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Natural History Bulletin, 



manship, for he succeeded in hack/ii^- the schooner out of the 

 channel as neatly as though she had steam propulsion. With 

 consummate skill his orders were given and executed, ever^• 

 pull at the halliards and sheets having the exact effect upon 

 which he had calculated. A glance at the sea-wall opposite 

 ^iorro Castle showed that it was black with people, who real- 

 ized that a wreck was imminent. Slowl}- and steadih' the 

 •• Emih' *" glided stern first, back past the grim port-holes of 

 •• El Morro.'' until she reached blue water and put about. 



It being impracticable to get into harbor that night, it was 

 decided to spend one more day on the pentacrinus grounds, 

 and then we tried the channel with better success, the 

 •' Emilv " being forced to make almost the entire circuit of 

 the harbor on account of a big steamer blocking the direct 

 w'av to our anchorage. A stiff breeze sent the schooner cut- 

 Xm'Z throuH'h the water like a ^•acht. as she dodged in and out 

 among the various craft, and at last dropped anchor, as 

 before, among the Spanish cruisers. 



Sunda}', Mav 28th, was passed in resting and in visiting the 

 city and Botanical Gardens. This is the day on which one 

 sees the people of a Spanish city to the best advantage. In 

 the evening, especially, the military concert in Parka Centrale 

 seemed to attract a multitude of citizens of the better classes. 



The next day was spent in preparation to leave for our next 

 station. The American Consul General had requested us, in 

 case we were successful in securing Pentacn'iiiis. to present 

 one to each of three or four prominent officials, in recog- 

 nition of courtesies extended to us. This we were perfectly 

 willing to do. and five superb specmiens of Pentacrinus were 

 selected and placed in separate jars bought for the purpose. 

 Three of these were taken to the office of the Consul, in 

 order that through him thev might be presented to the Gov- 

 ernor General and Secretary General of Cuba. One was 

 taken for the Consul himself, who had incidentally mentioned 

 that a similar favor was extended by the •• Albatross" when 

 she dredged pentacrini off Morro Castle. The gentleman 

 who delivered these specimens returned with the report that 



