16 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



tination, and with joy we saw the burly captain on the 

 bridge turn round, look at us for a moment, and then apply 

 his mouth to the speaking tube, and we fancied we almost 

 heard the obvious " stop her," which enabled us two min- 

 utes later to dash alongside the steamship St. Seiriol (most 

 appropriately named), and, fastening our painter round 

 her rail, clamber on board, state our case, and claim the 

 protection and help of our patron saint with such success 

 that Captain Hughes most kindly welcomed us, and agreed 

 to tow^ our little punt down to somewhere near Puffin 

 Island. The St. Seiriol was bound to Dingwall with a 

 cargo of slates. A good little boat she is, with a worthy 

 captain, and we had half a mind to go the whole round 

 in her. However, business is business, and the lowest 

 spring tide of the year was awaiting us, so after photo- 

 graphing Captain Hughes and the crew with our Kodaks, 

 we were cast off in the little punt in the middle of the 

 stormy channel, through which the tide runs with great 

 force, between Anglesey and Puffin, and so we made our 

 way to the shore, to the great astonishment of Dr. 

 Hanitsch, who did not expect to see us till some hours 

 later. 



During the remainder of our stay the weather was per- 

 fect. In fact, on the second day it was so calm that in the 

 evening at low tide we were able to row into the wonder- 

 ful " sponge caves " on the north side (which can only be 

 entered at the lowest of tides and on a calm day, and then 

 only in a small boat), and inspect their treasures. The 

 two large caves are close together, and have been hollow^ed 

 by the sea out of the bases of the high limestone cliffs. 

 Their mouths face seawards towards the Irish coast, and 

 on entering the boat has to be pushed (it is too narrow to 

 row) through a long tunnel-like passage, with vertical walls, 

 to the inner end, with its small piece of sloping gravel 



