CHAPTER VIII 



THE SEA AND THE DESERT 



THE next year I was constantly in Princeton, 

 confined closely to the work of extending the 

 growth of the museum. This had now assumed 

 such proportion that it was essential to have some 

 one working continually at the collections, keep- 

 ing them in repair and adding to the exhibits 

 material that had been accumulated from the 

 several expeditions. 



In the spring of 1881, having all the museum 

 matters well in hand, I made an expedition to 

 Cobb's Island on the coast of Virginia. Just 

 north of the capes of the Chesapeake, the eastern 

 shore of Virginia is protected by low, outlying 

 sand islands not unlike those found at various 

 points on the coast of New Jersey. Some of 

 these, notably Hog Island, are inhabited, and 

 Cobb's Island at this time afforded residence for 

 a family of settlers by the name of Cobb, who had 

 lived there many years, maintaining a house of 

 entertainment for sportsmen. As a sportsmen's 

 resort it was noted. The adjacent waters and 

 marshes teemed with bird life, the fishing was 



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