53 
pointing as compared with that of the hammocks twenty miles to 
the northeast. The larger hammocks certainly contained a more 
varied flora than the smaller ones, but the fires had been so re- 
cent that not a plant could be found in a condition to collect. 
The second journey was made along the northern side of the 
largest key for more than half its length. The everglades seem 
to be lower on the northern side than on the southern, for we 
found them submerged, and when the depth of the water pro- 
hibited further progress we gradually worked across the key 
towards the south, and returned to the supply-camp across the 
higher prairies. A third journey was made along a course close 
tq the southern side of the largest key for eight or nine miles to 
the west, and then up through the narrow intersecting prairie into 
the everglades on the north side directly west of the point where 
we were forced to turn south on the second journey. We then 
returned to the supply-camp, crossing the largest key through 
both pinelands and hammocks. 
The last day of the Long Key expedition was devoted to 
work on Royal Palm Hammock and the two smaller islands 
adjacent to its western side. Royal Palm Hammock is remark- 
able for the growth of palms (Roystunca regia), from which it 
takes its name. These trees are visible across the open ever- 
glades almost as far as the eye can reach, and curiously enough 
this species of palm is confined to this island, with the exception 
of two plants which grow on the small key which lies near its 
western side and a very few plants which exist on a key about 
two miles directly east. Royal Palm Hammock is also noted as 
being the only locality in the United States where several tropical 
American epiphytic orchids grow naturally. 
These movements gave us a very good idea of the character 
of the islands and enabled us to collect from nearly all possible 
localities. The Long Key group resembles the upper and larger 
group in most particulars, but the country is much more rugged ; 
everything has the appearance of being either unfinished or com- 
letely worn out. The rock, which forms the only dry land, is 
rough beyond the power of description and even beyond the 
power of imagination, except to those who have actually been 
