CHAPTER VIII. 



LITTLE CAT ISLAND AND HOMEWARD BOUND. 



On the morning of July 13th, the boats were sent to collect 

 the gorgonians and madrepores that had been left on the 

 beach to dr}-, and returned loaded to the gunwales with a 

 magnificent collection of sea-fans, yellow and red, gorgonians 

 of a score of species, and Afadrcpora ccrvicornis or prolifera, 

 enough to suppl}' good specimens for all the party. These 

 branching corals required most careful handling, as they are 

 perhaps as brittle a substance as one could imagine. They 

 were carefully stowed in the long boat, and the sea-fans and 

 other gorgonians were tied in large bales and bundles and 

 stored in the hold. The work of packing the coral was com- 

 menced at once, and most of the branching madrepores were 

 safel}' stowed in barrels, with a packing of coarse grass 

 brought from Eleuthera several days previously and dried on 

 deck. 



In the afternoon we tried to get the schooner out of the 

 harbor, but failed on account of adverse winds. The next 

 day the wind was still unfavorable. The pilot had no desire 

 to put us aground again, and would not take avoidable risk. 

 A new species of shark was bought from the natives and 

 skinned, as well as a fine porcupine-fish, although handling 

 this exceedingly spiny species was attended with some danger 

 of rather troublesome wounds. In the afternoon we had a 

 grand swimming party over the side of the schooner, the last 

 event of the kind enjoyed during the cruise. Most of our 

 young men and women could swim by this time, and some 

 of the former were accomplished divers. Philip, the pilot, 

 demonstrated his ability to get bottom at a depth of five 



