190 THE NATURALIST IN BEEMUDA. 



the south, south-west, and west, and in the winter season 

 from west to north-west and north ; easterly winds are much 

 less frequent. . 



The warm water of the gulf stream, impelled by westerly 

 winds, occasionally deviates from its ordinary course, and 

 washes the rocky coast of the Bermudas. Gulf weed (Fucm 

 notans), is never absent from the creeks and bays, where it 

 accumulates in sufficient quantity to be worth collectiag for 

 purposes of manure. Logs of squared pine timber, covered 

 withbarnacles, aresometimesfoundstrandedonthebeach,and 

 on one occasion a very large squared log of mahogany was 

 driven on the south shore, perforated on every side, to the 

 depth of about six inches, by the Teredo navalis. Other 

 instances might be quoted of the productions of distant 

 countries beiag drifted to these islands. * 



That the cedars of Bermuda, the palmetto, and, indeed, 

 all the original vegetable productions of the group, were 

 thus introduced by seeds or plants which had floated from 

 the shores of America, there can be little doubt. 



The direction of the winds and currents between the 

 Northern States of America and the Bermudas, during the 

 first four months of the year, is clearly demonstrated by the 

 following occurrence : on the 4th January, 1853, the Ame- 

 rican brig, or brigantine, " Markland," laden with pitch pine 

 lumber, for the port of Boston, was capsized and abandoned 

 off that part of the American coast. On or about the first 

 of May foUowiag, this " direlict" drifted within sight of the 

 Bermudas, and was towed into the port of Hamilton, water- 



* Sapindus saponaria, the common soapberry tree of the West Indies, 

 growing in the Governor's grounds at Mount Langton, was raised from 

 seed found on the south shore. —See Williams' Bistory of Bermuda. 



