CAYO HUT I A AND THE REEF 59 



fifteen feet away and could be perfectly seen by 

 tilting the water-glass at an angle and gazing 

 obliquely down. Through the refractive and 

 magnifying medium of water, clear as crystal, all 

 details were exaggerated in size and color pro- 

 ducing an exquisite effect. As in some luminous 

 gleaming atmosphere lay a dreamland where 

 rocks and stones are alive, and miniature trees and 

 huge flowers are animals ; where the gentle swaying 

 of its vegetation is indescribably graceful; where 

 all is aglow in color and grotesque in form; where 

 all is mystery and enchantment. 



The thought comes that this prosaic water pail 

 with its window-glass bottom has suddenly become 

 bewitched, to enable one to peer into realms never 

 intended for mortal gaze. But this fairyland of 

 the sea, like some fantasy of the imagination, is no 

 welcome place for the vulnerable body of a human 

 being. Everything there, however beautiful in its 

 soft liquid medium, is a merciless enemy. The 

 black diademas, with long needle-sharp spines, 

 would pierce his flesh, and the dreaded green 

 moray eels lurking about would lacerate him like 

 vicious serpents. The lovely little polyps that 

 project like tiny pinkish and brown tufts from the 



