THE BOOK ABOUT THE SEA GARDENS 



silky fur, others rough and granulated. The 

 deep sienna-yellow one is known as coral weed. It 

 is not found in great abundance, but may be pro- 

 cured upon Dick Spank Bar, a shallow bar oppo- 

 site the Hermitage, beyond the Eastern Fort. 

 This is one of the best bars for collecting near 

 Nassau. 



Most of the weeds have no local or popular 

 names, but two readily recognisable ones are the 

 tough sea rod with its wiry branches, and the 

 dagonium, a cluster of four-sided spiked purple 

 leaves upon which the poisonous sea wasp is occa- 

 sionally found. 



Coral With regard to coral it is different. 

 There are local names for most of the principal 

 varieties. The large circular pieces of brain coral, 

 which are so dangerous to boats in the shallows, 

 are often called negro heads. The baby-brain 

 coral is similar but of smaller pattern. The stag- 

 horn, cabbage, and butterfly coral which by the 

 way stings the unwary and may cause consider 

 able annoyance for twenty-four hours may easily 

 be recognised once they are known. Only an ex- 

 pert can know all the forty-two varieties of local 

 coral, and a visit to Mr. Kemp of Nassau East is 

 probably the quickest means of learning about 

 them. It is amazing how the magnifying glass 

 will distinguish between two corals which to the 

 naked eye are identical. Probably a complete 



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