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drier soil, from the Nipa formation proper, with which a probably 

 quite corresponding vegetation consisting of Badris spec. (cfr. 

 Schimper, 1. c. p. 68) occurs in tropical America e.g. on Trinidad. 

 The soil upon which the Conocarpus formation occurs is cer- 

 tainly almost always old lagoon substratum, from which the man- 

 grove vegetation has disappeared, as the soil has gradually grown 

 drier and less saline. The Conocarpus formation therefore is most 

 often found right behind the mangrove formation on its landward 

 side, or at the head of bays and creeks, where the flat land 



Fig. 20. Maho Bay seen from America Hill. Tortola in the background. 



(F. B. phot.) 



behind is often sheltered against the sea by a higher sand- 

 dune. Fig. 20 shows such a locality in Maho Bay on St. Jan. 

 Behind the border of white coral-sand the sandy shore-forest is 

 seen, which shelters the lower-lying land, partly cleared and culti- 

 vated, but where remains of the Conocarpus formation are yet 

 found, e. g. Anona palustris^ Acacia Farnesiana and others. 



The land is throughout lying so high above the level of the 

 sea that it can only be reached by the latter with very high seas, 

 or not at all. Commonly the soil is clayish, of a greyish colour, of 

 more or less firm consistency, depending on the degree of dryness. 



