THE NAUTILUS. 15 



Perhaps the particular feature of our Haitian journeys was our 

 trip to Lake Assuei, one of the two great interior lakes of Haiti and 

 Santo Domingo. The fauna of this large body of water is wholly 

 unknown and there can be no doubt that its clear depths would 

 furnish many treasures to the zoologist provided with a good dredge. 

 But we had neither dredge nor boat. An examination of one-half 

 mile of shore line revealed a Hydrobia and a Physa, but no trace of 

 Naiades or Sphaeria. Amid the grandest scenery, we collected over 

 the mountains north of the lake with fairly good success. One 

 Chondropoma (evidently new) should receive some name signifying 

 " splendid." 



In a grove of very large trees near the lake we experienced sev- 

 eral hours of the keenest delight in gathering Liguus virginea and 

 Phurodonte bizonal is. The former is no doubt the most beautiful 

 of all land shells; the latter is considered a rarity. I know of no 

 more thrilling experience than our sudden discovery of a hundred of 

 these exquisite Liguus. 



At St. Mark, Jeremie and Jacmel v e toiled like madmen to ex- 

 haust those regions of their special faunae ; our catch from the last 

 two stations being principally in Cylind rella, Helicina, Gland ina, 

 JEutrochatella and the smaller helices of the Cepolis group. The 

 collection about Jeremie is exceedingly rich, but the unfriendliness 

 of the natives is more pronounced at that city than elsewhere in the 

 island. 



One can scarcely picture a more promising-looking region for snail 

 life than the environs of Jacmel. There are mountains and deep 

 valleys, shaded and cool, sparkling streams, moisture and limestone, 

 everywhere. We were amazed, however, to find the region almost 

 barren of mollusks, a fact that seems wholly unaccountable. 



Fortunately time seems to magnify in the mind the pleasant 

 features of rough travel, while disagreeable episodes gradually fade 

 from the memory. The oppressive climate, the wretched food and 

 accommodations, the unsanitary condition of the cities, the vermin 

 and larger insect pests, the stupid ignorance and arrogance of the 

 official classes, the difficulties of interior travel, render Haiti all but 

 impossible. We left Jacmel for Kingston, Jamaica, rejoicing in our 

 flight from that land of dark superstition and filth. 



Our material has not yet been overhauled, but I may, with due 

 caution, state that Haiti is not so rich conchologically as Jamaica or 



