198 THE PLANT WORLD 



still have a superstitious dread of them. It is interesting to note that 

 the same feeling is found among the Samoans with relation to the allied 

 Ficus aoa of their islands. 



Back to my quarters ; found everything in order ; boxes in which 

 books had been packed converted into cases by sliding shelves ; cloth- 

 ing stowed in lockers of dugdug wood (fertile bread-fruit). Noticed some 

 little red-and-black birds with slender curved beaks feeding on the honey 

 and insects of the scarlet hibiscus beneath my windows and some beau- 

 tiful fruit-doves visiting my Ilang-ilang tree for the sake of its olive- 

 shaped fruit. 



Dined at the house of Henry Mellinchamp, the pilot, where I had a 

 most interesting conversation with his son-in-law, Don Pedro Duarte, 

 Captain in the Spanish Army, late' Military Secretary to the Governor 

 of Guam. Don Pedro was taken with the other officers to Manila on 

 the "Charleston," but was allowed to return to his family in this island. 

 He speaks in the highest terms of the courtesy with which he was treated 

 by our officers both during the passage to Manila and while a prisoner 

 there. During his absence his wife was very ill. She grieved for him 

 and did not know whether she would ever see him again. A baby was 

 born, but it died. Dona Maria still looks delicate, but the bright-eyed 

 children are pictures of health. Don Pedro is an engineer of ability. 

 While serving on detached duty in the Philippines he often had to act as 

 surgeon to his men and to dispense medicines ; so that he acquired from 

 his books and experience considerable knowledge of the diseases of the 

 tropics and their treatment. He says he intends to remain in the island 

 and vsdll follow its destiny. 



Back to my quarters with my dog. Miyomoto off to visit some 

 Japanese merchants who have established themselves here. On turn- 

 ing in, or rather, on lying down on my bed, I was stung by some small 

 ants which had formed a line across the sheet spread over the mat. 

 Shook the sheets well to get rid of them and then with the rain patter- 

 ing on the tiles went to sleep. 



[to be continued.] 



A STUDY OF THE ISLAND FLORA OF THE MISSISSIPPI 

 RIVER NEAR SABULA, lOWPu 



By T. J. AND M. F. Li. FiTzpatrick. 



THE shifting currents of the Mississippi river cause sand and other 

 sedimentary material, as well as drift, to be taken up, carried to 

 other points, and deposited when quieter waters are reached, as 

 soon as the carrying load becomes too heavy. As the deposits accumulate 

 the depth of the river diminishes until the water shoals. Wave action 

 now comes to the aid of the deposition agency and the shallow river 



