462 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XVII. No. 429. 



Here as elsewhere it is the plant that re- 

 claims the sea. The ocean current and 

 tide sweep through it, carrying the debris 

 from other lands, and the roots of the man- 

 grove retain it. It is practically a pure 

 growth, as few other plants can exist under 

 such conditions. It is limited inland by 

 tide-water and is the favorite abode of the 

 cayman, many of which may be seen from 

 a ship in passing. Immediately behind the 

 mangrove zone comes a belt of palms, 

 among which are small savannahs in which 

 grasses and sedges form a sward. Nowhere 

 else in the trip were seen such numbers and 

 varieties of palms growing. It reminded 

 one of the palms of the Amazon. Some 

 were palmetto-like, others bore pinnate 

 leaves. Very few were in flower at the 

 tipae of our visit (January) and the time 

 at our disposal did not warrant our trying 

 to identify them. 



Three regions not sharply delimited may 

 be distinguished in the interior of the 

 northern part of the island, the savannahs, 

 the pine lands and the stream banks. 



The Malpais River is so named from the 

 wet savannahs in the central part of the 

 island through which it flows. The savan- 

 nahs also extend to the uplands and have 

 steadily increased in size as the natives 

 have bui'ned them over to improve the 

 pasturage. Besides sedges and grasses 

 there are many other herbaceous plants, 

 especially species of Leguminosse. They 

 make up a thick sward. All show by their 

 form and the texture and vestu.re of their 

 leaves a decidedly xerophytic adaptation. 

 Scattered everywhere through the savan- 

 nahs are arborescent palms mostly of the 

 palmetto type. One species with perfectly 

 rotate leaves and fibrous sheathing bases 

 to their petioles was everywhere seen. Its 

 identity has not yet been determined. The 

 sheaths enclosed one another on the stem, 

 and when separated had the appearance 



of fibrous cornucopias. Thirty to fifty 

 could be taken from one plant. 



The pine lands resemble those of our 

 own gulf region. The pine predominates 

 over considerable areas. They are best 

 developed on the higher ground. They 

 have palms mingled with them everywhere, 

 especially in the lower lands. The kinds 

 of pine have been discussed by the writer 

 in another place. There has been hereto- 

 fore little done upon the study of their 

 affinities, but in general they have been 

 referred to Finns cubensis. The natives 

 distinguish several kinds and select certain 

 ones for construction. In many of them 

 are large black termites' nests. Not only 

 does the termite infest the island, but or- 

 dinary ants are present in large numbers 

 and build large mounds in the savannahs 

 and pine lands. They are a serious ob- 

 stacle to agricultural pursuits and have, 

 beyond doubt, been an important factor 

 in determining the character of the native 

 vegetation. 



Finally along the streams the vegetation 

 shows the least xerophytic tendency, and 

 closely approaches the conditions found in 

 humid tropical regions. Several Scitami- 

 nesB occur here, also many ferns and or- 

 chids. The trees are mostly broad-leaved 

 and large. Palms abound, also shrubs of 

 many kinds. The soil is rich and very 

 porous. If it were not for the overflow 

 in the rainy season, its agricultural value 

 would be very great. 



In conclusion it may be said that the 

 island presents the greatest diversity of 

 conditions. The agriculture of the island, 

 although in a primitive condition, shows 

 this. Tomatoes, potatoes and other crops 

 grown in the north grow well, and at the 

 same time oranges, mammey, guava and 

 all sorts of tropical fruits flourish. It may 

 be truly said that here the vegetations of 

 the temperate and tropical zones meet. 



