October 1853 Simon's Bay. animals from the interior. An English Regiment, returned from the Kaffir War, was stationed in this city, and with some of its officers I became ac- quainted. On one day I dined with Mr. Eager a gentleman enthusiastic on American topics. The prices, how, were very high, owing to the demand consequent on Australian discoveries. Several American vessels sailed from Cape Town for Boston during our stay at the Cape (as the Sam- tor - Springbok - Silver Cloud etc.) by which we sent letters, packages etc. Some of our officers also left us for home in them, - as Mr. Ames, my assistant - Mr. Baker of the Vincennes, Mr. Lea of the Kennedy, and Messrs Dumbar and Dodd, of the Vincennes. After a stay of about three days I left C. Town in a buggy for Simon's Town, in a gale of wind. On the last half of the road, which runs along the coast, the wind was so violent that I was obliged to "leave to" in the squalls - especially on a broad sand October 1853 Simon's Bay. 47 flat bordering on the sea, where the quick-sands permeated with sea water demanded quick passage. During this month the weather allowed of collecting Marine animals, both by dredging and by searching the rocks at low water - the sandy beaches pro- duced nothing, as the effect of the sea and surf was too great to allow of worms, Whelkinds etc., usually found in such situations, maintaining an existence. The rocks however were very fretful. Decapods were rare and few in number only two large crabs (a Plagusia and Cyclagraeus) - no macroura - but numerous Isopods especially Sphio- A Conus was common all over the rocks. Round Worms were not numerous, - the most remarkable were two Sabella, one living in a leathery tube, and of great size - another (Sabella?) forming large masses of its sandy tubes, which looked like coral. Of Mollusks the genera Trochus and Patella were most abundant in species and individuals especially the former, of which six species occurred. A Terebratula was found