2 2 BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 



three species. On Norman's Key, wild hogs are abundant, and afford 

 good sport; but dogs are required to hunt them successfuhy. Cattle 

 were at one time also found here, but of late years none have been 

 seen. Among these keys sponges are very plentiful, and are much 

 sought after by the negroes ; hardly a day passed without our meet- 

 ing one or more of their small boats. In gathering the sponges, the 

 negroes use an instrument resembling an eel-spear, having a strong- 

 iron prong attached to the end of a stout pole, with which they 

 detach the sponges from the rocks. They also use a " water-glass," 

 a simple construction, made in the shape of an oblong box, one end 

 being closed by a pane of glass, leaving the other end open. By 

 holding the glass end submerged, small objects can easily be seen 

 at the depth of fifteen or twenty feet. Many of the negroes are very 

 expert divers, and descend thirty-five or forty feet, and often much 

 deeper, in search of the finer qualities of sponges, which are only 

 to be found in deep water. Although sharks are very numerous 

 the negroes do not seem to mind them in the least, and enter the 

 water anywhere with perfect impunity. 



We had expected to find water-birds very abundant, but were 

 disappointed. Marsh -birds were also scarce, although the long 

 beaches and numerous marshes seemed to offer excellent feeding, 

 grounds. We procured a few scattered birds of different species, 

 but were not sorry when one morning, a few days later, finding birds 

 as scarce as ever, and having a fair wind, we turned our backs 

 on the keys and directed our course for Andros, that much-talked-of 

 but little-known island. 



