344 Canadian Record of Science. 



Life in the Bahama Islands. 

 By T. Wesley Mills, M. A., M. D. 



Professor of Physiology, McGill University. 



Having been invited to form one of a party of seven natu- 

 ralists intending to visit the Bahama Islands last May, I 

 gladly embraced the opportunity to learn something of that 

 tropical region which so fascinates the imagination of every 

 true lover of nature; the more so as we were to have the 

 opportunity of seeing in operation those forces which ex- 

 plain the origin and growth of coral islands. 



The expedition was headed by Professor Brooks of the 

 Johns Hopkins University, under whose auspices we sailed, 

 and to the wise generosity of which, science in America is so 

 much indebted. There being no direct steam communication 

 with Abaco, we were obliged to make use of a small sailing 

 vessel, taking with us our laboratory outfit, and a supply of 

 provisions sufficient for at least part of our intended 

 . stay. It was hoped that the voyage would not last longer 

 than eight or ten days from Baltimore, our port of embark- 

 ation, but owing to stress of weather, contrary winds, etc., 

 it extended over nineteen days. These days, however, were 

 not without instruction. The tedious hours on deck were 

 employed in observing the life around us, more especially 

 such as we could capture by the hand-net. 



Being obliged to put into harbor off the Carolina coast, 

 we visited some small islands which were frequented by 

 numerous sea-birds, especially gulls and terns. During our 

 examination of these islands, it came to light that the people 

 from the neighbouring coast were accustomed to visit them 

 in the breeding season of the birds and gather the eggs in 

 hundreds for food ; so that the shooting of birds to supply 

 ornaments for ladies' hats is not the only method of exter- 

 mination practised. The capture of a white-rumped petrel, 

 soaring near the deck, by a hand-net, was by the sailors 

 assigned as the cause of all our misfortunes ; such is the 

 superstitious character of seamen to the present day. 



Upon reaching the Gulf Stream, the increase in tempera- 



