SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



257 



BERMUDA. 

 By Major H. A. Cummins, M.D., R.A.M.C., F.L.S. 



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*THE Bermuda Islands are 

 their position, in N. lat. 



well known, and 

 32-17-4, W. long. 

 ■64-47-0, can easily be ascertained by reference to 

 a map. Few English people visit these islands 

 unless employed under the Government in an 

 official capacity. New York is about 700 miles 

 distant, consequently many Americans resort there 

 in order to escape the severe northern winter. 



When approaching Bermuda in a ship one is 

 struck by the enormous extent of surrounding 

 shallow water. The land itself is split up into 



Palms, palmettos, papaws, bananas, oranges and 

 limes flourish, as do garden vegetables, such as 

 celery, turnips, cabbages and potatoes. 



The scenery has its charms, but there is a great 

 want of variety. The undulating hillocks are 

 covered with cedars (Junipems bermudiana), ole- 

 anders, tamarisk bushes, wild sage (Lantana), 

 etc. ; while along the roadsides one sees flowering 

 ipomoeas, pomegranates and oleanders. The beau- 

 tiful turquoise blue of the sea can be observed 

 in most places, and glimpses of the inland sounds 





Part of the Great Sound, Bermuda. 



about 200 islands, varying in size from a bare 

 rocky projection to an island some twelve square 

 miles in area, covered by luxuriant vegetation. 



The climate is very damp and warm during the 

 greater part of the year, but in winter time 

 cold winds from the northern regions sweep down, 

 and frost has been recorded on one or two 

 occasions. The climate and soil have the property 

 of causing vigorous growth in many imported 

 plants from both temperate and tropical regions. 

 There is a tendency to produce sports and varieties 

 in them ; for instance, the Bermuda Easter lily is 

 considered by botanists to be a variety of Lilium 

 longiflorum called havrisii. These are smaller than 

 the normal plants, but have larger flowers. They 

 are said soon to revert to the original stock when 

 grown elsewhere. The onion seeds imported from 

 Teneriffe produce onions with a peculiar flavour 

 when' cultivated for one season in Bermuda soil. 



February, 1899,— No. 57, Vol. V. 



here and there give fresh charm to the scene. 

 The false mangrove borders the shore with its 

 green foliage, in company with many trailing 

 ipomoeas, composite plants, and sage bushes ; while 

 the true mangrove is occasionally to be found in 

 the inland swamps and ponds. 



The islands constituting Bermuda form an 

 archipelago, having a total land area of under 

 twenty square miles. The geological formation is 

 coral limestone. Along the north of the islands is 

 an extensive shoal bounded by a reef of rocks, the 

 terror of ancient navigators, many of whom lost 

 their lives by shipwreck on them. Outside this 

 ridge the water deepens rapidly, soon reaching five 

 hundred fathoms. This shoal, or lagoon, averages 

 some six fathoms in depth, and is superficially 

 about 150 square miles. The inland sounds, such 

 as Harrington Sound and Castle Harbour, have an 

 area of some fifty square miles, averaging also six 



