1864.] J. M. JONES ON OCEAN DRIFTS. 39 



classed in the list, it will perhaps be advisable to select the more 

 interesting localities where such effect is rendered more apparent, 

 and where occurrences periodically take place, proving by clearest 

 evidence the real existence of such positions, and the animal and 

 vegetable life found upon them. 



Probably we could not select a more perfect example of current- 

 formed islands than the Bermudas, and as we have made their 

 natural history our particular study, perhaps we may be allowed 

 to express our opinion, founded upon fact and the clearest evidence, 

 as to the origin of that remarkable group, which, with the excep- 

 tion of St. Helena, is supposed to be the most remote from land or 

 island of any other in the world. 



It will be well in the first place to explain the situation and na- 

 ture of this group, in order that subsequent allusions to the same 

 may be clearly understood. 



The Bermudas, or Somer's Islands, consisting of four principal, 

 and several smaller islands, lie off the coast of Carolina (the near- 

 est land) at a distance of about six hundred miles ; from Cape 

 Sable, the northern extreme of Nova Scotia, about seven hundred 

 and twenty miles ; and in a northeast direction from Atwood's 

 Keys, Bahamas, six hundred and fifty miles. They are of low 

 elevation ; the highest land, on which the light-house is built, being 

 only two hundred and fifty feet above the sea level The forma- 

 tion is entirely of calcareous sandstone, derived from broken shells, 

 and corals, which varies in consistency in different parts of the 

 islands. On surveying the group, we find the whole more or less 

 clothed with cedar, save here and there, where cultivation occupies 

 the ground, or the drift sand blown from the shore, has overwhelm- 

 ed both cedar grove and arable land, and continues its way, as is 

 the case in Payet's Parish, nearly across the island from side to 

 side. The group is contained in an area of about twenty miles 

 by three, and a bird's-eye view of the whole, gives it the appear- 

 ance, as says an old author, " of a shepherd's crook." A belt of 

 coral reefs extends all around the islands; on the north, to a 

 distance of ten miles or more from shore ; to the westward, 

 about five miles, taking in Long Bar and the Chub Heads ; while 

 to the southward and eastward the open sea meets with no bar- 

 rier until within a few hundred yards of land. 



Having thus shortly described the situation and appearance of 

 • the Bermudas, we will now consider their origin. 



