GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 93 



east-north-east, there are several sandy mounts, 

 having the appearance of virhite cliffs, which in 

 moonlight may be mistaken for breakers. These 

 are very remarkable, and are called "sand-hills;" 

 one of •which is much more conspicuous than the 

 others, being of greater extent, and having less 

 verdure on its summit. 



The great road of the southern side of the island, 

 after passing the " sand-hills," runs along the coast to 

 the hghthouse at Port Royal, often near the water's 

 edge, and sometimes separated from the sea only by 

 a narrow belt of wood. Close to the " sand-hills " 

 the beach is composed of white sand, not siliceous, 

 but consisting almost wholly of coral, shells, echinae, 

 &c. bleached and pulverized by the long action of 

 the weather. 



A few yards from the shore the bottom is com- 

 posed of white tenacious marl, covered with a dense 

 but short coat of marine grass. On this lie, in the 

 shallow water, many Holothurice ; they are soft and 

 flaccid when first taken out of their element, but 

 after being held in the hand for a few moments 

 they become tense and stiff, and usually discharge 

 a small stream of water from the extremity of the 

 body. They do this, I find, even if held under 

 the water ; it is doubtless the result of strong mus- 



