Tue Fiorina Keys 3 
‘What is a tomato, a fruit or a vegetable?” This is 
not surprising since no braneh of biological science is 
included in the curriculum of the Naval Academy; and a 
midshipman may graduate without the slightest notion 
of what an animal or a plant is or of the general rudiments 
of botany and zoology, the formation of coral ae the 
eauses of ocean currents, or other kindred su | 
Darwin, in his letters, speaks of the pene of the 
officers of the Beagle toward his work while he was at- 
tached to that vessel as naturalist. The executive officer, 
or first lieutenant, he says, referred to his collections as 
“beastly devilment,” and declared: “If I were skipper, 
I would soon have you and all your d—d mess out of the 
place.”* Huxley encountered the same spirit on board 
the Rattlesnake. “The singular disrespect with which 
the majority of naval officers regard everything that as 
lies beyond the sphere of routine,” he writes, ‘tends to — 
produce a tone of feeling very unfavorable to scientific 
exertions.” _ a 
It was in consequence of my talk with Mr. pee 
that I resolved to fit myself for scientific collecting on — 
my future cruises; and I was afterwards sent to Yale 
University and the laboratory of the U. 8. Fish Commis-_ oe 
sion at Woods Holl with this object in view, chiefly through Le 
_ the caciteeate of Professor Charles E. Munroe, Rear Ad- 
Y aes was i Cocptaiis os the Poukiie: during part ok my tour : . 
ok Pac on board ee — wrap Admiral Bowman oo oe 
: MeCa lie 
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