46 Natural History Buli-etin. 



Phxanra dichotuina. Eiinicea and Pterogorgia were also 

 secured. Good specimens of these with expanded polyps were 

 preserved by plunging the entire zoanthodeme. expanded, into 

 water as warm as could be borne by the hand. Plcxaiira 

 dichotonm is an excellent species for use in class work, 

 especially when fresh, the various characters of the family 

 Gorgonidas being well shown. 



In the evening all who were able to handle a scalpel helped 

 to extricate the ornithologists from the difficulties which 

 they had brought upon themselves by their activity in collect- 

 ing during the day. The top of the cabin made an excellent 

 table for dissecting and skmning the birds. 



Specimens collected in the tropics must be promptly attended 

 to. and never left over night, unless an ice-box is available. 

 We soon found that it would not do to attempt any dissecting 

 below, as many specimens became tainted before they could 

 be disposed of. 



Sunday, May 14th. Captain Flowers got the schooner 

 under way, bound for Havana via Stirrup Key. w^hich bears 

 west northwest from Egg Island, and marks the entrance to 

 the " N. W. Providence Channel" of the charts. During the 

 entire cruise Sunday work was discouraged. When the 

 weather permitted, service \vas held at the usual hour in the 

 morning, and the remainder of the day was spent in reading, 

 writing and resting. 



This Sabbath was a typical West Indian day. with a fair 

 wind, affording a •■ free sheet."' which was a delight after sail- 

 ing close-hauled for so long. '• Hole in the Wall," at the 

 southern extremity of Abaco. was sighted about noon, and at 

 six p. :\i. Stirrup Key was made, and the •• Emily " dropped 

 anchor for the night. Captain Flowers preferring daylight for 

 entering upon the •• Banks." 



The •• Great Bahama Bank" is a submerged plateau or sand 

 flat, extending westward from Andros Island and the numer- 

 ous islets of the Berry group, the greatest length being over 

 two hundred nautical miles, and the width south of Andros 

 over one hundred miles. The average width is about sixty 



