188 THE NATURALIST IN BEEMUDA. 



May we not account for this occurrence by supposing the 

 salt water in the hold of the vessel to have been so 

 thoroughly saturated with sugar, as to render it incapable of 

 holding more in solution, and from the superior gravity of 

 this saturated water, and the probable small amount of leak-: 

 age in the ship's bottom, little disturbance could take place 

 with the external waters of the ocean ? In no other way 

 can I understand how so large a portion of sugar could re- 

 main immersed in sea water for many days without apparent 

 injury. — J. L. H. 



The Sand Hills. — On the south shore of the Bermudas; 

 about midway between their east and western extremities, 

 and not far from Paget Church, is to be found an extensive 

 drift of comminuted 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 and southerly breeze, the driven shell may 

 be observed moving briskly over the gradually ascending 

 surface of this drift, and gently roUing down the elevated, 

 and even slopes of its extreme inland termination, at an» 

 angle of about forty-five degrees, filling up the undulations 

 of the surface of terra firma, and burying in its onward 

 progress cedar groves and cottages. The accumulation is 

 rapidly increasing, and, viewed from the higher ground near 

 Hamilton, is seen towering above the steeple of Paget's 

 Church. 



In high winds the driven sheU is carried to a considerable 

 distance beyond the accumulated drift, and then resembles 

 a haze or mist overhanging that portion of the neighbourhood. 



