78 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [Marcll, 



with rather broad white sandy beaches. Some places along these 

 beaches are studded with mangroves, affording excellent shelter, 

 when overhanging, for many fishes. Along a number of the Keys 

 w^ere flat embankments covered with long grass, and in other places 

 coconut groves, as that on Boca Chica Key. jNIany Keys were covered 

 with more fertile areas in which various tropical plants, shrubs and 

 trees were found in abundance, often studded here and there with 

 cacti, and sometimes presenting an impenetrable barrier. Throughout 

 the Keys we visited the water is comparatively shallow. In some 

 places reefs are formed where the most beautiful of tropical marine 

 animal life abounds in luxuriance. Most of these places, we were in- 

 formed, are constantly though gradually shifting, so that new charts 

 are needed from time to time to show the changes in depth and to- 

 pography. Some of the shallows are left entirely dry by the tides, and 

 others are covered with large beds of sea-wrack. In such places many 

 wading-birds find an abundant supply of food. We found a few pools 

 on certain of the larger Keys, such as Big Pine, Summerland and 

 Little Pine. They are of rather brackish-water, though I did not taste 

 of all. 



Hailer's Rock is a small flat or low island of sand-heaped rocks, with 

 a growth here and there of a few low bushes. The southern end is of 

 bare dry rocks running well out to sea and leaving numerous tide- 

 pools. These pools vary in size and depth from some of a few inches 

 in extent to others of several feet. Here such gaudj^ and tropical 

 fishes as the Cock Eye Pilot, Sheep's Head, Rock Fish, and School- 

 master were found. The Rock Fish, or Gobies and Blennies, are 

 colored much like their surroundings, and trust in great part to this 

 for concealment. Some are pale and others are dark. They dart 

 swiftly from place to place when disturbed, much after the manner of 

 our own Darters, or else hide in crevices. Though they were active, 

 I secured a number by hand with a little trouble. 



While off Key West we saw cetaceans, evidently a species of Del- 

 phinus. The Opossum and Raccoon were reported from Key West. 

 and the latter also from Sugar Loaf, Big and Little Pine Keys. I saw 

 a Rabbit on Big Pine Key and a Deer on Sugar Loaf. Deer were 

 found former!}' on Little Pine Key, but were now believed to be absent. 

 Though I did not see the Wood Rat on Summerland Key, I was in- 

 formed that they sometimes climb the trees to feed on fruits, such as 

 the sapadilla. 



