THE NAUTILUS. 



VOL. XV. DECEMBER, 19O1. No. 8. 



LAND SHELLS OF FORTUNE ISLAND, BAHAMAS. 



BY J. B. HENDERSON, JR. 



Fortune Island is one of the Bahamas belonging to the Crooked 

 or Long Island group, and which is separated from the more westerly 

 groups by a deep arm of the sea. Geologically it is in every respect 

 similar to the other Bahamas. The little island is but four or five 

 miles long and from one to one and one-half miles in width, with an 

 elevation scarcely exceeding thirty feet. Its surface is rough with 

 flat fragments of " eolian " limestone, and the entire island is cov- 

 ered by a dingy-colored scrub growth of trees and shrubs. A few 

 clumps of graceful palms scattered here and there relieve somewhat, 

 the monotony of the dreary aspect. A wide beach of silvery coral 

 sand encircles the island, glittering like a mirror by day and superbly 

 bright in the moonlight. Singularly enough the only shells we 

 found cast upon this beach were Cerion. Occasionally low cliffs of 

 eolian rock extend down to the water's edge, and at such places, 

 Tectarius muricatus L., T. trochiformis Dillw., and Litorina lineata 

 Phil., were discovered. 



The scrub vegetation affords but little shade, and the ground is 

 baked by a powerful sun whose rays oppress the weary collector as 

 they seem to enliven the swarms of sand-flies and mosquitoes. A 

 diligent search from daylight to dark brought to our bag but four 

 species of land shells, although individually these were quite abun- 

 dant. 



1. Cerion marmoratum Pfr. Generally dead specimens found 

 under bushes. A considerable range of variation exists, the extremes 

 of which are illustrated on Plate V, figures 3 and 4. 



