fReprinted from the Annals of Lyceum of Xataral History of N. T. 

 Yol. 10, Xos. 10-11, March-June, 1873.1 



XXYIII. — On the Physical Geography of^ and the Distribu- 

 tion of Terrestrial Mollusca in, the Bahama Islands. 



Bt THOMAS BLAND. 

 Read April 28, 1873. 



The northern end of the extensive and remarkable group 

 called the Bahama, or Lucayos Islands, lies opposite southern 

 Florida, and from this point the islands stretch off in a 

 double series, nearly parallel to the trend of Cuba and San 

 Domingo, and terminate properly in the Turk's Island Bank, 

 on which are the last, and most easterly, of this chain of in- 

 habited islands, which extends about 600 miles, from within 

 70 miles of the coast of Florida, to within 100 miles of that 

 of San Domingo. 



The following brief description of the Banks and Islands, 

 defined generally by the 100-fathom line of soundings, is 

 taken principally from the valuable "Report on the Bahamas," 

 by Governor Rawson, which report accompanied the official 

 "Blue Book" of that colony, for 1864; the soundings from 

 the charts issued by the IT. S. Coast Survey, and the Hydro- 

 graphic Office of the U. S. Navy. 



The Little Bahama Bank. — This is the most northerly bank; its north- 

 western point, Matanilla Reef, is 70 miles from tlie Florida shore, sepa- 



(311) 



