Nakrati\'K of Ijaiiama 1^>.\i'i:i)Iti()n. 91' 



the represL'ntati\'c of the United States Government had 

 received this really splendid donation with open contempt, 

 asserting that the specimens zvcrc not m'lioids. What mental 

 pictiux' of the crinoid iiad established itself in the brain of this 

 official we never discovered, but we left with the conviction 

 that our representative might ignorantly discredit our attempted 

 courtesy in the eyes of the Cuban officials. From this time 

 on an abrupt change was noticed in the attitude of the author- 

 ities toward the expedition, which was at least suggestive of 

 adverse influence. Certain it is that no more superb specimens 

 of these rare and beautiful forms are possessed by any museum 

 in America than those which were thus wasted on account 

 of the misconception of the Consul General. 



Our schooner w^as thoroughly examined b}' the United 

 States Examining Phvsician. who gave a clean bill of health, 

 but told us that we would probably be quarantined at Key 

 West, for w^hich we cleared, although this was not the next 

 ■Station at which we designed to work. 



All our emptv water barrels were filled at HaNana, we 

 being assured that the water supplied was excellent, as indeed 

 it seemed to be. A few barrels full were caught during a 

 heavy rain-se|uall, when all hands turned to and had a regular 

 w'ash-day, resulting in a good clean stock of towels and clothes. 



The next morning, May 30th, we left Havana for the last 

 time, well satisfied with our visit to the '• Queen of the West 

 Indies," and 3'et anxious to try our fortunes in other fields. 

 We could not resist the temptation to make one more haul at 

 the pentacrinus grounds before leaving the region for good, 

 and sent dowm the tangles, which came over the rail with five 

 good '• sea lilies " and a number of fine serpent-stars, after 

 which we set sail for the port of Bahia Honda, situated on a 

 bay of that name, about fiftv miles west of Havana, in lati- 

 tude 23°. longitude 83° 13'. The wind was ver\' light, although 

 fair, and the heat more oppressive than it had been thus far 

 while we were at sea. The deck was newl}' oiled and the tar, 

 liquid with the heat and mixed with the oil, made a pasty 

 stickiness that was anything but a happy combination. That 



