Ch. III.] MAEINE PAUNA. 51 



of song were precisely similar to those of the skylark of our 

 own country. 



The rocks of Makung Harbour, which I had an oppor- 

 tunity of examining, were basaltic in formation, washed 

 smooth by the waves, and in some spots exhibiting in section 

 the columnar structure. No seaweeds grew on these rocks, 

 with the sole exception of the peacock-tail (Padina), which 

 was abundant, nor could I meet with any echinoderms 

 (starfishes, &c.). Indeed, the coast was extremely barren, 

 and produced little else than small Paguri (or hermits) in 

 shells of Murex, Litorina, &c., small Chitons and Patellae. 

 Ligiee ran over the rocks, gleaming with rich metallic blue, 

 and darkening them in crowds, here as nearly everywhere ; 

 and I really believe that these are the most abundant of all 

 crustaceans, at all events of those seen. The only animal of 

 interest I met with was a very handsome Doris, of a deep blue 

 colour, spotted with yellow, and with branchiae and tentacles 

 of a bright vermilion. This richly-coloured species may be 

 the Doris Barnardi of Kelaart (MS.). Under the stones were 

 numerous small porcelain crabs (P. platycheles). An attempt 

 to dredge in the bay was only rewarded with bags of mud 

 containing a few broken bivalves. 



Before quitting Makung, we pay! a visit to the chief 

 Mandarin of the place, but were not successful in seeing him 

 at his yd-mun. The appearance of a foreign man-of-war 

 in the harbour was embarrassing to the official mind, and 

 from its rarity was somewhat alarming, inasmuch as the 

 poor Mandarin probably was unable to conceive of such a 

 circumstance without accompanying demands, or that it 

 could possibly happen without any further reference • to him 

 than a mere polite visit of ceremony. He had, therefore, 

 given out that he had gone to Ta-kau, with which answer we 



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