Narrative of Bahama Expedition. 121 



the head. There were twelve round spots in a row separat- 

 ing the sides from the ventral portion of the bod}'. A small 

 species of llounder, a minute mackerel, an Aiitcnnarius such 

 as we found in lloating sea-weed in the Gulf Stream, and a 

 ••midshipman" [Poricht/iys) were dredged in the channel to 

 the north-west of Garden Key. A. beautiful little purple 

 striped species was found living a parasitic life among the 

 tentacles of the Portuguese man-o"-war. It was comical to 

 see the evident consternation of these little fellows when their 

 host was suddenlv lifted out of the water. One specimen 

 was found dead among the tentacles. It would be interesting 

 to discover whether the tish are immune from the nemato- 

 cvsts with which the tentacles are packed, or whether the 

 Physalia derives some benefit from their presence and refrains 

 from using its weapons. That the fish itself finds excellent 

 protection admits of little doubt. Its colors, striped purple 

 and white, or at least light, assimilate admirably with those 

 of the tentacles among which it lives. Almost everv Ph\- 

 salia that we saw while at the Tortugas had its little company 

 of fish swimminc: alon^j amon^j the tentacles. 



K^ cy c5 



'• The insects taken at the Tortugas were necessarih' rather 

 few in number of species, since so barren a collecting ground 

 could hardlv be very productive. So far as known, some of 

 the more interesting may be thus specified: 



•• x\mong the Hvmenoptera. Oxybclns c)nargi}iatiis Say is 

 the sole representative of the Aculeata. x\ number of ants 

 were found, however, in the sand or beaten from bushes, 

 among which Mr. Pergande has recognized Camj)onotus tor- 

 tuganiti Em., Tetramoriuni cccspitiim Linn., Tetramoriiun 

 gninccnsc Fabr. and Phcidoh megacefhala Fabr. A little 

 Lycamid was the only Lepidopterous insect at all conspicuous. 

 The Coleoptera were given the largest share of attention and 

 consequentlv furnish the longest list of species. Along the 

 beach, under \ sea-weed, were found Cafius bistrmius Er., 

 Actlnopteryx fucicola Allib., Phaleria longida Lee. and Pha- 

 Jcria picipes Sav. The carapaces of two immense turtles 

 which were laid out on the beach of Bird Kev to cure, 



