294 
The Natural Hiftory of the. Book IX. 
Places almoft perpendicular ; and what adds an Horror to this dreadful 
Situation, is, that. the Waves from below almoft inceffantly break upon . 
the Cliff, and fometimes reach its higheft Summit. 
“As foon as you are freed from this complicated Apprehenfion of Dan- 
ger (in your Way down) you enter a Cave fpacious enough to contain 
five hundred People. The Roof of this is in fome Places imboffed with 
conglaciated Incruftations intermixed with {mall T ubes, through whofe 
Extremities a {mall Quantity of the moft limpid Water drops. 
‘From this you enter another Cave, fmall in Comparifon of the for- 
mer. ‘Fhe Bottom of this is a natural Bafon of Water of about faxteen 
Feet long, and twelve in Breadth.® This, at low Water, is about eleven 
Feet perpendicular Height from the Sea, which, when the Wind is high 
on that Point, dathes into it; fo that the Water in it is intirely falt, ex- 
cept a finall Mixture of frefh, which oufes and drops through the Roof 
of the Cave. 
In the Middle of this Bafon there is a fixt Stone, or Rock fas I fhall 
call it, which is always under Water. 
Round its Sides, at different Depths (feldom exceeding eighteen Inches) 
are feen at all ‘Times of the Year feveral {eemingly fine radiated Flowers 
6f a pale Yellow, or a bright Straw-colour flightly tinged with-Green. 
‘Thefe have in Appearance a circular Border of thick-fet (1) Petals, 
about the Size of, and much refembling, thofe ofa fingle Garden Mari- 
gold, except that the Whole of this feeming Flower is narrower at the 
Difcus, or Setting on of the Leaves, than any Flower of that Kind. 
‘ "T have often attempted to pluck one of thefe from the Reck to which 
they are always fixt; but could never effeé it. For as foon as my Fin- 
gers came within two or three Inches of it, it would immediately con- 
tra@, and clofe together its yellow Border, and fhrink back into the 
Hole in the Rock; but, if left undifturbed for the Space of about four 
Minutes, it would come gradually in Sight, expanding, though at firft 
very cautioufly, its feeming Leaves, till at laft it appeared in its former 
Bloom: However, it would again recoil with a furprifing Quicknefs, 
when my Hand came within a {mall Diftance of it. 
. Having tried the fame Experiment by attempting to touch it with my 
Cane, and a {mall flender Rod, the Effect was the fame. 
Thefe were ftrong Appearances of Animal Life; yet, as its Shape, 
and want of local Motion, clafled it among Vegetables, I was for 
fome time in Sufpenfe, and imagined it might be an aquatic Senfitive 
Plant : And though its Contraction to avoid the Touch was quicker than 
any Plant of that Kind ; yet, as its feeming Leaves might be, and in reality 
( 1.) Petals are the fine coloured Leaves, which compofe in a Marigold, and fuch-like 
Flowers, the yellow circular Border. ; 
They are called Petals to diftinguifh them from the green Leaves of the Plant. 
z ¥ were, 
i . 
