380 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 



rounding ocean, or by volcanic material from above ; I am, 

 therefore, still under' the impression that the red earth of 

 Bermuda is the residue of a bed of guano deposited by sea- 

 birds in ages of the past. 



These changes must have taken place in ancient times, 

 when the islands were unknown to the inhabitants of this 

 world. When no animal life beyond sea-birds could there 

 exist, in the absence of vegetation and fresh water. 



How many centuries may have rolled into the past 

 prior to the discovery of the islands by Bermudez, in 

 1515, we know not; at that period, however, they were 

 found to be covered with various kinds of trees, from the 

 Cedar to the Palm, and even the Sage Bush, which over- 

 runs the barren lands of the far west of Northern America, 

 growing in a red soil which had been formed upon the 

 surface ; all, beyond doubt, from seeds which had floated 

 across the sea from America, and been driven by violent 

 winds to their positions. 



Carbonate of lime now formed a crust in small hollows 

 of the surface, sufficient to hold a scanty supply of rain 

 water, which enabled land-birds and insect life to exist,, 

 when wafted from the westward by tropical winds. Now, 

 this supply of fresh water is supplemented by that of 

 poultry yards, and by rain water collected in the wide 

 ditch which drains the Pembroke Marshes. 



Such is the marvellous history of the past and present 

 state of the Bermudas ; commencing with the coral polype ; 

 the action of the winds and sea ; the deposit of sea birds ; 

 and, ultimately, by the presence of man. 



FRESH WATER SOURCES. 



Born and brought up in England, it was but natural that 

 I should be under the impression that a supply of water 



