No. 1. — A Beconnoissance of the Bahamas and of the Elevated 

 Beefs of Cuba in the Steam Yacht "Wild Duck," January to 

 April, 1893. By Alexander Agassiz. 



The fullest account we have of the structure of the Bahamas is that 

 given by Captain Nelson, 1 who clearly recognized the great part played 

 by the "aeolian" rock in the formation of the islands. His examination 

 has formed the basis of the resumes of their structure subsequently 

 published by Darwin and by Dana, 



Most accurate surveys of the Bahamas have been made by Captains 

 Owen and Barnet, and published by the Admiralty. These charts have 

 immensely facilitated the examination of the banks, and with such ex- 

 cellent guides a great deal of time could naturally be devoted to an 

 examination of the rocks, which otherwise might have to be spent in 

 making surveys of the ground covered. The hydrography of the deep sea 

 has been developed by the "Blake," "Albatross," and other vessels, so 

 that with the aid of the many deep-sea soundings taken in the region of 

 the Bahamas and in the Caribbean many problems can now be discussed 

 for which no data existed as long as the soundings were limited by the 

 100 fathom line. In a letter to Professor James D. Dana,' 2 written at 

 the time, was given a short account of nry explorations. This is repro- 

 duced here, as the most convenient method of showing the track of the 

 " "Wild Duck " among the Bahamas and along the Cuban coast. 



Passing out of Nassau, we entered the Bahama Bank at Douglas 

 Channel and crossed the bank to Northern Eleuthera, where we exam- 

 ined the " Glass Window " and the northern extremity of Eleuthera. 

 We then sailed along the west shore of the island close enough to get 

 a good view of its characteristic features as far as Eock Harbor at the 

 southern end. We steamed out into Exuma Sound through Powell 

 Point Channel, and round the southern end of Eleuthera past Little San 

 Salvador and to the northwest end of Cat Island, where are the high- 



1 On the Geology of the Bahamas, and on Coral Formations generally, by Cap- 

 tain 11. J. Nelson, R. E. Quart. Jour. Geol. Soc. of London, Vol. IX. p. 200, 1853. 



2 Observations in the West Indies. Ey Alexander Agassiz. (In a letter to J. D. 

 Dana, dated Steam Yacht " Wild Duck," Nassau, March, 1893.) American Journal 

 of Science, Vol XLV. p. 359, April, 1893. 



VOL. XXVI. — NO. 1. 



