556 J'ltOCKEDINGS Ol' THE ACADEMY OF [NoV., 



Those of Port-au-Priuce, Gonaives. Artibouite, Arcahaie. Port 

 Margot, Leogane, Aux Cayes being the most famous. Three 

 large islands are attached to the Haitian coast — Tortuga on the north, 

 Gonave on the west are noted for their mahogany trees; L'lle-a- 

 Vache on the south coast lies m a sound of the same name. 



Climate. 



The dry season covers the period of the year from October to 

 April, when the temperature is some 10° lower thau during the 

 so-called rainy season, which lasts from April to October, when 

 rains fall, as a rule, late in the afternoons or evenings. In gen- 

 eral, the climate of the island of Santo Domingo is most diversi- 

 fied, presenting wide extremes of moisture, aridity and tem- 

 perature. At the sea-level, in sheltered places, the heat is intense, 

 but as one ascends the mountains of the interior the heat of 

 the seaboard becomes moderated. At 1,600 feet, European and 

 American travelers complain of cold at night, although there the 

 mercury never falls below 45°, Rain is almost lacking on the 

 lower slopes of sheltered mountains, but above 2,000 feet rains and 

 dews are copious. The nights are from 10° to 20° cooler than the 

 days. 



Ecology. 



The information for the following ecologic sketch was obtained 

 from three sources: (1) The observations of the Avriter made 

 upon the flora of Haiti during July, 1901, when he visited the 

 island, stopping at four ports, viz.. Cape Haitien, Port-au-Prince, 

 Aux Cayes and Jacmel; (2) The information gleaned by conversa- 

 tion with inhabitants of the island familiar with its vegetation ; 

 (3) A cai'cful perusal of Tippenhauer's book, Die Insel Haiti. 

 It is impossible to give a detailed sketch of the phytogeography 

 of the island of Ilispaiiola. It seems, therefore, best to assemble 

 the species in an ecologic manner as a basis for a future work 

 upon this rich and most luxuriant insular vegetation. 



Ilijdropluites. — Living along shore in the bays and shallow estua- 

 ries is found an abundant mangrove vegetation. In Port-au-Prince 

 Bay, at Cape Haitien, at Aux Cayes, are found extensive man- 

 grove swamps and islands. The three trees concerned in forming 

 the mangrove association are Rhizophora mangle L. , Avicennia 



