FEB. 1907. FLORA SAND KEYS OF FLORIDA MILLSPAUGH. 205 



THE MARQUESAS GROUP 



The sand keys forming this group have been arbitrarily designated 

 as "A," "B, " "C, " etc., for reference in this work, and are also so 

 indicated upon the labels of the specimens, the maps, and in the 

 field notes. The reason for this is that these islets are only known 

 collectively, among the boat and turtle men, as "The Marquesas," 

 not being individually differentiated by them. On the U. S. Coast and 

 Geodetic- Chart No. 170, our Key "H" is noted as Round Island and 

 the small key lying between our Key "I" and Key "A" (which was 

 found to be covered with mangroves only) as Conch Key; these names 

 are, however, unknown to the boat men. Mr. Lansing's observations, 

 during his survey of the group, point to several changes having befallen 

 the islets since the survey which resulted in the formation of the 

 chart. Key "A" he found to be continuous'instead of composed of two 

 portions; this was also true of Keys "G" and "H" and of Conch 

 Key; and Key "D" has been reduced from narrowly oblong to a more 

 or less semicircular form. These changes are in no wise peculiar 

 but are due to the natural expansion of the mangrove colonies, erosion 

 by the waves and current, artd the drifting or upwashing of the fine, 

 light, coral sand of which these keys are all composed. All of these 

 natural forces are uniting to form, in course of time, a solid island em- 

 bracing this whole group. 



