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BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 
CHAPTER IV. 
ANDROS ISLAND. 
Andros Island is the largest of the Bahama group, being about 
ninety miles long, and from ten to forty miles in width. It is thickly 
wooded, and intersected by a number of broad, shallow creeks. An 
extensive fresh-water lake exists in the interior, which abounds in all 
kinds of birds, and is well worthy of a visit, although it is rather 
difficult to get at. It may be reached by the Wide Opening from 
the west side, or Fresh Creek from the east; but the latter is too 
shallow, near its head, to admit of reaching the lake the entire way 
by boat, and a “ carry ” of several miles will have to be made. 
There are no good harbors ; but small craft, not drawing more 
than four or five feet of water, will easily find their way through the 
reefs on the eastern side of the island, but on the west side it is so 
shallow that even small vessels cannot approach within miles of the 
shore. On the shallow flats, quantities of birds congregate yearly, 
and Flamingoes, Pelicans, etc., are said to abound. Iguanas are 
numerous in the interior, and their flesh is much esteemed by the 
negroes, who prefer it to any other kind of meat. 
On the southern portion of the island many valuable kinds of 
trees grow in abundance ; among them we observed the ebony 
(scarce), mahogany, lignumvitse, cedar, logwood, and many others, 
which would prove a mine of wealth to any one able to master 
