992 A. E. Verrill— The Bermuda Islands. 434 
Traveling eastward by the north road, one passes through Flatts 
Village, where the road crosses the inlet to Harrington Sound. ‘This 
sound is a considerable body of sea-water, completely land-locked, 
except for this small channel, but the sound itself can best be seen 
from the middle and south roads. 
From the bridge across the shallow but rapid tidal stream, one — 
can see, beneath the clear water, a great variety of living sea-weeds, 
sponges, and other organisms, of various bright colors. Among these 
the most conspicuous are large masses of a bright red, orange, or 
scarlet sponge, which grows in many different shapes, and varies 
much in color. 
Several fine residences and beautiful grounds are situated in the 
village and near it. Many visitors, including several scientific 
parties, have made it their headquarters.* There are here, and near- 
by, several good boarding houses, but no large hotel. 
In the interesting grounds at “‘ Wistowe,” the residence of the late 
Hon. C. M. Allen, formerly United States Consul, there is a stone 
basin for fishes. It is fed by a tidal current of water flowing 
through a trench cut from the inlet to Harrington Sound. A fine 
collection of bright-colored fishes can usually be seen here. Among 
those noticed in 1901 were some large green and yellow Angel- 
fishes; the brilliant Doncella; a large Blue Parrot-fish ; the Blue 
Oldwife or “Turbot,” and others of interest. _ 
By the roadside, at this village, there is a very large Mahogany 
tree, which is the only large one on the islands. Not far away there 
is also a very large India-rubber tree, and in several of the grounds 
are numerous good specimens of Palms and the native Palmetto, 
with the Pawpaw and many other interesting trees and shrubs. 
The mouth of the inlet here was at one time, many years ago, a 
harbor of some importance, with docks and warehouses, but it is now 
so silted up that it is only deep enough for boats. Indeed, it has 
always been liable to become obstructed by sand bars, on account of 
its strong tidal currents and the bottom of shifting sands. 
* Platts Village is advantageously situated in many respects for this purpose, 
as well as for the pleasure seekers. Among other naturalists, Prof. Wm. North 
Rice and the late Mr. G. Brown Goode, who subsequently was at the head of 
the U. S. National Museum, and also for a short time was U. S. Commissioner 
of Fish and Fisheries, made extensive collections here in 1876-7. Mr. Goode 
published several papers on the Fishes of Bermuda. Professor Heilprin, of 
Philadelphia, with one of his parties, also chose this place in 1888. 
The best localities for obtaining the very singular fish-like creature called the 
Lancelet or Amphioxus are on the shallow sand-bars of this inlet. 
