THE COASTS OF SICILY. 169 



walls and adorned the cracked ceilings, but which 

 had long since crumbled into dust from the corrosive 

 action of the damp sea air. The lofty windows, with 

 their rotten frames, seemed as if they would break 

 into fragments in our hands when we tried to open 

 them. Time had coated the few panes which still 

 remained with so thick a layer of dust, that they had 

 lost all transparency and seemed to be converted into 

 plates of ground glass. It need scarcely be observed 

 that there was nowhere a vestige of furniture, but 

 yet we were only too happy to meet with a lodging 

 of this kind, which afforded us shelter and ample 

 space for our investigations, within a few paces of 

 the sea. We lost no time in taking possession of 

 our new quarters. The panes of glass were washed, 

 and where they had been broken in the lower frames 

 their place was supplied by sheets of paper, to pro- 

 tect our working tables from the draughts which 

 might otherwise have interfered with our observa- 

 tions. Long planks, ranged side by side, and sup- 

 ported by firm wooden props, afforded admirable 

 standing room for the basins of sea-water destined 

 to receive our various animal treasures. The bed- 

 steads, on which we placed our mattresses, were con- 

 structed on similar principles, and our microscopes 

 were carefully placed in front of the windows. 

 Before the close of the day everything was ready, 

 and after partaking of a meal very similar to our 

 last night's supper, we tried to get rest and sleep 

 upon our planks, which were only softened by the 

 addition of the inch and a half of wool and cotton 

 which constituted our entire bedding. 



