22 TEE GBUISE OF THE 'CUBAQOA.' 



a road firm and strong in some places, and with a gentle 

 rise. As I went along I met with a plantation of young 

 cocoanut-trees, sugar-canes, yams, and other vegetables ; 

 and I had the opportunity of shooting some small birds. 

 The sun was very hot, and there was a total lack of shade, 

 the natural vegetation of the soil consisting for the most 

 part of low shrubs. Even the cocoanut-trees were small, 

 either from being yet very young or of a dwarf species. 

 At length I came upon a sort of wood, and left the road to 

 take shelter under the trees, not one of which was of any 

 considerable height, or as much as two feet in diameter ; in 

 fact, I did not meet with a single fine tree, but it struck me 

 that all of thern had smooth bark. I noticed some Aleu- 

 rites and Calophyllum. The ferns did not seem to abound 

 in varieties, though they were very numerous ; they all had 

 large fronds, but I did not see a single specimen of an 

 arborescent species A Dracaana attracted attention by its 

 flowers of fine red. I did not hear the song of a bird ; but, 

 on the other haud, I saw a great jmmber of pretty little 

 lizards, some handsome butterflies, a large species of spider, 

 and a grasshopper. I picked up three species of small land- 

 shells. I found the walking in the wood fatiguing, the sur- 

 face being so uneven, and filled with holes not always very 

 easy to perceive". The soil, of a reddish tint, superficially 

 was very moist ; and yet I coidd not find a drop of drinkable 

 water. 



Towards 3 o'clock I turned back with the intention of 

 making a longer excursion next day. Several of the 



