24 BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 



CHAPTER IV. 



ANDROS ISLAND. 



Andros Island is the largest of the Bahama group, being about 

 ninety miles long, and from ten to forty miles in width. It is thickly 

 wooded, and intersected by a number of broad, shallow creeks. An 

 extensive fresh-water lake exists in the interior, which abounds in all 

 kinds of birds, and is well worthy of a visit, although it is rather 

 difficult to get at. It may be reached by the Wide Opening from 

 the west side, or Fresh Creek from the east; but the latter is too 

 shallow, near its head, to admit of reaching the lake the entire way 

 by boat, and a "carry" of several miles will have to be made. 



There are no good harbors ; but small craft, not drawing more 

 than four or five feet of water, will easily find their way through the 

 reefs on the eastern side of the island, but on the west side it is so 

 shallow that even small vessels cannot approach within miles of the 

 shore. On the shallow flats, cjuantities of birds congregate yearly, 

 and Flamingoes, Pelicans, etc., are said to abound. Iguanas are 

 numerous in the interior, and their flesh is much esteemed by the 

 negroes, who prefer it to any other kind of meat. 



On the southern portion of the island many valuable kinds of 

 trees grow in abundance; among them we observed the ebony 

 (scarce), mahogany, lignumvitaj, cedar, logwood, and many others, 

 which would prove a mine of wealth to any one able to master 



