BLOCK ISLAND. 71 



turf, scattered at intervals through the tall grass of the dunes. 

 Upon digging down to a depth of from two to ten inches I in- 

 variably found accumulations of charcoal, cobble stones, shells 

 and the bones and teeth of animals. A number of the latter 

 were collected and subsequently submitted to Dr. Bashford 

 Dean, of Columbia University, for examination, to whom I am 

 indebted for the following list : 



Sturgeon, numerous plates. 



Bluefish, jaws and teeth. 



Swordfish, fragments of a skull and premaxillae. 



Fish vertebrae, not identified. 



Porpoise (?), fragments of ribs. 



Seal, fragment of a rib. 



Vertebrae and tibia of a bird, possibly a swan. 



The indications are that the island would prove a rich field 

 for investigation by anyone interested in archaeology, as a fair 

 amount of material may be obtained by mere surface scratch- 

 ing, and systematic search would doubtless reveal much more. 

 Aside, however, from the value of the material which might be 

 collected, an insight would be obtained into the fauna which 

 formerly inhabited the island and its surrounding waters — in- 

 formation which would be of great interest to the zoologist. 



Note. — After having made the few archaeological observa- 

 tions above recorded I learned by accident that explorations 

 were being made by others specially interested in the subject. 

 This information caused me to abandon any further investiga- 

 tions in that direction, in order not to anticipate any of the work 

 under way, the results of which will doubtless be published in 

 due time through other channels. 



Zoology. 



As might be expected, the existing fauna is comparatively 

 sparse and is evidently very meagre compared to what once ex- 

 isted on the island. In fact, the scarcity of animal life is sure to 

 at once attract the attention of the observer from the main- 

 land. 



Tree-loving birds are conspicuous by their absence, and I was 



