Where grass or hay cannot be procured, voyagers will find the succulent stem and leaves of this plant, as well as the leaves of the Dracæna terminalis, an excellent substitute, for feeding goats and other animals.
THE INHABITANT OF THE NAUTILUS POMPILIUS.
(See page 399, vol. i.)
It was on the 24th of August, 1829, (calm and fine weather, thermometer at noon 79°,) in the evening, when the ship Sophia was lying at anchor in Marakini Bay, on the south-west side of the island of Erromanga, one of the New Hebrides Group, Southern Pacific Ocean, that something was seen floating on the surface of the water, at some distance from the ship; to many it appeared like a small dead tortoiseshell cat, which would have been such an unusual object to be seen in this part of the world, that the boat which was alongside the ship at the time, was sent for the purpose of ascertaining the nature of the floating object.
On approaching near, it was observed to be the shell-fish, commonly known by the name of the Pearly Nautilus; (Nautilus pompilius;) it was captured and brought on board, but the shell was shattered from having been struck with the boat-hook in capturing it, as the animal was sinking, when the boat approached, and had it not been so damaged would have escaped.
I extracted the fish in a perfect state, which was firmly attached to each side of the upper cavity of the shell. On being brought on board, I observed it retract the tentacula still closer than before, and this was the only sensation of vitality it gave after being caught; I preserved the soft parts immediately in spirits, after making a rude pen and ink sketch of its form.
On breaking the lower part of the shell, the chambers, or cavities, were found filled with water.
The hood has been stated by Dr. Shaw (Lectures, vol. ii. p. 165) “as being of a pale reddish purple colour, with deeper spots and variegations;” the colour, however, as it appeared in this recent specimen, was of a dark reddish brown, in fact, resembling the colour produced by the Koka on the stained cloth of the Tongatabu natives, intermingled with white.
We had fine weather—light winds and calms, a day or two previous to this animal being caught.