﻿NO. 2 



SMITHSONIAN EXPLORATIONS, 1924 



45 



New Colonies ok Cerions Established This Year 



500 Cerion mummia from the point at Miramar, Cuba. 



500 Cerion chrysalis from near Cabanas Fort, Cuba. 



500 Cerion sciilptum from near the Hghthouse at Maricl, Cuba. 



125 Cerion new species, young specimens from a httle east of the point at 



Mariel, Cuba. 

 500 Cerion tridentata from Rincon de Guanabon. 



These were planted on the west and north side of the parapet at 

 Fort Jefferson on Garden Key, each duly marked with a stake and tag. 



Our failure in the past to grow Cerions in cages at the Tortugas 

 caused us to try isolating them on little islands this year. Mr. Mills 

 inclosed four 6 x 6 ft. areas with a concrete trench, a cross-section 



3' 



Fig. 56. — Cross-section of concrete trenches. 



of the construction of which is shown in the accompanying diagram 

 (fig. 56). Two additional areas of the same size were subdivided by 

 a similar median septum which yielded four almost 3 x 3 ft. islets. 

 The simple trenches require each some nine pails of water and the 

 compound correspondingly more. Arrangements have been made with 

 Mr. Charles Johnson, keeper of the Tortugas lighthouse, to keep 

 these trenches filled with water. Evaporation at the Tortugas is great 

 and it will be necessary to replenish the loss of water almost daily. 

 For this purpose a pump has been installed in the middle of the 

 battery of islands which will make this a comparatively easy daily task. 

 The inclosed areas have been planted each with a Hymenocallis 

 plant and a few such grasses as are favored by Cerions, likewise a few 

 added fragments of coconut pediole fibers ; in other words, all things 

 4 



