h its one
store, is a forlorn place.

The bright flashes of Body Island Light, ten miles distant, on the north
side of Oregon Inlet, showed me my next abiding-place.

The beach from Nag's Head to Oregon Inlet is destitute of trees, and the
wind sweeps across it, from the ocean to the sound, with great violence,
forcing the shallow waters to retire, and leaving the bottom dry as far
out as three miles.

The next day was very windy, and the long, finger-like, sandy shoals,
which extended one or two miles out into the sound, were covered with
only from three to eight inches of water. I could not hug the beach for
protection, but was forced to keep far out in the sound. Frequently it
became necessary to get overboard and wade, pushing my boat before me.
Then a deep channel between the shoals would be crossed; so, by _walking
and rowing_ in Roanoke Sound, with the wind blowing the water over the
canoe and drenching its captain, the roundabout twelve miles' passage to
Oregon Inlet was at last accomplished, and a most trying one it was.

Body Island Light House was erected in 1872, on the north side of Oregon
Inlet, to take the place of the old tower on the south shore. It is in
latitude 35 deg. 48', and longitude 75 deg. 33'. Captain William F. Hatzel, a
loyal North Carolinian, is the principal keeper, and a most efficient
one he is.

The temperature was falling rapidly when I crawled into the high rushes
of the wet marsh near the light-house to seek shelter from the strong
wind that was blowing. As this treeless beach was destitute of
fire-wood, or natural shelter of any kind, necessity compelled me to
have recourse to other means for procuring them. I carried in my pocket
a talisman which must open any light-keeper's door; from Maine to the
Rio Grande, from Southern California to Alaska, even to the vicinity of
the Arctic Circle, wherever the Light-house Establishment of the United
States has planted a tower or erected a light. While shivering in wet
clothes on this desolate beach, most thankfully did I remember that kind
and thoughtful friend, who through his potent influence had supplied me
with this open sesame to light-keepers.

There resides in Washington, when not engaged elsewhere in the important
duties of the Commission of Fisheries, a genial gentleman, an ardent
naturalist, a great scientist. To him the young naturalists of America
turn for information and advice, and to the humblest applicant Professor
Spe