Natu'cal Hidory Investigations in Florida Waters. 271 



clinging to the rocks by hundreds. We found some thirty fine speci- 

 mens of Turbinella muricatum, (Lam.,) near the key in shallow 

 water. Uros. cinereus, (Say), and TurbineUa eingvJifera, (Lam.,) were 

 abundant. 3Iarg. guttata, (Dill.,) this fine shell seems to be rare. Of 

 Asterioidea, we obtained specimens of Oreaster gigas, (Lut.) very large, 

 and A. floridanus, (V.) Arbacia punctulata , (Gray), we obtained some. 

 The fish were represented by a number of interesting species, such as 

 the toad and cow-fish. I examined the land closely but found no 

 species of mollusks differing from those previously stated. On one of 

 the keys we added to our Commissary department a number of cocoa 

 nuts, the milk in them was very welcome. The pa-paw (Carica pa- 

 paya'), grows here as elsewhere. No human soul inhabits these lone- 

 ly islands. The "spongers," however, use them for drying their 

 sponges after they have kept them in pens built in the water near by, 

 for a week or so, and until the gelatinous matter is expelled by the 

 action of the waves. We had here a fine opportunity to study sponges 

 on their native ground, but not being al)le to embrace the whole 

 • realm of nature in our investigations and thinking something smaller 

 would do just as well, we did nothing beyond getting a few specimens 

 of the different kinds, such as glove, finger, sheeps wool, and log- 

 gerhead. Having looked over as much ground as possible, we loaded 

 up our collections and on a stormy morning set out for Sandy Key, 

 across Florida Bay some twenty miles. The sun shone brightly but 

 the wind blew a gale. However, it was in the right direction to shove 

 us along at the rate of seven knots an hour, with only our mainsail 

 set. So we enjoyed the fun, sea sickness never troubled me, buf my 

 companions du voyage were not so fortunate. The Doctor found 

 some relief though, by lying down on the deck and chewing cabbage 

 palm, until the monitor within warned him to desist. In less than 

 three hours we were at Sandy Key, and it is well named, being only 

 a mile long and not more than ten rods Avide in the broadest part. 

 There being no harbor we were obliged to anchor at some distance on 

 account of shoal water. The little vessel bumped around lively, but 

 there was no help for it, and so we all went ashore in the " dingy " to 

 ascertain what we could find. (jetting ashore was a work of some 

 difficulty, but none ©f us were afraid of a little salt water, as we went 

 plunging in over the breakers. The Doctor and myself began at once 

 to examine the island. The trees we noticed to be larger than any we 

 had seen, and among them I saw the mastic gum, a sight that did me 

 good, for I knew they were the favorite resort of certain land shells. 

 In a short time I found Orthalicus zebra, hibernating about ten feet 

 from the ground. The gum-tree has a smooth and slippery bark but 



