— 218 - 



consistency, and quite devoid of vegetation ; it is only covered by 

 falling leaves and branches, among which the short, thick club- 

 shaped pneumatophores emerge, and here and there crusts of 

 bluish-green algae. From the base of the stem, at a height of 

 about V2 meter above the surface, roots in great number are 

 sent down into the mud. This Laguncnlaria-foresi passes gra- 



Fig. 12. La gnncnlaria-i'or est near the plantation Rust op Twist on the 

 north side of St. Croix. (F. B. phot.) 



dually further landwards into an Acacia Farnesiav a -th'\ckei which 

 is here growing in wide stretches on similar, low\ old, lagoon sub- 

 stratum, but where the mangrove trees have gradually disappeared. 



In the preceding I have mentioned the change which gradually 

 takes place in the mangrove vegetation, as by degrees the condi- 

 tions of the soil change, and In addition to this I should like to 



