Narratu'E of Bahama Expedition. 99 



this station. Oculhia van'cosa, Porites clavaria, Sidcrasirea 

 i^alaxea, Mcandn'iia siniiosa, and 3f. clivosn, were found attain- 

 ing a respectable size and apparently thriving in water that 

 was very impure, so much so that the occurrence of reef-build- 

 ing corals was a surprise to us. 



At night the water was alive with a laro;e and beautiful 

 ■species of ctenophore. It would be hard to find more beauti- 

 ful objects than these animals as they appeared in the collecting 

 tubs, with the luminous waves of light pulsating rhythmically 

 along the ambulacral zones. When free on the surface of the 

 waters of the bay these acalephs move with considerable 

 speed, tracing curves and circles of fire which intersect each 

 other in a bewildering maze of brightness. 



A large number of very fine actinians were found at Bahia 

 Honda . Indeed these beautiful forms were more abundant 

 here than at any other station at which we collected. Various 

 experiments were made with a view to ascertaining a satis- 

 factory method of killing these animals with the tentacles fully 

 expanded. The best success attended the use of water heated 

 to a point just bearable with the hand. A sudden immersion • 

 in this water killed a number of specimens expanded in a very 

 satisfactory manner. One species w^ith exceedingly long non- 

 retractile tentacles was found to have stinging powers much 

 more pronounced than was possessed by any other species. 

 The tentacles not being able to seek safety in retraction, had 

 evidently secured immunity from attack b}- unusuall}- effective 

 nematocysts. 



Miss Bertha Wilson has kindly furnished the following- 

 notes on the flora of this region: 



'• The plants found at Bahia Honda were similar to those 

 secured at Egg Island. Along the shore the sea-loving cocoa- 

 nut spread its feathery tops, and underneath bristled the 

 Agave or Pita-plants as before, intermixed with the prickly- 

 pear cactus. 



" The mangrove swamps are quite extensive, and we were 

 given a good opportunity to study these curiosities, wiiich 

 year by year are stealing the land from the ocean. Thev 



