MISCELLAJTEOUS OBSEEVATIONS. 189 



When we consider the peculiar formation of the Bermuda 

 Hills — ^the absence of aU' other material in their geological 

 structure — from the vast beds of loose ccanminuted shell, 

 interspersed with small sea shells entire, to the so-called 

 limestone rock, varying in its solidity from " soft" to "hard," 

 and the dip or cleavage of the same, may we nbt infer that 

 the entire group of islands has been formed precisely as the 

 Sand HUls of Paget Parish ? 



The circumstance of finding the skeleton of a duck with 

 two fossil eggs under it, embedded several feet below the 

 surface, in " solid rock," which was removed several years 

 ago to level the surface of the present Dockyard, may tend 

 to dispel any doubt which may exist upon the subject. This 

 natural curiosity was seen by the late Eev. Mr. Mantach, in 

 the possession of an of&cer of the Eoyal Engineers, by whom 

 it was carried to England. 



Before concluding these brief observations on the wonder- 

 ful and comparatively recent formation of the Bermudas, 

 from the depths of the Atlantic, and upon the forms of ani- 

 mal and vegetable life there found to exist, let us look forth 

 upon the wide belt of ocean which surrounds the group, 

 and encLuire how far the winds and waves have incidentally 

 contributed to clothe those islands with the trees and plants 

 found upon them by early navigators and settlers. 



During the summer months the winds chiefly prevail from 



