BAHAMAN TRIP 



5 



outer side so that the point projects outward. Nostrils are double, 

 the one nearest the median line being covered by a flap of skin. The 

 head viewed from above is very obtuse, almost truncate, and the eye 

 is just visible; gill openings fine. There are two dorsals; one, slightly 

 in advance of half the distance between the pectorals and ventrals, 

 is about as high as long, with a point projecting behind half as long as 

 base of fin. Second dorsal is almost opposite the anal fin, but slightly 

 in advance of it. There is a pit at base of caudal fin, both above and 

 below. The upper lobe of caudal fin twice as long as lower lobe and 

 has notch in lower edge near the end. The ventrals are quite close to 

 the anal, so that the subcylindrical claspers touch the anal. The 

 pectorals are large and are continued behind near the base. Length 

 of shark from fork of tail to end of nose, 8 feet 4 inches ; from tip of 

 tail, 10 feet 4 inches. Parasites taken from shark : (i) A Remora-like 

 fish; (2) a crustacean found in gill-slit; (3) leechlike parasite from 

 roof of mouth one and three-quarters inches in length when fully ex- 

 tended. 



March 5. Dug for Balanoglossus in the sand near Dix Point. 

 Their holes are marked by a pile of castings. The holes extend down- 

 ward, usually with a curve, to the rock. Followed one of the holes 

 down straight about ten inches, then along in a spiral for about eigh- 

 teen inches to the rock, where I found a Balanoglossus. Followed two 

 more holes, but lost them before reaching the animal. When found, the 

 whole animal is surrounded by a transparent gelatinous coating. Laid 

 one on paper; when extended, it is twelve inches in length. Put one 

 in fresh water, caused strong contraction; added some alcohol to salt 

 water, caused contraction and a discharge of mucus, like the white of 

 an egg. Shortly after added considerably more alcohol. 



March 6. Balanoglossus in very bad condition this morning. 

 They are coated with mucus, and so soft they will hardly hold together. 



[July 5. (After our return from Andros.) Went out to Ryswick 

 and dug more Balanoglossus. Some were over two feet long. When 

 an animal was laid on paper, the slime was strongly luminous with a 

 greenish light that was visible within five feet of a strong kerosene 

 lamp. The light was strongest between the folds of skin near the cen- 

 ter of the body.] 



After two months collecting on New Providence, we found little 

 new material; the supply of alcohol was nearly exhausted, and we 



