NOTES FROM THE WEST INDIES. 



539 



a tough asbestine greenish slate rock ; and in other places of this road, in the 

 sections so formed, are great blocks of amygdaloid, and coarse conglomerate 

 puddingstone rock, which, from the extreme hardness of the cementing matter, 

 and from the beauty of some of the imbedded pebbles, might probably be 

 sawed and polished into ornamental slabs for tables." 



In the same manner he describes three interesting geological basins : 

 the Conway basin, the Menai basin, the Cardigan Bay basin. We can 

 bear testimony to the accuracy of most of the details, having ourselves 

 in the autumn of 1831, gone over the greater part of the district 

 comprehended in this intelligent memoir. 



NOTES FROM THE WEST INDIES. 



BY R. H- 



-L, ESQ. 



It was my intention to have transmitted you something more than 

 the meagre note which accompanies the nest and drawings now sent 

 you, but being unexpectedly required to depart in the ensuing week 

 for the West Indies, I can do little more than just say what they are. 



The nest is that of the Golden-banded Oriole, one of a well-known 

 brilliant family of tropical birds. Its natural song, though varied and 

 well modulated, is said to be improved when the bird is caged, by its 

 mingling with its wild wood notes the melody of regular compositions. 



I had heard so much of the hammock which it constructed, twisted 

 of fibrous substances, and so placed as to swing to the breeze, that I 



