4 BAHAMAN TRIP 



level space containing cocoanut plantations and a small patch of sisal 

 hemp. In the uncleared lowlands Pinus Bahamensis covers the 

 ground. The higher parts are covered with angiosperms. Near the 

 water the land is very low, the soil soft and calcareous. The only 

 vegetation seems to be numerous, small, scattered mangroves and a 

 few buttonwoods (Conocarpus). 



February 3. To Lake Cunningham. Followed the road through 

 part of Grant's Town, then a winding road leading through a pine 

 barren for about five miles in a general southwesterly direction. 

 Crossed a number of ridges running north and south. Noticed some- 

 large banana holes. The pines have mostly been cut down, and the 

 ground is covered with a second growth. At the eastern end of the 

 lake is a mangrove swamp. The lake is perhaps a mile and a half 

 long and about a half of a mile wide. The water is slightly brackish. 

 A great number of shells on the bottom, near the shore; collected some 

 (determined as Area Jamaicensis by Dr. Dall). The drive home 

 showed the lake to be quite close to the sea. The country to the west 

 of the city is quite flat. 



February 10. In evening walked to Fort Montague. Water very 

 calm. Saw a worm about an inch and a half long swimming through 

 the water and leaving a bright phosphorescent track. Came back to 

 house to get glasses and net. Walked out in water. The bottom was 

 phosphorescent, every step causing it to scintillate for a circle three or 

 four feet in diameter. Agitation of the surface produced no light. 

 Here and there at the bottom were small glowing spots which appeared 

 to be bivalved crustaceans. 



February 20. Fishing at sea-garden. The noise made by market 

 fish and grunts is produced in the following manner: The upper 

 pharyngeals are drawn together and backward; the lower is pushed 

 upward and forward, thus grating on the other two. The noise is 

 slight, resembling that made by the finger-nail in scratching across 

 the grain of a board. 



February 21. Shark fishing to the north of Salt Cay. Caught one 

 known as a mackerel shark. Color dark steel-gray above and on sides, 

 as far as line between pectoral and ventral fins, below this a pure 

 white with only few blotches of gray, to anal fin, behind which the gray 

 predominates. The nictitating membrane is white and slides over 

 the eye from below. The teeth are serrated, with a deep notch in the 



