The Ely miner., 1930-05-09

hdly ARTICLES anu volumes on the ge-
ology, conchology. zoology, astinolo-
gy, arachnOlogy. ichthyology, meteor
ology. and the flora and fauna of this
little punctuation point on the sur
face of the Atlantic.
While we cannot entirely exclude
from the enthusiasm and prolific ac-
tivity Of our scientific men the mo-
tive which the charm and bodily COM
fort of the islands furnished for these
expeditions thither. the publications
manifest an exceptional interest on
their part in this tiny spot on the
worlds and oceans surface which
the peculiar history of its creation
has justified
Some of the most fruitful sources
Of the spread of life. animal and vege-
table, are wind, current, and birds !;
and here we have the result of them
all in an isolated form, so set apart
as to permit the most satisfactory
study of their results.
There are no more snakes in Ber-
muda than there are in Ireland. They
have lizard and some varieties of
turtle, but that is all Of the reptile
life.
The turtles must in old times have
been Of huge size; one, it was said,
was large enough to give a good meal
from its meat to fifty men, and the
eggs and the oil of such monsters
were equally useful. There are tur-
ties there still, but they have been
discouraged in their expansive ambi-
tiOns and do not furnish forth mar
riage feast as generously as in the
dawn of civilization in that little COM
munity.
New Varieties of Life Flourish.
The Bermudas are the land of
adopted nativity. They are most hos
pitable to new varieties Of life. Some
enterprising grower of plants intro
duced toad to take care of the in
sects which were troubling him in
his garden, and though this was only
in the latter part of the last century,
one runs across everywhere frequent
evidence of these immigrants, Of a
size startling to one used to a more
modest variety at home.
Very early in the settlement, and
before 1920, vessel brought some en-
terprising rats, which, with enthusi-
asm worthy of a better cause. multi
piled until they ravaged the islands,
ate everything in sight, swan in great
multitudes from one island to another,
leaving havoc in their train.
Cats were introduced, but to no i'm
mediate purpose. Even the fish took
part in resisting the rats, and many
Of the finny tribe were caught with
rats in their stomachs. Suddenly they
disappeared as they had come and
left nothing but plague of cats,
with their night blooming character.
istics, as a reminder of this rodent
visitation.
The flora Of the Bermudas is full
of beauty for the observer and full of
interest for the man of science. OF
the trees and plants and shrubs in the
islands, so per cent inhabit also the
West Indies and southern Florida.
Nearly per cent, or 81 species grow
ing in Bermuda or its waters, are
not known to grow anywhere else In
the. world. These latter are of great
interest TO naturalists, as they were
presumably developed in Bermuda
from related plants formerly existing
elsewhere, but now mostly extinct.
though some may be found elsewhere
later.
In the landscape. the Bermuda ce-
dar furnishes the prevailing green. 1t
is the most abundant and character
istic tree Of Bermuda. 1t is the Ber-
mudian juniper. with berries which
are edible but not nourishing.
Lovely Flowers and Climate.
The luXuriance and wealth of color
Of the flora of the Bermudas have at
tracted the poets, who have sung their
beauties.
The purple bOugainvillea. with it's
varying shades in and out of the sun
light. is enhancing in its beauty and
welcomes one into the grounds Of the
government house, climbing over the
smoothly cut walls of coral through
which the white road makes its way
to the home of the governor.
The Oleanders are so fine and so
gorgeous in their hues that it has been
suggested that these be called the
Oleander islands. Coffee, indigo. cot
ton, and tobacco are of spontaneous
growth.
1t may not recall pleasant associa-
tions in the minds of the youthful to
say that in no place does the castor
oil plant grow more perfectly than
here.
The climate of Bermuda has a max
imum temperature of about SS de-
grees. minimum Of about 4S degrees,
and a mean of about 20 degrees. This
mild climate assists the growth of es.
culent plants and roots and promotes
early growth of onions. potatoes. car
rots, tomatoes, and beetroots, as well
as lily bulbs end arrowroot, though
the last two have not been success
full of late.