A RIVAL TO THE OYSTER 149 



shell, tracing resemblance to a boxing-giove, others the 

 " boat," and again the melon shell. Blacks use them for a 

 variety of purposes — bailers, buckets, saucepans, drinking- 

 vessels, baskets, and even wardrobes. They represent, 

 perhaps, the only utensil in which a black can boil food, 

 and it is an astonishing though not edifying spectacle 

 when the fat-layered intestine of a turtle, sodden in salt 

 water just brought to a boil in a bailer shell, is eagerly 

 devoured by hungry blacks. 



A Rival to the Oyster 



Down the caverns of the submerged rocks and blocks of 

 coral are two or three species of Echinus (sea-urchins), with 

 long and slender spines radiating from their spheroid 

 bodies. One {Diadema setosd) is distinguished by what 

 appears to be precious jewels of sparkling blue — believed 

 to be visual organs — which lose their brilliancy immediately 

 on removal from the water. Another has a centre of coral 

 pink. The black spines, 10 inches or so long, are 

 exquisitely sharp, and brittle in the extreme. Some 

 believe that the animals are endowed with the power of 

 thrusting these weapons forward to meet the intrusive 

 hand, for unless approached with caution they prick the 

 fingers while yet seemingly out of reach. Admitting that 

 I have never yet attempted rudely to grasp this creature 

 (which certainly is capable of presenting its array of spines 

 whither it wills) while submerged, for the mere purpose of 

 testing its ability to defend itself — my enthusiasm being 

 tempered by the caution of the mere amateur — it may be 

 said that some of the spines appear to be blunt. All could 

 hardly be " sharper than needles," for being used as a means 

 of locomotion among and over and in the crevices of the 

 coral and rocks, some are necessarily worn at the points. 

 With care they may be handled without injury, though at 



