INTRODUCTION. xiii 
Barbados we undoubtedly obtained a fair representation of the 
fauna to the windward of the Caribbean Islands, which does not 
seem to differ from that of the lee side. 
Tempting as it would have been to devote more time to a 
prolonged study of the islands within sight of which we worked 
for a whole winter, it was only natural that our interest in the 
land should give way to our work at sea. 
Our acquaintance with the Caribbean Islands was limited to 
such examination as we could make from the deck of the 
“ Blake,” as we steamed from our night’s anchorage out into 
deep water, or steamed and trawled slowly for days within sight 
of the same island. Under these circumstances, we could not 
fail to obtain a familiarity with their topography which few of 
the inhabitants, or of even the more enthusiastic and energetic 
foreign travellers, could have. The few excursions we were able 
to make in the interior, while coaling or cleaning boilers prepar- 
atory to getting under way again, gave us charming glimpses 
into regions rarely visited as yet. The traveller in these islands 
is dependent almost entirely upon private hospitality, which, 
however delightful it may be, is a great bar to independent ас- 
tion and exploration. But the time is not distant when the in- 
creased facilities of communication will call into existence the 
hotels which alone are needed to make the West India Islands 
the winter resort of innumerable tourists, who now go to Florida 
or to the south of Europe. They will find in this new resort 
the most lovely scenery imaginable, the perfection of winter cli- 
mate, and unbounded hospitality ; and the lover of nature will 
have endless occupation in the ever-varied rambles which each 
island affords. 
As seen from the sea, the contrasts offered by the different 
islands is most striking. I will not here speak of Cuba, Jamaica, 
Hayti, or Porto Rico, small continents as it were, although with 
each of these the “ Blake” has some special association. Dur- 
ing the first dredging cruise, the northern shore of Cuba from 
Havana westward was partly explored by the * Blake," and 
while Bahia Honda will always remain to the commander a most 
unpleasant landmark in the history of the cruise, because our 
Spanish pilot ran us ashore as we entered the harbor, it is 
