c^ 



BIOLOGY 

 UBRARY 



51 



NARRATIVE OF A TRIP TO THE BAHAMAS. 



BY GLOVER M. ALLEN AND THOMAS BAUBOI'R. 



This is the first of a series of short papers on tlie flora and fauna 

 of the Bahamas, tlie results of a trij) made by us during the early 

 part of the summer of 1904, with Mr. Owen Bryant. We visited a 

 nuniher of the northern islands of the Bahama grouj) to make such 

 collections as were possible in the limited time before the hurricane 

 season. 



These subtropical islands are easily accessil)le to naturalists from 

 the continent, and although considerable Avork has lieen done among 

 them, much yet remains for future exploration. Most visitors to the 

 islands go in the winter season since the heat of summer is extremely 

 oppressive. Yet we found it possible to be comfortal)le and at the 

 same time to make valuable collections. The present account of 

 our expedition is offered in the hoi)e that it may l)e of use to other 

 investigators who contemplate similar work among the Bahamas. 

 Further reports, leased on studies of the material collected, are in 

 preparation, and will appear as occasion may offer. 



The party left Xew York on the S. S. "Orizaba," sailing June 

 24th, for Nassau. About day1)reak of June 28th we sighted New 

 Providence Island, and a little later, on landing, found comfortable 

 quarters at the Clifton House, the only hotel o])en during the sum- 

 mer season. We spent the few following days until July 2d in 

 collecting in the vicinity of the city of Nassau. A carriage and 

 driver may be had for 70 cents an hour and it is thus an easy 

 matter to make excursions in several directions from the city 

 pr()])er, back into the country of the interior of the island. The 

 gardens and cultivate<l grounds in the city itself, however, are rich 

 in insects of many kinds as well as other indigenous animals. 



On the advice of Mr. Ronald Young we chartered the sixty ton 

 schooner " Wm. H. Allmry " (Capt. Daniel Russell) and found her 

 toleral>ly well adapted to our needs. 8he was fifty-nine feet over 

 all and drew al)out six feet of water. She was roomy and most sea- 

 worthy ; but had more of the sj)ace been cabin instead of hold we 

 should have been suited better. We cannot too strongly advise 



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