THE BAHAMA ISLANDS 237 



culminates about three-quarters of a mile from the town and then gently 

 slopes again to another Conocarpus-flat behind the western lake. 



LOW-COPPICE FORMATION. This covers the elevation just mentioned, 

 which follows the Conocarpus-flat. The growth, which is not often more than 

 8 or 10 feet high, is composed principally of the following species: Croton 

 lucidus L., Amyris elemifera L. (White torch), Calliandra hcematomma Benth., 

 Erithalis fruticosa L. (Black torch), Bourreria havane-nsis (L.) Miers (Strong- 

 back), Coccolobis laurifolia Jacq. (Pigeon plum), Rapania guyanensis Aubl. 

 (Beef- wood), Reynosia septentrionalis Urban (Darling plum), Bumelia micro- 

 phylla Griseb. (Ink-berry), Mimusops,sieberi A. DC. (Wild sapodilla), Meto- 

 pium metopium (L.) Small (Poison-wood), Chytracul'ia pollens (Griseb.) 

 Britton (Spice-wood), Coccolobis krugii Lindau (Family-wood), Philanthus 

 myrtittoides Griseb. (Boar black torch), Exostemma caribceum (Jacq.) B. & S. 

 (Prince-wood), Buxus bahamensis Baker (Crispy-wood), Eugenia confusa DC. 

 (Stopper), Ilex krugiana Loes, Eugenia buxifolia (Sw.) Willd. (White head), 

 Maytenus buxifolia (Eich.) Griseb., Byrsonima lucida (Sw.) DC. (Sweet mar- 

 garet), and Gymnanthes lucida Sw. This formation passes eastward into the 

 low, rocky marsh described below. 



CONOCARPUS-MANGROVE FORMATION. Here the growth is not dense and 

 is generally about 8 feet high. Except near the lake shore, the growth is pure 

 Conocarpus, but on the water's edge is a dense fringe of Rhizophora mangle L. 

 At certain places behind this mangrove, Avicennia nitida Jacq. reaches a size 

 not approached at any other point visited. It is 50 feet high and 2 feet in 

 diameter at base. Beneath these trees the soil is a soft, black mud, through 

 which innumerable aerial roots protrude. On sandy margins of the lake we 

 found for the first time the Hippomane mancinclla L. (Manchineel) of evil 

 repute. Here also was Batis maritima L., a low, succulent plant growing in 

 scattered clumps, and Lithophylla vermicularis (L.) Uline. 



The water of the lake was very clear and in most places not over 4 or 5 

 feet deep. Acetabularia grew in the greatest abundance on its rocky floor, and 

 Ruppia maritima L. was also plentiful. The water here is as salt as that of 

 the sea, with which it no doubt has underground connection, as it rises and 

 falls with the tides. 



HIGH-COPPICE FORMATION. This small lake connects by a narrow channel 

 with a larger lake east of it from which it is separated at most places by a 

 sharp ridge. On this elevation was a coppice growth of larger size than any 

 so far described for the island. Here grow fine spreading specimens of 



