1877. ] The Flora and Fauna of the Florida Keys. 141 
friend, Mr. Lesquereux, had the kindness to determine for me. 
They are Suriana maritima, the largest shrub covering most of 
the islands, improperly called bay-cedar by the inhabitants ; 
Tournefortia gnaphalioides; Avicennia tomentosa, a few crippled 
specimens on Bush Key, and also growing on the parade ground 
of Fort Jefferson ; Scevola Plumieri ; Euphorbia glabella, Cordia 
bullata, probably introduced near the light-house ; Ambrosia 
erithmifolia ; Nasturtium tanacetifolium ; Battatas littoralis ; a 
large Opuntia, probably introduced ; an undetermined Labiate ; 
Cenchrus tribuloides; Cyperus microdontus and Eragrostis ma- 
erantha. 
This scarcity of plants may be attributed to various causes, 
but the principal one is no doubt the more recent formation of 
these islands, more imperfect consolidation, and the as yet insuffi- 
cient accumulation of vegetable soil. The distribution of seeds 
may also be influenced by the currents in such a way as to be’ 
left in greater numbers on the keys farther east, which would be 
first touched by the eddy currents of the Gulf Stream ; but this 
question I would only touch upon under great reserve. > 
It would be an interesting study for a resident botanist to col- 
lect the numerous seeds thrown on the beaches of Florida and 
test their germinative powers. Some kinds seem to germinate, 
but still not to grow up to maturity. Thus I have seen the 
cocoanut germinating among the rubbish thrown up by the sea, 
but do not recollect seeing a tree grown up under such circum- 
stances, although it does well under cultivation. Among the 
most common and conspicuous seeds found on the beaches are 
the large beans of Entada gigalobium, so well protected by their 
hard skin that they stand transportation by the Gulf Stream as 
far as Spitzbergen. Yet they do not germinate in Florida, so far 
as I know. 
The land animals, as has been stated, are mostly immigrants 
from the mainland, with some exceptions which will be noted. 
The few mammals are entirely North American, and it is inter- 
esting to note how far the different species have penetrated along 
the chain of islands. For much of this informatian I am indebted 
to Colonel Patterson, one of the oldest residents of Key West, 
and a keen sportsman in his younger days. The deer and the 
raccoon have wandered as far as Key West; beyond this no mam- 
mals are found. The deer is probably destroyed at present, but 
the raccoon is still not uncommon. There may be a small rodent 
m addition, and perhaps the aquatic rabbit of the Southern 
