200 Natural History Bulletin. 



Our main object in going to Spanish Wells was to give 

 the students a^further opportunity to study the wealth of ani- 

 mal life about a typical coral reef. It will be remembered 

 that at the Dry Tortugas we were unable to study the outer 

 face of the reef on account of its exposure to the swell, which 

 would have been dangerous to small boats. Moreover, most 

 of the Madrepores had been killed by unusually low tides. 

 My previous experience at Spanish Wells had shown what 

 could be seen of the reefs there, and given confidence that a 

 visit by our students would be of great educational value. 

 About a mile to the west and a little north of the entrance to 

 the harbor, is a rocky mass known as •• Pier Rock," and 

 around this the water is shallow, although the rock itself has 

 been exca^'ated at the water-line into various shelves and 

 crannies and cool retreats suitable for occupancy by a great 

 variety of marine forms, especially gorgonians, mollusks, sea- 

 anemones and tube-dwelling worms. Although we did not 

 expect to lind any great zoological rarities, we did expect, and 

 rightly, that there would here be excellent opportunity to 

 study a number of these animals at home in their appropriate 

 surroundings. 



About a mile to the north of Spanish Wells is a patch of 

 genuine coral reef growing most luxuriantly and protected 

 from the wind during a greater part of the time, so that it can 

 be visited safely by small boats, in which one can cruise along 

 the ou!:er face of this reef and study the ever enchanting forms 

 of life in a leisurely and satisfactory manner. 



Both men and boats were very cheap at Spanish Wells, and 

 we found it better to employ the natives with their sail-boats 

 than to use our own, and thus secured a greater degree of real 

 comfort in our work than at anv other station. We had long- 

 since discovered that the romance of pulling at the ponderous 

 oars of a ship's boat was terminated by the first real experi- 

 ence, and were more than ready to employ the native sail- 

 boats and their owners, who are all skillful boatmen, tlioroughly 

 acquainted with the surrounding coast and reef. 



I doubt if anything else during our voyage was enjoyed by 



