May, 1896. MUSEUM WORK IN JAMAICA. 319 



embryonic Art Gallery. It is managed by a Board of Governors, 

 and practically the whole support is derived from the Legislature. 

 Members are elected with certain privileges, and Members' Meetings 

 are held. A journal devoted to the special objects of the Institute is 

 published at intervals. Courses of public lectures on science and 

 literature, on the lines of the University Extension courses in 

 England, are arranged from time to time. 



Up to the present the literary side of the Institute has flourished, 

 to the disadvantage of the scientific. Now, however, vigorous 

 steps are being taken to secure full recognition of the latter. On 

 November 27, 1895, ^ ^^^ Museum, more adapted to the special 

 requirements of suitably exhibiting objects, was opened under favour- 

 able circumstances. In view of some important anthropological 

 discoveries recently made in the island, connected with the aboriginal 

 Indian inhabitants, advantage was taken of the opening of the new 

 Museum to stimulate further interest and researches in the subject. 

 An anthropological exhibition devoted to Arawak remains was 

 organised, and has proved a great success in encouraging investi- 

 gations of the numerous caves and various deposits which are to be 

 found in the island. Several series of aboriginal crania and other 

 bones have been obtained ; numerous examples of pottery, chipped 

 flint and other stone implements, images, perforated shell ornaments, 

 rock carvings, and several series of shell-mounds or kitchen middens 

 have been brought to light ; when their investigation, now in progress, 

 is complete, these will form a very important contribution to the 

 previously neglected anthropology of Jamaica. During the special 

 exhibition, public demonstrations are being given upon the collections, 

 especially to the teachers in the training colleges, with a view to 

 direct and encourage research throughout the island. 



Placed in the Museum, and arranged according to the parishes 

 into which Jamaica is divided, are the valuable collections made by 

 the officers of the Government Geological Survey under J. G. 

 Sawkins, F.G.S., in 1869, with the corresponding geological maps 

 and sections placed above the cases. 



The palaeontology of Jamaica was partially worked out by Mr. R. 

 Etheridge, F.R.S., when he was Palaeontologist of the British Survey; 

 while the late Dr. Duncan has done much upon the fossil corals, and 

 Mr. Guppy upon the shells. Professor Grenville A. J. Cole, Dublin, 

 is at present engaged upon specimens of Jamaican rocks. With this 

 exception practically no geological work has been done since the 

 time of the survey. 



The representatives of the fauna and flora of Jamaica are 

 presented in very variable conditions of completeness. While the 

 birds, reptiles, fishes, molluscs, and insects are well represented, 

 other groups, especially the marine invertebrates, are sadly deficient. 



The collection of birds contains many interesting specimens, 

 including the three characteristic species of humming-birds. Jamaican 



