THE FERN BULLETIN 



VOL. X. JULY, 1902 NO. 3 



FERN HUNTING IN NASSAU. 



By E. C. Anthony. rOT*^* 1 



R06N 



The first requisite for a successful fern hunt in Nassau is a 

 carriage with one of the little native horses, which are not beau- 

 tiful, but willing and untiring. We had a colored driver, who 

 proved on trial to know more about the flora of the island than 

 most of the white inhabitants. The country is entirely different 

 from anything we see in the North. The greatest altitude of the 

 island, in the Baillou Hills, is not more than one hundred and 

 twenty feet, hence there are no streams of fresh water. There 

 are no large forests, and the rough, rocky surface of the ground, 

 almost destitute of soil, makes it seem a poor place for ferns. 

 The roads are very smooth, in many places cut through the 

 solid rock, and where banks have weathered, many little ferns. 

 Anemia. Ptcris longi folia, and Davallia clavata, have gained a 

 scanty foothold. 



But when we discovered the possibilities of the rock holes 

 our enthusiasm was at once aroused. The rough surface of the 

 ground is filled with holes, from the mysterious Mermaid's Pool 

 in the depths of the pine barrens, which is round, sixty feet 

 across, and in places unfathomable, to those capable of only 

 containing a tiny fern. Many of them resemble wells, being very 

 regular in shape, more or less deep, and often containing water. 

 It was a constant source of pleasure to be on the lookout for 

 these holes beside the road, and eagerly explore them for new 

 specimens. We soon found that as in Florida we must go far 

 and wide to get a variety, for though ferns were abundant, there 

 were rarely more than two or three species in any given locality. 

 We were almost certain to find in the rock holes Aspidium tri- 

 foHatUm and Dryoptcris patens, with a fringe on the edge of 

 Davallia clavata. The large pits, partly filled with brackish 

 water, which is said to rise and fall with the tide, are called 

 ocean holes. 



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