Notes from a journal of research into the natural history of the countries visited during the voyage of H.M.S. Samarang [from vol. II of Narrative of the voyage of H.M.S. Samarang, by Sir E. Belcher issued with new t.p.] under the command of Captain Sir Edward Belcher.

Date:
1848
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Notes from a journal of research into the natural history of the countries visited during the voyage of H.M.S. Samarang [from vol. II of Narrative of the voyage of H.M.S. Samarang, by Sir E. Belcher issued with new t.p.] under the command of Captain Sir Edward Belcher. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    into pink towards the summit. The vesicle was, more- over, provided with three horn-like appendages, one curved like an Ammonite, of deep Prussian-blue, with another of a smaller size projecting from it, and a third, of a green colour, situated at the opposite extremity of the vesicle. The tentacles and ovaries were of dark-indigo colour. On the 25th of April, 1843, we were anchored in Simon’s Bay. As you double the Cape, the scenery looks very uninviting to the eye of the naturalist, who views it for the first time, but as you draw nearer, the mountains grow more and more interesting. The wild and naked aspect of the almost savage scenery is much improved by woody gorges or chasms, and even on the brown sides of the mountains, coloured patches soon appear on your nearer approach, as the numerous species of heaths and composite flowers begin to be recognized, and now and then some picturesque knoll, crowned with a fantastic tree, will interpose its form, and break the monotonous outline of the landscape. During our stay there, the deep water of the offing appeared to swarm with endless varieties of the “ finny drove ”, and the hollows in the rocks, and the shallow ponds along the sandy shores, were full of interesting Mollusks, and curious Crustaceans. If you climb the mountains, in some of the woody thickets you may chance to hear the beautiful golden Cuckoo, uttering at intervals its short, sharp note, or you may observe large showy-looking Shrikes, darting about, busily intent on prey, lively Creepers, clinging, in sportive attitudes, to the over-hanging boughs, and the pretty Wood-pecker (Dendrohates griseocephalus)^ climbing up and down the