378 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 



with the angle of descent observed at the Paget's sand 

 hills; a sufficient proof that the islands have been moved 

 into their present form by the action of the winds, and have 

 not risen by plutonic power from the waters of the Atlantic. 

 Then, if trees and plants vegetated in the embedded soil, 

 the roots and stems might be supposed to leave traces of 

 their existence, either in the red soil itself or in the white 

 shell immediately above and below the vein. Nothing of 

 the kind is to be seen. 



One characteristic of the geology of the Bermudas, 

 alluded to in Mr. Goldie's lecture, must have existed from 

 an early period, viz., the duck pools, formed by an 

 incrustation of carbonate of lime. But for these reci- 

 pients of rain water, in a land devoid of springs or fresh 

 water ponds, all land birds must have perished. 



How far the islands may be indebted to colonies of sea- 

 birds for the surface soil of the present day, and whether 

 the colour of that soil be due to them or to generations of 

 the cedar tree, or to both, are que stions we need not enter 

 upon. 



Analysis of the red earth of Bermuda, by Dr. Albert 

 J. Bernays, Analytical Chemist, St. Mary's Hospital, 

 Paddington. 



Water ... 1870 



Silix and silica 3670 



Oxides of iron and alumina 3S"50 



Sulphate of lime 2*03 



Carbonate of lime .. ... 3*51 



Carbonate of magnesia ... 270 



Cholorides, phosphates, &c, 

 not estimated for want of 

 material ... o*86 



IOO'OO 



