New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-11-07

liza wild
sdes by hills small rocky island lies in the mouth
of the bay, and is united to the mainland ON the
north western side bya short reef hereafter TO DO
deacribed in such way to narrow the entrance
of fhe barbOr to about half mile. The anchorage
ground is within half mile from the town. where
there ara five fatbOms of water with an excellent
eround Owing to tho hight of the island and Of the
encircling hills this port is sheltered from the pre-
valinQ winds OF tho northeast, aud is exposed only
TO the southeasterly winds during the hurricane
The little sentinel fort at the entrance Of the har
bor ia on the little island just described aud there Is
on the hill above il signal station On the north
ern side of the same island cOang stations ana
n marine railway, the latter now of no value. saw
very fine floating dock, which has lately been con-
strucied by All English company. but which. only
inst completed, has not yet been used.
St Thomas and Havana are the only ports Tor re-
pair in the West Indies and the former IS resored 70
by vessels from all quarters in the Wndwaid ISLANDS
even from the coast OF Venezuela. At present ~.
Thomas is important only as station fer the repair
ing of ships and the furnishing OF marine supplies
II is n free port and does considerable trade with
fine neighboring islands, though that trade has much
declined since direct communication with the mother
conntriea has become so common with many OF the
islands i'm the West Indies Its geographical POSITION
makes it the most convenient stopplngpace for the
several lines Of steamers running between EuIope
and the West Indies, as well as for the Americo-
brazilian steamships. 1t is also much resOrted TO
v ships of war and il must always be an important
pont as naval station, whether for repairs or sup
ppiies Negotiations have been on foot between the
United States and the Danish Government tOuchihg
the cession of the island to tho former power but
WaS informed IN ST. lnOnuS llldI DOHHldIh was ""-
willing TO part with il without at the same tmo
selling Santa Cruz and ST. John which latter ISLANDS
would be burden on the hands OF the Danish Gov
eminent without st. Thomas. The acquisition OF so
central and valuable part of the West Indies ny inc
United States would DO very important sodn.S
Cruz is much larger island, ana Is noted LOT i.s ie
tilty OF ST. John know nothing. There IL aiittie
island belonging 10 the English and called ~: feters'
which lies about ten miles eastward OF o. lhoina9'
and IS used BY the Engs R R5 GU n be latter is
land with the main land. This is but few hundred
feet long, quite narrow, ana CONSISTS Oh Deach ue
posit OF sbinge and coral cemened together 40 as 10
form n very bard and compact conglomerntion. IN
side this reef is a shallow. quiet cove between the
westernmOst end of the island and the main land'
During a stop made at st. Thomas last summer,
while resting with Prof. Agasslzs party, found TINS
TO be a good collecting ground for corals. me au,
thOrities of ST. Thomas deeming that the heaIth OF
the place might be improved by creating greater
circulation in the waters of the bay, have bad small
channel cut through the reef in the hope that cur
rent might enter but the channel appears 10 DC 700
small and can bc of little service.
Outside OF the little island to the south lies larger
island high and rocky called Water Island Passing
through the reef had my bOaiInan row me ont 10
the western shore of this island where ! Knew some
very interesting coTals and oihcr marine "l, ii ~
bottles hammer &c. kept along the sDoro' Wauing
about in the shadows. my man keeping near mo 10
take into the boat the specimens ~ collected nenl'
Sharks are plentiful here, but FELT no uneness on
that score as the boatman assured me that lhey uu
not come so close in shore unless they were tuy
hungry The shore here - IN part rocky IN part
sandy while inst along shore the bottom IL shallow,
and Somnosed of white sand. Tho water is perfectly
clear and moderately open to the action ol the sea.
About high tide mark an immense number 1l specl-
mems of n large and pretty LufOrRd are iOund cllng
ing to the rocks while among the stones lald Darc
by tho tide, large numbers oi sm3ll yasepps JieeP
about Among these II the well known DietuuS-
tooth SHELF There are several large spiral shells
that are used for food. Among these ~ the giant
concb--tbat large wide-mOuthcd she'll SfrOabus Dgds,
with rich pink tint inside. 20 common ~ a nantel
ornament This shell lives IN moderately deep water
found one live specimen wish my readers conIu
see the curious animal That tenants tha' oiushihs
There. thrown rudely among tho rocks 10y the
waves, lies my prize. is dshca'o up Dfu-.n arr
broken. pick IL IN; but can only see mat some,
thing is in the she'll but IL has retired 80 lar mat
cannot distinctly see il. While am examining u
the animal begins 10 prOtrude iiscl ana what an Ouu-
hooking creature There is pushed out from inside
NAT looks like foot with only one Toe. ahd tat !,
armed with something that resembles long nat nan
or claw In front Of this projects strange hngri-
like proboscis, at the end OF which - me mouth,
while from the base of this organ extends Two lonH
stalks an inch and half long. more or l'vs on me
tin OF which is beautiful bright eye with golden
iris. Near the tip on the inner side each stalk bears
little feelor or tentacle, and now our oonoh has
stretched his strange ilshapon body far out oil ,no
sheIl and presses the claw-arncd notified forcihly
against the land. This she'll belongs Ia iailll Oh
mouscs which is noted for being caIon-iecd' ~ ana
lively in their motons The large shell so often seen
on nlante pieces. whose lip iarcs out INTO numri
of long fngerlike spincs IT0o1asl belongs 10 ihls
family and there Is "A small west Ihdlah slsclos
which from its activity of notion has earned iof IL
the name Of strombus ppgls or the hghtlng stiomn
Tuning over the stones my walls were soon hIiel
with curious tOrtOisc-lke thd0hs' nHlue ""'HS'
On The larger rocks and on the lodges along shore
grew a number OF massive corals. me higes, Oh
these was a species Of HgcdHdiRd or Bran coral 10
called because the cells on the surface are long ana
convolutod, causing tho surface To resemble thnt oil
the brain. Some of these masses were three of inr
feet in diameter. One tine specimen ] succeeded Ia
securing by dint of much tugpng and halnmering
This coral is Of a brown color when alive. ana IL
grows IN spherical MASSES. a
Another coral iSidrasfraal grew in smaller and dat
ter colonies whose cells small and starslld"ed
while vet another of "A dark brown color ana win
larger and more prominent cells than the latter
formed small gobular misses of the size OF the hrJ
(orbccliG. not uncommon coral Is called Fori'es
dstrO Oide which IL of bright sulphur ycllsw, ana
grows M flat patches on the rocks. On the same
ground large specimens of M0drtPOrd, Di. pdlpdfd
grew attached to the rocks like immense iiat yellow
isb brown fringe. Some were three or Tour lett
across In some places the hedges ~ thickly
covered with them rs decaying logs are with fungi
in damp places ID was not an easy matter to collect
specimens of this species, especially when the wafer
was mp 10 ones neck. and heavy swell was break
ing in them but / had soon ns many largo
specimens a. could accommodate IN my boat.
These shores are the very paradise OF sea urchns'
or eggs animals exceedingly interesting to the
naturalist but of which presume, my readers most
of them, have very faint idea. They are animals
with more OF less glObuar bodies thin shell mar
yeOusly constructed of little poygonal plates sol
dered together tho whole covered outside with
forest of sharp movable spines. There ~ one large
species, four or five inches IN diameter with small
whitish spines which IS very common, growing
among the rocks the sand. Another kind ~
small, larger and stouter spine, of dark purpled
color. These usually found wcdged IA holes and
crevices in the rocks. and bushels might be picked
of the reef at low tldo but there Is another that the
collector will never forget. Carleton published, some
time ago comical little album of carcatures, entitled
Or Artist in CubdD In one of the sketches our art
list and his attendant meagertailed chicken, bent on
a bath, have encountered spiny little monster, OF
whose character they seem TO entertain WHOLESOME
doubt There is no installing the animal.
One at st. Thomas. perhaps for the first tune.
through the clear but tremulous water, something