IX THE CORAL COUNTRY. 



Tom handed him the scoop-net, and Long 

 John, dexterously inserting it beneath the fish, 

 landed him on the wall. It looked much like a 

 common porgie, bat when Long John, telling the 

 boys to watch, touched the fish with his knife, 

 to their surprise a sharp, knife-life weapon darted 

 out of a sheath near the fish's tail, and was as 

 suddenly sheathed again. 



" Gracious ! it's a regular knife, isn't it ? " ex- 

 claimed Dick, with wide-open eyes. 



" You'd think so, if you should feel it," said 

 Long John. " Every fish that comes within 

 range thinks so, too, for this wicked little chap 

 gives 'em a slash, just as you saw him doing 

 when he flung 

 his tail round." 



" It is called 

 the Acantharus 

 chirurgus, which 

 may be transla- 

 ted surgeon- 

 fish," said the 

 doctor, as he touched the fish again, and the 

 ugly -looking knife was thrust forth. 



lluwksbill or shell turtle (Caretta imbricata). 



