42 TRANSACTIONS OF THE WAGNER FREE 



to "detect any salinity in the water, which is fairly potable, nor did we 

 discover the remotest traces of any saliferous deposit. On the other 

 hand, however, the valves of Venus canccllata were thrown up in con- 

 siderable numbers both along the beach of Observation Island and near the 

 mouth of Taylor's Creek, and I also succeeded in scooping up, by means 

 of the landing-net, a fairly large fragment of Fulgiir pi ;< 'irsits, and a single 

 shark's vertebra. The shells were all badly worn, and had more the 

 appearance of the specimens contained in the banks of the Caloosahat- 

 chie than of the living form, and I am, hence, inclined to the opinion 

 that they represent fossils rather than living specimens. They may have 

 been washed out of the Post-Pliocene Venus canccllata bed, which almost 

 positively underlies the lake, buried some distance beneath the sand. 

 There appears to be, however, no means of absolutely determining this 

 point. That the marine animals above mentioned may have succeeded 

 in introducing themselves at a comparatively recent period, after the 

 complete formation of the fresh-water lake, is just barely possible, but 

 very unlikely. In our numerous drags we failed to bring up a single 

 living marine type of animal, nor even a fragment that could reasonably 

 be referred to a living animal of such type unless, indeed, the numerous 

 individuals of a species of Pandalus, a caridid shrimp common to the 

 waters, be taken to indicate such an organization.* This shrimp was 

 also found in Lake Hikpochee. 



It is frequently conceived, and as often reported, that Lake Okeechobee 

 is a vast swampy lagoon, or inundated mud-flat, the miasmatic emana- 

 tions arising from which render access to it a matter of considerable 

 risk or caution. This is very far from being its true character. The 

 lake proper is a clear expanse of water, apparently entirely free of mud- 

 shallows, and resting, as has already been stated, on a firm bed of sand. 

 All our soundings and drags indicate that this sand is almost wholly 

 destitute of aluminous matter, and nowhere, except on the immediate 

 borders, where there is a considerable outwash of decomposed and 

 decomposing vegetable substances, is there a semblance to a muddy 

 bottom. The water itself, when not disturbed, is fairly clear, and 

 practically agreeable although held in bad repute by the few who have 

 visited its shores and by the greater number of our party it was used 

 in preference to the barrel-water with which the schooner was provided. 

 More generally, however, it is tossed into majestic billows, which rake 

 up the bottom, and bring to the surface a considerable infusion of sand, 

 rendering the surface murky. Steadily blowing winds arc frequent, 

 presaging heavy swells; we were compelled to lie at anchor for an 



* A diminutive shell, much resembling in outline certain forms of Bythinella, but with 

 a longitudinally costulated surface, was sufficiently plentiful in the grass brought up by the 

 dredge ; its affinities could not be definitely determined. 



