12 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM [vol.82 



some error in tliis, as in the northern half of the island the maximum 

 altitude is less than 50 meters. From tree tops at the farthest point 

 to which we penetrated we had a view of the entire island, and in the 

 slightly undulating expanse of scrub that extended beyond our obser- 

 vation post we saw nothing to indicate a greater elevation, as the 

 terrain rose only slightly in low, rolling ridges. 



The island is of limestone formation (pi. 5) with the surface, though 

 generally level, much eroded, so that the stone projects in small 

 sharp-edged points that cut one's shoes badly. Along the north 

 coast, projecting headlands, whose rocky points rise only a short 

 space above the sea, alternate with sandy beaches back of which there 

 are small, saline lagoons and areas of grass. Inland there is a solid 

 stand of scrub growing from 3 to 10 meters tall, only occasional trees 

 being of large diameter (pi. 5). There is much cactus, and many of 

 the shrubs are so thorn covered that it is difficult to penetrate the 

 interior except along two trails that have been cut recently, one of 

 which leads a little more than halfway across the island. Certain 

 areas have considerable soil, but over extensive sections the scrub 

 grows from holes in the rocky surface. There are occasional small 

 savannas in the interior grown with grass, 4 or 5 acres in extent. 

 Water holes produce only brackish water. 



Along the coast the wind-swept vegetation is low and stunted, so 

 that it was possible to pick a way through, with some trouble, as the 

 rock in places was much broken. The sea had undercut many ledges. 

 Deep potholes were common, and it was necessary to walk circum- 

 spectly to avoid falling on the eroded stone. 



Toward the center of the island the amount of visible soil is decidedly 

 less than near the coast, and there are extensive sections of limestone 

 entirely exposed. The scrub inland was lower and more thorny, and 

 many slender- trunlvcd palms with globular heads grew 10 meters or 

 more in height, rising above the general tree level. Scattered West 

 Indian birches {Elaphrium) with heavy trunks and limbs bulked large 

 in the other growth. 



So far as we have ascertained, the first collections in natural history 

 to be made here were obtained by Dr. G. K. Noble, of the American 

 Museum of Natural History, who worked here from October 1 to 4, 

 1922. From his material he described four new forms of reptiles. 

 Dr. E. Ciferri visited Beata briefly in May 1926, devoting his attention 

 principally to plants, but securing a few birds, among them being a 

 booby that lived in captivity for some time. 



During our observations we obtained a list of 50 forms of birds, 

 which we believe includes the principal species of the island, and will 

 be extended mainly through record of additional forms of herons and 

 others of aquatic habit about the lagoons, and of wood warblers and 

 other migrants from North America. One wood warbler {Micro- 



