18 ALONG THE FLORIDA 11EEF. 



base-ball is really the nest of a peculiar fish, 

 about four inches long, which lives on the sur- 

 face of the water in this gulf -weed. The nest 

 is made up, as you see, of pieces of sargassum, 

 wound in and out, and matted together in a cu- 

 rious fashion, and then held in its spherical shape 

 by bands of a glutinous secretion from the fish 

 that look like strings of jelly." 



When the nest had been opened, the eggs 

 of the fish were found fastened to the leaves in 

 great numbers ; and Dick, who still retained 

 some of the loose pieces, w ? as fortunate enough 

 to find the odd fish itself. 



"It is the Antennarius" said the doctor; 

 "and a more curious fellow could scarcely be 

 imagined. You will notice that he mimics the 

 color of the sea- weed." 



" And see," added Dick, " these things that 

 look like bits of the weed on its head and fins 

 are really part of its flesh." 



The doctor had placed the prize in a pail 

 of water, and, continuing, said : " They are 

 slow swimmers, you see," as the fish moved 

 lazily about, " and prefer to lie undisturbed 



