ence to being bitten by these abominable creatures.

"Have patience, my friends!" cried Lejoillie, when he heard Carlos, Tim,
and me crying out as we slapped our hands and faces, and tried to drive
off our assailants; "recollect we are suffering in the cause of
science."

"All very well for you who get the honour and glory, but, for my part, I
hope never to endure such another night of misery again," cried Carlos.

Daylight came at last, when, going upon deck, we found ourselves in the
midst of a forest of mangroves, rising some forty or fifty feet above
the water, the lower branches, stems, and spider-like limbs, within
reach of high-tide, being completely covered with thick clusters of
oysters.

"Sure, do them shell-fish grow on the trees?" exclaimed Tim. "Though
I've been the world round, never did I see such curious fruit."

Captain Crump explained that the young oysters seize on every hard
object on which to fix themselves; and he pointed out the mud-banks,
where they lay three or four feet in depth Tim, jumping into the boat,
rowed off, and soon brought back several branches of oysters, which he
thought would serve us for breakfast. We found them, however, very
bitter to our taste.

The skipper told us they were called 'coon oysters, as the racoons are
very fond of them, or perhaps can get at them with greater ease than
they can obtain the common oyster. While we were watching the shore,
sure enough a racoon came down, and seizing several oysters which hung
just below the surface, picked them off the branch, and shaking them
violently backwards and forwards, ran back with his prize to a
convenient spot on the beach, where, with his teeth and claws, he opened
the shells, and speedily devoured the contents. Presently we saw him
dart into the water, and return with a handful of shrimps, which his
keen eyes had perceived; and he again immediately sat himself down to
devour them, giving each of them a pinch as he placed them by his side.
He appeared perfectly fearless of the neighbourhood of the vessel,
though, no doubt, had we been on shore with our dogs and guns, he would
quickly have concealed himself.

Lejoillie remained in the bows of the vessel watching its movements with
his gun ready. As soon as the poor 'coon had finished its meal,
destined to be its last, he fired, and over it fell, though still
struggling violently. Tim and another man immediately jumped into the
boat, and pulling to the shor