7.*i 



or where the shore is subject to an almost continuous spraying 

 from the waves. A deeply shaded shelf under a remarkable rock 

 overhang on the Cave Cays of the Exuma Chain furnished some 

 of the most interesting algae obtained on the recent expedition. 

 The so-called creeks constitute good collecting grounds, cspc- 

 ciall}' if well exposed to tidal currents, and the roots of the red 

 mangrove, which commonly borders such, always harbor algae 

 of interest, particularly when standing in water that is three feet 

 or more deep at low tide. Nearly all the larger islands have 

 brackish ponds which ha\'e a peculiar flora, \'ar\'ing in character 

 with the salinity of the water. Hundreds of square miles in the 

 Bahamian region are occupied by the " banks," on which the 

 water is very shallow, mostly from five to twenty feet deep ; these 

 banks often consist of clean wliite sand with little visible organic 

 life, )'et in many places are found, more or less abundantly, repre- 

 sentatives of such genera as Pciiicillus, Rliipoccphalits and Uciotca, 

 growing directly out of the sand, and Jllicrodictyon, Gyiniiosonts, 

 ]Viirdeinaiuiia, Lauiriicia, CJiondria, Hcrposiplionia and others, 

 attached to sponges, corals, sea-fans, etc. In the winter and 

 spring months, at least, very little is found washed ashore except 

 species of Sargassuui and their epiphytes. 



The speaker remarked upon the desirability of extensive dredg- 

 ing operations in order to complete our knowledge of the marine 

 flora of the Bahamian archipelago. A few characteristic speci- 

 mens of Bahamian marine algae were exhibited. Special attention 

 was directed to four species of Piiiicillns, viz., P. capitatus, P. 

 diiiiictosi/s, P. Lainoiirouxii, and the recently described Penicillus 

 pyrifoniiis. RJdpoccpJialus PItocnix and R. oblougiis, and \'arious 

 species of Udotca^ Avraiiivdlca and Haliineda were also discussed. 



Mrs. Britton, who accompanied the expedition, spoke more par- 

 ticularly of the flora of the island of New Providence, where she 

 spent the time collecting, while the other members of the part)- 

 were cruising. Several excecdingl)' fine photographs of the local 

 scenery were exhibited. 



EinV.AKI) W. Bl'.KKV, 



Sfcrctarv. 



