258 EAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. [Oh. XV. 



place, and although close to the equator, it possesses a tem- 

 perature much more moderate than that of many places in 

 higher and lower latitudes. The thermometer seldom varies 

 more than 20° or 22° during the whole year, never rising 

 much above 90°, or falling much below 70°. The nights 

 especially are very cool and refreshing, and enable people to 

 sleep without difficulty, which is one great secret of its 

 salubrity. Diiring the time I was at Singapore in October 

 and November, a sharp squall passed over every night, 

 usually about 2 a.m., accompanied with heavy rain. One 

 night when the squall had been heavier than usual, and it 

 felt quite chilly towards sunrise, I found the thermometer 

 standing at 75°. The following day at noon it was hot, 

 close, and somewhat oppressive ; but the thermometer had 

 only risen to 82°, and in the evening at 9 p.m., while it 

 stood at 80°, the air was warm, not close, but comfortable. 

 Knowing that a great star-shower was expected on the 

 occasion of the appearance of the November meteors, I 

 anxiously looked for the day ; but the 14th November, as 

 well as a day or two preceding and following, turned out 

 cloudy, so that absolutely nothing could be seen. 



Among the numerous islands about Singapore, there is 

 doubtless a wonderfully rich and unexplored region for the 

 marine zoologist, who would find endless occupation for the 

 dredge, as well as by ransacking the coral patches which 

 occur in some places, and are very shallow at low-water. 

 Although my opportunities were very limited while at Singa- 

 pore, the magnificent species of Comatula (or feather-star) 

 which came under my notice, as well as several new Crustacea 

 of the genera Alpheus and Galathea, proved how well a 

 systematic search would repay the observer with novel and 

 interesting species. The best and most promising shore hes 



