240 fOWA STUDIES IN NATURAL HISTORY 
that region. The collector was evidently one of those born 
naturalists who linger affectionately over their specimens and 
handle them tenderly. This affection finds expression in a 
poem, a copy of which was presented me by Mrs. Branch, which 
shows a rare appreciation of nature as represented by sea shells. 
The city of St. John’s has a population of about 9,000 and 
faces the harbor of the same name. It is more regular in plan 
than Bridgetown, the streets being fairly wide, straight and 
usually at right angles to each other. On steamer day there 
is considerable activity, but ordinarily there are no crowds 
except around the market and an occasional Salvation Army 
meeting. Life seems to be of the usual tropical ‘‘dulce far 
niente’’ sort and there is much less of strenuosity than is evi- 
dent at Barbados, because the struggle for existence is far less 
keen. The people show less aptitude for continuous hard labor. 
There are some good stores such as that of Forrest and Co., 
Harper’s Drug Store and José Anjo’s, where photographic ma- 
terials, ete. may be obtained. 
There are several commission firms which do a comparatively 
large business, such as Bennett, Bryson and Co., with whom we 
arranged for the sloop to move our effects to and from English 
Harbor; and A. J. Camacho and Co., agents for the Quebec line. 
Most of our groceries were secured from Mendes and Co. Al- 
though we found that there were some aggravating delays in 
delivery of goods, our business dealings were on the whole quite 
satisfactory. 
About the only really imposing buildings at St. John’s are 
the Anglican Cathedral and Government House. There are 
several other churches but they are not architecturally atttract- 
ive. The lack of hotel accommodations already referred to is 
a handicap that will prevent visitors from stopping over be- 
tween steamers, as would otherwise be well worth while. 
There are many delightful auto rides out from St. John’s, 
and Anjo’s auto service seems adequate to the needs of the 
place and not unreasonable as to rates. The most interesting 
thing here, as in every out of the way place, is the people. 
Through the kindness of Colonel Bell, Mr. Ricker was given 
every facility for taking pictures to his heart’s content, and as 
a result we have a pictorial record of the street scenes and daily 
