- 
ralist, the Rev. A. Merle Norman, gave a glowing account of an 
excursion to these celebrated caves, and of the “ wonders of the 
deep” which he saw there, I have cherished a wish that at some 
time or other I might be able to pay a visit to them. Circumstances 
prevented the gratification of ‘that wish, until the spring tides suc- 
ceeding the full moon of August last. It is, I believe, a trite saying 
that “anticipation is often better than realization,” and to some of 
us our experience through life, in some instances perhaps, enables 
us to endorse its accuracy; but the Gouliot Caves at Sark are one 
of those delightful exceptions to the rule,—one of those fresh and 
unhackneyed spots in this age of ransack, when even the “ depths of 
the sea” are not proof against the invasions of the dredge,—far 
exceeding, in fact, what the fancy pictures, and they will, | believe, 
long continue to delight the eyes of the marine zoologist and enrich 
his observation. Other pens besides those of the marine naturalist 
have recorded the wonders of these caves. For instance, in that 
exquisite book, ‘The Channel Islands,’ by Professor Ansted and 
Dr. Latham, the former states (p. 73):—“ Nowhere in Europe, 
under the most favourable circumstances, can so great a wealth of 
animal life be found within a small space, as in some of the Sark 
caverns.” And again (p. 83) :—“ Every square inch of surface is 
covered with living corallines, and in some parts an infinite number 
of Tubularie are seen occupying the walls.” And further (p. 241):— 
“ The great range of the tide, the complicated character and gloom 
of these vast natural vaults, whose deeper recesses are not accessible 
more than a few hours in the year, are among the causes of this 
wealth. They may with truth be regarded as the griine Gewdlbe 
of the Channel Islands. They are green treasure-houses, where, 
instead of the accumulated stores of medizval art, such as are 
lavishly spread out in the chambers so named in Dresden, we find 
all that is brightest and richest and most varied of Nature’s 
work.” And the writer of a most interesting article, “ A Week’s 
‘Imprisonment in Sark,” in the ‘Cornhill Magazine’ for 1861 
(p. 542), contributes his rapturous meed of praise to that already 
stated. He says:—“ Fortunately the visitor is not often subjected 
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