1385 
rough and composed Hae of Very hard perforated limestone 
they are much smaller and less abundant. The ravines which 
usually transverse the range are also very rough and rocky and, 
except after much rain, are devoid of water, the larger of them 
being used as “ passes,” through which trails are worn. That 
nown as the “east pass”’ is near a magnificent cavern of great 
extent and the surrounding region was found to be rich in ferns, 
in species of Peperomia, and other small plants which prefer a 
similar environment. The ‘“ middle pass,’ which is deeper, with 
very high perpendicular walls, is even richer in these interesting 
plants and is a place of great natural beauty. 
he savanna to the southward is of great extent, but I was 
able at this time to examine only a few miles of it. The soil is 
thin and poor, overlying a seeenieh rock, apparently a chlorite 
schist, and supports a hard, wiry grass which is largely nae 
e most conspicuous features were two lofty species of palm 
the spiny-petioled Cogernicia and the silvery-leaved Ce 
which are in great abundance and much intermingled. A smaller 
palm with soft, almost herbaceous leaves thickly coated with a 
waxy substance underneath, the long panicles of unripe fruit in- 
dicating that it is probably a species of Copernicia, was found in 
only a few clumps. Numerous spiny shrubs were scattered 
about, usually in small clumps, and many other smaller plants 
were found among the grasses. 
One of the objects oe this trip was to ascertain if there is any 
closer relationship between the Cuban and the better known Baha- 
mian flora than hitherto ascertained, but up to this point in my ex~- 
plorations there seemed to be very little similarity. An examina- 
tion, however, of two of the chain of islands stretching along the 
north coast from Nuevitas to Cardenas, none of which, presuma- 
bly, had ever been visited by a botanist, revealed a very different 
flora, which is probably quite Bahamian in its composition. 
Cayo Guajaba, across a bay of the same name and just north 
of the mainland upon which I have reported above, is about fifteen 
