INTRODUCTION 

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In the Island of Jc-jnaica, at the west side of the mouth of 

 Kingston Harbor, there is a large pona of salt '.v--.i.er cornpl^bely 

 separated from the sea by a sana boach, wiach au its narro'/esu 

 pari is several rods in vyiduh. It is said, ho^^ever, by tliose 

 who livG near, that in times of storm or freshet this barrier 

 is sometimes broken through. 



One morning in June, 1801, '-'r. (r. W. Field ;vhile hunLing 

 birds along thb seaward shore of this pond, came upon a little 

 jbay connected witli it by a narrow inlet. This bay is overhung 

 by low cashaw ana mangrove trees. At one side is a sunny, sandy 

 spot, where a crocodile had made its bed and from tiiis there 

 'was a fresh zigzag mark left by its tail when it last slid in- 

 to tiie -.'/aver. Upon tht:-. submerged roots of Uie mangroves were 

 to be founa barnacles and sea anemones, but the most inoerest- 

 iing thing observed was a collection of beautiful rhizostoma- 

 'tous mf^ausae, Lhat, at one end of the bay, completely covered 

 the bottom, to the verj edge of the wauer. A fev very small 

 specimens mighL be seen swimming about, but most of Lhe medu- 

 sae, especially the larger ones, would nob leave tne bottom un- 

 less they were disturbed. They lay thsre upon theii* backs with 

 -their voluminous, branching mouth pai'ts spread out oYer their 



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