[ 59 1 3 
tural Confequence of other Difcoveries then become 
familiar. 
The following Defcription of an Animal, which, 
after Three Years repeated Obfervation, I always 
found unvaried in its Appearance, had perhaps been 
hill the Subject of my own filent Admiration, if I 
had not been lately perfuaded by a worthy Member 
of your Honourable Society to lay it before you, 
as I now beg Leave to do. 
At the North End of the Illand of Barbadoes , in 
St. Lucy's Parifh, is a Cave about 14 Feet long, 
and 11 wide: Its Bottom is a Bafon always full of 
tranfparent Salt-water, its greateft Depth about Three 
Feet : In this Bafon there is a Stone of about Four 
Feet long, and Three in Breadth, always covered 
with Water. From fmall Holes in the Sides of this 
Stone, at different Depths .under Water, appear in full 
Bloom, at all times of the Year, feveral feemingly 
fine radiated yellow Flowers, with thick-fet diftindl 
Bet ala * : Thefe Flowers, upon the Approach of my 
Fingers, or when difturbed by any thing elfe that 
came within Two or Three Inches of them, would 
in an Infant clofe all their Leaves together, and the 
Flower, Stalk and all, would fhrink back into the 
Cavity of the Stone : Yet, if undifturbed for the Space 
of a few Minutes, they would again come in Sight, 
* At firft Sight this Species of Animals greatly refembles the Flower 
of the Marigold , but is of a paler yellow. I take it to be a fort of 
Urtica marina , of which Gefner has given Defcriptions and Figures 
in his Book de Aquatilibus ; but a Figure very nearly refembling this 
above deferibed, is to be feen in Johnfton, Hift. Nat. de Exanguibus 
-a^uaticif i Tab. XVIII. C. M. 
H h h h 2 
and 
