.238 JONES — ON THE VEGETATION OF THE BERMUDAS. 



rwith the sea and is not far removed from it, occur tracts of marsh 

 which having communication with the ocean through the interven- 



:ing rock, are more or less overgrown with reeds and sedges, from 



' out which in the drier spots the palmetto raises its plume-like 

 foliage. Not a brook or natural watercourse of any kind can be 



-observed anywhere, nor will even the strictest search reveal a 

 spring of fresh water of any kind, the only supply of that element 



■coming from the clouds. 



The geological character of the islands is extremely interesting, 

 as their isolated position and irregular formation have always been 

 considered to partake of the mysterious. Although the superficial 

 aspect of the Bermudas at once proclaims wind-power as the chief 

 agent in forming the more elevated parts of the land, through the 

 medium of drift sand, we have every reason to believe from recent 

 observations that the Bermudas rest upon a basis of compact lime- 

 stone. The higher grounds are coated with a layer of sandy earth, 

 the sand generally predominating as we proceed upwards, finally 

 becoming almost fine sand and of course unfavorable to the growth 



'of plants. This feature, however, is not universal, for in some 



; parts of the islands we meet with depressions on the higher lands, 

 in which is found a shallow coating of light coloured red earthy 

 imoxe OT less mingled with sand and vegetable mould. This red 



t earth of the hills is different, however, both in colour and composi- 

 tion to that which is found along the shore line, and especially the 

 < district of Walsingham ; this latter earth which is of a chocolate 

 'colour, partaking more of the nature of clay, and possessing a 

 greater proportion of oxide of iron and alumina. It was in 1859 

 that our attention was first attracted to the large amount of oxide of 

 iron and alumina contained in this dark coloured " red earth," for 

 having on our first visit to the islands obtained a sample, we submit- 

 ted it to Dr. Albert Bernays, Analytical Chemist of St. Thomas 

 Hospital, who very kindly analyzed it and gave as the result 

 35.50 of oxide of iron and alumina. Later still, throus^h the 

 kindness of Major General Lefroy, C. B., F. R. S., the present 

 Governor of Bermuda, we have been favoured with the analysis of 

 Messrs. Abel and Manning, which gives for four samples from 

 different localities the following results : 



