102 SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 



used in the manufacture of the famous Virgin Island l^ay rum are 

 distilled. 



On July 15 we explored the north end of St. Croix Island, which 

 failed to yield much material for our eiTorts. Most of this island, like 

 Vieques, is under intense cultivation which spells death for the native 

 fauna. 



Our next anchorage was Road Harbor, Tortola, which we reached 

 after many tacks. An exploration of the stand of virgin forest on the 

 summit of Mt. Sage yielded a splendid representation of the local 

 molluscan fauna as well as unforgettable glimpses of West Indian 

 scenery. At noon on July 19 we reached Long Bay, Virgin Gorda 

 Island, a volcanic island that is as dry as a bone, covered with thorn 

 brush, cactus, and stinging vines that form an almost impenetrable 

 tangle ; every step was a step of torture, and little to reward one for 

 it. Most of oiu- shells were found among the tangle at the base of 

 bromcliads or orchids that covered the summit of rock piles in the 

 highest reaches of the mountain. 



On San Martin Island we chartered an automobile and drove to 

 Grand Case Bay, collecting at suitable places along the way and 

 exploring the high hill bounding the bay, and later the western end of 

 the island. After a short stay at Rendezvous Bay on the southwest 

 side of Anguilla we next visited San Bartholomew July 23 and day- 

 light of July 24 found us heading for the white summits of its moun- 

 tains that l)eckoned from the harbor and promised limestone and its as- 

 sociated rich mollusk fauna. But alas ! the ])unishment of spine and 

 thorn w^as not rewarded ; the white peaks proved a delusion and a 

 snare — they were due to a covering of white lichens infesting them. 

 On St. Eustachius I climbed the extinct volcano which rises sharply 

 behind Orangetown to almost 2,000 feet and whose extreme summit 

 and interior is clothed with virgin forest. While collecting proved not 

 of the best — it never is in volcanic territory — I nevertheless was able to 

 secure a representative series of specimens before darkness stopped 

 our efforts. 



On July 25 we anchored oft' Basseterre, the capital of St. Cristopher. 

 On a mountain rising l)ehind the port, I followed a babl)ling brook, 

 climbing over many a cataract while a tropical jungle of giant trees 

 and a tangle of ferns and vines overarched the stream and shut out 

 the sky. It was the first real glimpse so far encountered of dense dark- 

 tropical vegetation, and its tropic aspect was enhanced by the presence 

 of chattering monkeys overhead, whose curiosity was aroused by our 

 presence. Groujis of mollusks not met heretofore were present here, 

 among them a large Plaiiorbis, probably ginuhtlKpoisis, the intermedi- 



