SKETCH OF JOHN OUNDLACH. 693 



Up to tliat moment lie had never collected for himself. He now- 

 decided, on the suggestion imparted to him by the study of that 

 rare specimen, to form a Cuban collection. Removing, in 1846, 

 to the "Refugio" farm, one mile from Cardenas, he deposited 

 there his collections, which had acquired great value, and freely 

 exhibited them to the numerous visitors who were attracted to 

 the spot. Six weeks of the year 1850 were spent at San Juan de 

 los Perros, on the coast of Cardenas, in collecting vertebrates, 

 articulates, and mollusks, while the fishes were left to Poey. 



At this period Gundlach formed a number of valuable scien- 

 tific acquaintances and friendships. Senor Bias du Bouchet, as- 

 sessor of Cardenas, made several visits to the Refugio, and a close 

 association was formed between the two. Going to reside in 

 Havana, thirteen years after his arrival in Cuba, Gundlach for 

 the first time met Felipe Poey, whom Dr. Manuel Presas styles 

 the true inaugurator of the new era of Cuban science, and whom 

 he had before known only by correspondence. The greeting be- 

 tween the two was a warm one " Animod pars" (Part of my 

 soul), exclaimed Gundlach; " Dimidia mem" (Half of mine), re- 

 sponded Poey and was the beginning of an intimacy which was 

 cordial and lasting. In Havana he found, too, Juan Lembeye, 

 the ornithologist, author of a little treatise on the birds of the 

 island of Cuba,* whom he had known since 1846 ; Ramon Forns, 

 Principal of the " Santa Teresa " School, another ornithologist ; 

 Antonio Fabre, Francisco A. Sanvalle, and Dr. Manuel Gandul ; 

 and a very pleasant circle of naturalists was formed for profit- 

 able intercourse. Very fruitful expeditions were made in 1855 to 

 the mountain called the Pan of Guajaibdn ; and the encourage- 

 ment of this success was an important factor in the development 

 of a plan for exploring the Island of Pines. Dr. NicoMs Gu- 

 tierez, Patricio Paz, and Poey found the means to carry out the 

 idea, it being agreed that they should pay all the expenses and 

 share with Gundlach the scientific harvest. The riches thus ac- 

 quired stimulated desire, and the project of a new expedition to 

 the east of Cuba was formed, with a view to the collection of mol- 

 lusks, and particularly of the Helix imperator. 



Gundlach started on his journey alone in June, 1856, and 

 prosecuted it with an earnestness that nothing could dampen, 

 and a determination that overcame every obstacle of bad roads, 

 dense thickets and foliage, mountain ranges, the burning heat of 

 the day and the cold of the night, tropical showers, high, waters, 

 and mud up to the neck, with all the hardships they could inflict 



* A continuation of, or rather a supplement to, the Physical, Political, and Natural 

 History of the Island of Cuba, published by Ramou de la Sagra, in which the part allotted 

 to ornithology is edited by Alcides d'Orbigny. 



