THE FLORA OF THE TURKS ISLANDS 281 



often the higher levels. Leaving the beach behind we find Ipomosa 

 tuba growing nearly all over the undulating sandy summit, but 

 with numerous associates, sometimes Ipomcea pes-caprce, Ambrosia 

 crithmifolia and Sesuvium, at other times Phyllanthus epiphyllanthus> 

 Euphorbia vaginulata, and Borrichia arborescens. The steep sandy 

 slopes are preferred by Sccevola plumieri. The Cyperus of the other 

 smaller cays also occurs, and I noticed an amarantaceous herb by 

 the beach. Goats and other animals have often been kept on this 

 island, and no doubt have affected the relative prevalence of the 

 different plants. 



Round Cay is an islet lying about two cables or 400 yards from 

 Gibb Cay, of which it doubtless originalfy formed a part. It is 

 composed of the same friable seolian sandstone, the disintegration 

 of which has supplied the sand that covers its surface. Its length 

 is about 150 yards or so, and its height forty-five or fifty feet. On 

 its flat summit thrive Tournefortia gnaphalodes, Sesuvium portulacas- 

 trum, and Euphorbia vaginulata, with a little Euphorbia buxifolia 

 and Portulaca oleracea. Cyperaceai and grasses are common. 



Greater Sand Cay, the most isolated island of the Turks Group, 

 is of especial interest to the student of the dispersal of plants in this 

 region. In sailing amongst the other islands one is in more or less 

 protected waters, but to accomplish the six and a half miles that 

 separate this island from Salt Cay the open ocean has to be traversed. 

 As a result one may have to wait for days and weeks before suitable 

 weather presents itself for reaching it, and on arrival it is not always 

 easy to land, whilst there is always a risk of being detained there 

 for some days by bad weather. The author spent two days on the 

 island. Dr. Millspaugh, who visited it a few weeks afterwards, 

 had difficulty in landing, the boat being turned over on top of him. 

 It would seem that we were amongst the first to investigate its 

 flora. This island is the first to catch the drift from the large West 

 Indian islands to the southward and eastward, and quantities of 

 seeds and fruits are stranded on the beach on its eastern side. Isolated 

 as it is, the disturbing influence of man and animals cannot be excluded. 

 Fishing-parties make a sojourn of a week or two, once or twice 

 during most summers. The small sailing craft of these seas anchor 

 occasionally on its west side to procure firewood, etc. Goats, again, 

 have been kept on the island, one or two being still there when I 

 visited it in March 1911. 



The island is about one and a half miles long, 500 or 600 yards in 

 maximum breadth, and forty or fifty feet high. It is principally 

 made up of two main masses of seolian sandstone, connected by a 

 low neck of sand raised ten to fifteen feet above the usual high- 

 water level, but breached by the sea during the hurricanes. Each 

 of these principal portions is again subdivided, the two parts being 

 connected by a low sandy neck which is also breached in stormy 

 weather. During hurricanes the three necks are washed clean by 

 the breakers and largely stripped of their plants. At such times the 

 four nuclei of seolian sandstone are isolated by the waves. Greater 

 Sand Cay is in truth one of the most wind-swept and sea- swept 

 islands of these regions, and it is exposed to the whole force of 



