IN THE CORAL COUNTRY. 41 



bouse on the edge of the channel by the wharf. 

 It was built on dead coral rock, and out from 

 it into the water extended an inclosure of the 

 same, with a smooth concrete walk on top. The 

 basin so formed was a natural aquarium, and 

 having been stocked from time to time by Long 

 John and Chief, had now been handed over to 

 the naturalist as an experimental station. 



As they came up, the party found Long John 

 sitting on an upturned barrel, with a knife in 

 one hand and a piece of conch in the other, 

 from which he was shaving pieces and tossing 

 them to a motley crowd of fishes that scurried 

 to the surface. The fish were so tame that they 

 almost jumped out of the water in their efforts 

 to reach the bait. 



The fish were new to the boys, and most in- 

 teresting, owing to the great variety of shapes 

 and colors. 



" Isn't that an angel-fish ? " asked Tom, as in 

 and out among John's queer pets darted a fish 

 of gorgeous hues. Slashes of blue, gold, brown, 

 and white covered its body, while the long dor- 

 sal and ventral fins gave the marine dandy a 



