372 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 



hangs from the underside of a stout branch. A tree of 

 this kind, that stands in the immediate vicinity of the 

 caves at Walsingham, is considered one of the " lions " of 

 Bermuda, as it was under its shade that the poet Moore is 

 said to have written a collection of odes and poems, illus- 

 trative of the scenery and life of the islands, where he held 

 the post of Registrar to the Admiralty Court. 



That very curious marine plant, commonly called the 

 " Sea bottle," is common on the sea-sands during the month 

 of May. These " bottles " are transparent, and shaped like 

 a small balloon, the largest measuring about one inch in 

 length. The inside is filled with sea-water, sometimes per- 

 fectly clear, at others deeply tinged with green, arising 

 from small particles of sea-weed being hermetically sealed 

 up with the confined water. They are sometimes washed 

 ashore in a small cluster, as if they had sprung from the 

 surface of some rock, and are without leaves or branches. 



THE SAND HILLS. 



On the south shore of Bermuda, about mid-way between 

 its eastern and western extremities, and not far from 

 Paget's Church, is to be found an extensive drift of com- 

 minuted shell, which, from its resemblance to ordinary sea- 

 sand, is generally termed the " Sand Hills." 



This accumulation of drift shell extends along the shore 

 for upwards of half a mile, and advances inland for nearly 

 the same distance. It appears to be of very recent date. 

 In every south or south-westerly breeze the driven shell 

 may be observed moving briskly over the gradually 



