Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-10-26
Natural History.
Mr.. EDIToR,

Carr bean Islands. being man OF taste and
inquiry as well as merchant, has stored
his common place book with variety OF
particulars. all of them curious, and many
OF them so interesting, as subjects OF natu-
raj history, that on reading them ] thought
| could not better evince my desire to se-
copmodate you and serve your paper, than
by TRANSFERRING some Of them for your use.
That which has struck me most torcibly Is
the following account of an extraordinary
cavern in the island of Antigua.
This cavern is on the eastern side OF the
island--is very spacious, OF a circular shape,
aud about eighty feet in depth. Although
il appears to be considerably lower than
the ieye! of the sea, there is no water in 1t.
How il originated has never been account
ed for even plausibly,-Some have imagn-
ed that Il was formerly the mouth of ali ex-
tin .uisi.e yolcano--but that suggestion IS
completely superseded by the fact that no
appearance whatever Of pumeS or any other
vestiges Of fire has been discovered near 1t.
In some places, the water itering through
the pores of The vast rocks that bend in gloo-
ny arches over the head, form great num-
Der of staiactiies which are suspended from
.he roof and down the sides ofthe cavern, land
produce beauti ful effect. The rains con-
tinualy washing dowr the mould into The
bottom, have formed there thick, rich soil,
in which great number Of lofty trees tiou-
rish with great luxuriance !; and the prodi.
gious numbers Of wild deer and goats who
make this recess their asylum, add consi-
derably 10 its Fertilization, by the quantity
OF manure they afford.
The cavern is divided INTO two distinct
apartments, by verdant curtain Of vines
which runs exactly through the middle oil it;
and having now subsisted there for many
years, has gradually crept up and fastened
lis topmost branches to the pinaacles Of the
rocks that form the circumference OF the
cave. The extreme thickness Of this cur
tain, and the refreshing verdure Of the clus-
.ering foliage make it one ofthe most CRATE
full objects, in this hot climate, that can be
imagined.
Of the various kinds Of fishes which a.
bound in the Caribbean seas, there is one
commonly called the Sea Devir-or Rdia
.Ndrta, and is the most extraordinary ami
nal in nature. 1t is of the ray kind--the
sting ray-and is not only Of 4 monstrnus
size but most hideous aspect. The body,
which is fiat, runs 10 about twelve feet in
length and seventeen in breadth The
mouth four feet wide !; the body about two
feet in depth, or thickness (; the tail four
teen feet long, and tapering 10 fine point.
On, of these was killed at place called
RI DIV rs b,y, in this island, which re.
CURED seven yoke Of oxen to draw him
on shore.
A les ription ofthe Catfish Of these seas,
the Barracuda, will rather surprise those
who have known no other fish Of the name
than the harmless and wholesome animals
drawn from the Potomac, Delaware, and
other American rivers. This Of the Lee
ward Islands, now discovered, is fish Of
astonishing and terrible vorscity. TIE 3D.
racuda frequently attcaks and devours men,
who are so imprudent as to 60 bathing in
the open sea, and is more dangerous even
than the shark-for the latter having his
mouth placed beneath a long, projecting
snout, is obliged TO turn on its back before
he can devour his prey, which affords an
opportunity, or at least chance, OF es-
cape-for many swimmers are so bold that
they carry cutlasses in the water with them
land while the shark is turning, they are
sometimes lucky enough TO give him NOR.
,al blow-whereas the Barracuda is very
swift, comes with open mouth, and pos
sesses such prodigious agility that it is III
.erly impossible TO elude his rapacious jaws
In Antigua there is also very mischie'
rous insec, of the moth species, which i:
called by naturalists the Eruea Socchari'
5ord. but in its caterpillar state is denomi'
mated the Borer, from its property OF per-
iora,ing the body of the sugar cane, sucking
out the juice, and reducing the Pith TO pow
der. 1t has long been pest to those isl
ands, and j, has been found impossible tc
extirpate it; repeated experiments have
been tried for the purpose but none have
vet succeeded. They are SO extremely