270 Natural History Investlgatiom in Florida Waters. 



it readily takes root wherever there is the least soil, they grow in the 

 water as well as out and form a regular net work of roots on the edge 

 of the key, thus providing a protection for them and at the same time 

 retaining the debris that may be washed ashore. This process may be 

 seen best at Markesas, where a shallow lagoon is fast filling up iu the 

 manner mentioned. But to study all the wonders of this southern 

 clime would require months and I had only weeks. So having com- 

 pleted our work at Key West, and our vessel being completely fitted 

 out for another cruise, we, on the morning of Feb. 17, sailed out of 

 the harbor with a lively breeze and headed lor the North to study the 

 Fauna of some other localities. A six hours' run of thirty-five miles 

 and we anchored at Bahiahonda Key, a low barren island overgrown 

 with mangroves and oabbage-palms. (Chamcerops iMhiietto), we 

 found that a portion of the key had been recently separated from the 

 other part by some tremendous storm. A strong current now ran be- 

 tween the two. In our little "dingy" we crossed this and found on 

 the barren rocky island some interesting species. Nerita pdorontif, 

 (Lam.,) grow here to a very large size. The other species found here 

 were, N. tessellata, (Lam.,) Lit. muricata, (Lam.,) Lit. angulifera, 

 (Lam.,) Lit. nodulosa, (Desheyes), Phorus corrugatus, (Reeve), (rare), 

 Avicula atlantica, (Lam.,) Modiola sulcata, (Lam.,) a species that is 

 limited as to range in this region, Modiola tulipa, (Lam.,) Strombm 

 bitiiherculatus, (Lam.,) Area none, (L.) Manjiiiella apicina, (Mke.,) 

 Marg. roscida, (Redf.,) Cardium isocardia, (L.) In a lagoon I ob- 

 tained specimens of Bulla occidentalis, (Ad.,) Cerith. ehurnenm, 

 (Brug.,) Cerith. litteratum, (Born.) All the above were live species. 

 In the shallow waters adjacent, were Holothuria, Echinus, and star- 

 fish in abundance. Our work here occupied the rest of the day, so 

 we lay at anchor to-night off the key at the entrance, to what is called 

 Yaccas Bay. Some ten or twelve coral built islands form a sort of 

 harbor ten miles long and four or five wide. Numerous channels di- 

 vide these keys. The waters are quite shallow and we were frequent- 

 ly able to walk around and collect on the bars, keeping a good look- 

 out for the tide and sharks. The tiger-shark is said to have a par- 

 ticular fondness for legs, as yet, we had not taken any on this trip, 

 but our harpoons were in readiness and the boys were anxious to get 

 a regular old " man eater. " While we lay at anchor this evening, I 

 counted over thirty small schooners within ten miles of us. These were 

 engaged in sponge fishing. And Vaccas Bay is a favorite sponging 

 ground. The next morning we sailed up to Vaccas Key, and intend- 

 ing to spend a day here anchored off the island. The results of our 

 work embraced some interesting species. -Chiton piceus, (Gmel.,) were 



