#xrgtna[ Jlrttcles. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES FROM SOUTH AFRICA. 



( Continued. J 



By S. D. Bairstow, F.L.S. 



The marine Mollusca, or rather sea-washed specimens of impres- 

 sionable shells, for excepting Turbo, Patella, Bullia, Twaitella, 

 Ealiotis, Triton, Chiton, Pleurotoma, and a few others (univalves, 

 bivalves excepted) occurring near or upon the shore or rocks, we have 

 seldom an opportunity of taking living animals, and for many reasons 

 dredging is expensive and dangerous. Probably if these difficulties 

 could be removed there would be a magnificent field for the collector 

 around the east coast of Southern Africa. Scarcity of rain is our 

 agricultural curse. Peculiarity of river courses is one of the banes of 

 progression and enterprise, and around the Algoa coast stream or river 

 in rapid succession cuts into the land, and renders locomotion difficult, 

 and navigation dangerous. This impacability of African rivers has 

 bothered the mental powers of all our famous travellers, and a big 

 obstacle it is to remove. . The physical features of our dark continent 

 are truly perplexing. Drifting sands and sand barriers along the 

 coast. Inland yawning chasms, and stubborn kloofs surprising us by 

 the suddenness of their appearance. Scarcity of water where plenty 

 is wanted abundance where useless or rejected. Mountain blocks 

 and brackish karoos. These circumstances all combine and scorn 

 human effort. Likewise the ocean jeers at expert navigators. Not 

 satisfied with reefy custodians or personal surf muscles,* with jutting 

 capes or Samsonian waves, not satisfied to link current to current in 

 one tempestuous rushing torrent — a marine river — passing with fearful 

 velocity round the southern point, we must needs have minor currents 

 cropping up unawares, and deceitful shifting stream beds. Add to 

 these submerged plateaux of connected rocks, and bristling semi-hidden 

 reefs, add stiff south-easters, and you may form a mild conception of 



* As I write, news arrives of a tremendous tidal wave observed at East 

 London, Port Alfred, and other coast ports. It was slightly felt here. Capt. 

 "Webster, Com. Currie, S.S. " Hawarden Castle," reports great strain on his 

 ship's cable, and violent plunging of the vessel. At East London the tide rose 

 considerably. Tide gauges at various places indicated curious irregularities. 

 Says the E.P. Telegraph — ^" The origin of this tidal wave may probably be as- 

 cribed to remarkable volcanic action of unusual severity reported to have occurred 

 in the Straits of Sunda, where the physical features of the place have undergone 

 considerable changes." 



N.S., Vol. ix. May, 1884. 



