A. E. Verrill — The Bermuda Islands. 621 



In 1676 complaint was made that not only natives, but strangers, 

 were in the habit of cutting- down the trees and even digging up the 

 roots for this purpose, thus threatening its extermination. 



Therefore a law was passed prohibiting digging up the roots and 

 requiring that a stump at least two feet high should be left in every 

 case (doubtless for sprouting). The penalty was a fine of 10 shillings 

 for every root destroyed. 



In a proclamation by the governor, 1079, the use of the Button- 

 wood Tree for fuel was prohibited. 



At present, this is called Button-tree, and sometimes " Bark," and 

 " Alder." Governor Lefroy thought it identical with the Button- 

 wood Tree of the early settlers. It is common, near the shores in 

 many places. It is also found in Florida, Brazil, and the West 

 Indies ; also on the coast of Africa. 



A combretaceous tree, with lanceolate or elliptical, alternate leaves, 

 often downy at base. Flowers in small, round pedunculate heads, 

 small, apetalous, calyx tube not longer than the ovary ; limb five- 

 lobed ; stamens five or six. Achenia imbricated, scale-like, rounded, 

 concave and keeled above, convex below. 



Mangrove. (Hhizophora mangle L.) 



Plate LXVIII. Figure 2. Plate LXXIV. Figure 1. 



The true mangrove forms dense thickets in the upper parts of 

 many shallow bays and coves, but they appear to be much less 

 extensive than formerly, in most cases. Probably the more accessi- 

 ble trees have been cut for fuel. 



These trees are profusely branched, with thick evergreen foliage ; 

 they mostly grow 15 to 20 feet high, and often stand in sea water 

 two or three feet deep, sending down a profusion of large serial 

 roots, from the lower branches, and from the lower part of the trunk. 

 These serve to entangle floating leaves, branches, seaweeds, and mud, 

 and afford shelter to the handsome and active mangrove crabs, 

 which burrow their holes among the roots, and ascend the trees with 

 great agility when pursued. Several species of marine mollusks 

 attach themselves to these aerial or half submerged roots, including 

 the bivalve, Perna, and several spiral shells, such as Littorina, etc. 



One of the largest mangrove swamps is at the upper end of 

 Hungry Bay; others may be seen at Mangrove Bay ; Spanish Point ; 

 Tucker's Town lagoon ; Walsingham Bay, etc. 



This tree is here smaller and far less luxuriant than on the coasts 

 of Florida and Central America, Avhere it forms vast seaside 



