156 ALONG THE FLORIDA REEF. 



dragging the boat, there being just water 

 enough to float her without them. The coral 

 was nearly all a madrepore, with short branches 

 growing in clumps, forming quite distinct but 

 winding channels all over the reef ; in these the 

 boys kept, the water not being over knee-deep. 

 Their method of taking specimens was to tear 

 up a bunch of coral and lift it into the boat, 

 upon which the crabs, star-fishes, shells, and sea- 

 eggs, that made their home there, would drop 

 off, and those that clung to it could be picked 

 off, after which the coral was exchanged for an- 

 other bunch. 



" Good gracious ! what's this ? " exclaimed 

 Harry, who had lifted up a bunch of coral on 

 which appeared something that looked like a 

 ball of snakes slowly twisting and coiling in 

 every possible position. As he raised it the- 

 curious arms commenced to drop apart, falling 

 into the water in a perfect shower. 



The doctor, who was watching Harry, laughed 

 heartily at the ludicrous appearance presented 

 by the discoverer. Afraid to drop it around his 

 feet, or to move, there he stood, holding at arm's 



