MAIUXE ZOOLOGY IN THE TROPICAL ATLANTIC. 45 



The discussion has at least succeeded in establishing the fact that 

 the Bahamas are on the whole inferior to the Tortugas, for despite 

 their good coral reefs, their pelagic and littoral faunge are relatively 

 poor. Nutting who directed one of the most successful biological 

 expeditions ever sent to the Bahamas, is emphatic in declaring the 

 superiority of the Tortugas. The prevalent winds prevent the floating 

 life of the Gulf Stream from reaching the Bahamas, whereas they con- 



The Queen's Stairway, Nassau, Bahamas. A cut through eeollan rock. 



stantly drift the pelagic creatures of the stream upon the Tortugas. 

 Next to Jamaica, Porto Rico appears to be the favorite among the 

 Antilles; the southern shore, Mayaguez, and Culebra Island being 

 especially recommended. Judging from the published results of the 

 Fish UawJc expedition of 1898-99 under the auspices of the United 

 States Fish Commission, the littoral fauna is remarkably good, al- 

 though I am informed on excellent authority that the pelagic hauls 

 of the expedition were poor. The social conditions of Porto Rico ap- 

 pear to be not so good as those of Jamaica, and its land fauna and 



