i62 THE STORY OF A BIRD LOVER 



This ethnological work and zoological collect- 

 ing occupied us constantly until the third week 

 in January, when I determined, for various reasons, 

 to proceed farther southward. There are a num- 

 ber of events connected with my work and resi- 

 dence here that I have not recorded, such as the 

 collecting of porpoises for their skeletons, and the 

 search for the absolute mouth of the river, many 

 fishing parties, and constant trips to procure sup- 

 plies of fresh water, for it did not rain during the 

 time we were on this island. Almost every day 

 was cloudless, the cycles of sunshine were contin- 

 uous. 



Chartering a small schooner at Cedar Keys, 

 whose skipper was familiar with the little towns 

 and settlements of the Gulf Coast, all the col- 

 lections and impedimenta were duly loaded, a 

 most heterogeneous cargo. Everything being 

 ready, one morning we sailed away southward. 

 The collections were stored below, taking most 

 of the available space. Cots, tents, rocking-chairs, 

 and kitchen utensils littered the deck, v/hich so 

 loaded afforded scant room for the passengers. 

 When we reached the open Gulf, where the sea 

 was running, Mary, our faithful maid and friend, 

 was tied fast to the mast, that she might not 

 roll over the low bulwarks, for in smoothest 

 water she was the prostrate victim of seasickness. 



Captain Kanty dwelt much on the beauties of 



