Notes on the Bermudas. 151 



the Creator's wisdom and power. Of the class Echinodermata 

 there is also a large variety. We are not sure that any represen- 

 tatives of the ancient Encrinites have been seen in the Bermudas, 

 but they are doubtless to be found. The Asteriadse, or true Star 

 fish and the Echinidge, or sea eggs, are numerous, as well as strik- 

 ing in their forms, and beautiful in their colors. The Radiate 

 ■Olass Acalephfe or jelly ■fishes indluding the myriads of tiny Me- 

 dusae which fill the waters, are largely represented, among which 

 may be noted the Physalia or Portuguese man-of-war. Tt is the 

 •delicate forms of these Medusae that give the phosphorescent 

 appearance to the ocean, and which makes sailing by night so 

 ^ike passing through a sea of fluid fire. In the sub-kingdom 

 Articulata several families of crustaceans are very noticeable. 

 The Cray-fish is found of a large size and is chiefly used as bait 

 ■for fishing. Land and sea crabs are also numerous, of which not 

 the least interesting are the soldier crabs. They may be seen 

 -carefidly selecting empty univalve shells in which to take up 

 their abode. They march about apparently with conscious pride, 

 'bearing these shells on their backs, and clothed in these cast off" gar- 

 ments of a lower class of animals. In the Molusca division there 

 is nothing very striking or peculiar in Bermuda. A large fine 

 Pecten is much used as an article of food. Of the Vertebrata 

 there are an infinite variety, and here as in other places this sub- 

 kingdom is of great economical value. In spring the Green- 

 land whale is a common visitant, and the capture of whales is a 

 -considerable business on the islands. With the whale comes the 

 ^Selachii or the Sharks, and two species of Ray, the Mer-Ray and 

 the Whip-Ray. Turtles are also found in summer. Fish is a com- 

 mon food of the inhabitants, and the poorer class of people sel- 

 dom eat any other kind of animal food than fish. Of these they 

 have an abundant choice. A large fish called the Grouper is 

 -caught in the summer at certain places on the coast, brought in 

 alive, and stored in fish-ponds for future use. Another large and* 

 'fine fish is called the Rock-fish ; another is the Hind, not so large 

 as the former, but beautifully ornamented over its body with 

 'bright radiating spots. There are also the Angel-fish, the Hog-fish 

 and the Grunter, with a variety of others which are caught at 

 <liff"erent seasons and in particular localities. 



We now come to note the Marine Algas, to the collection and 

 classification of which our leisure time, during our residence there, 

 -was chiefly devoted. In this department of botany, the waters 



