320 NATURAL SCIENCE. May. 1896. 



birds have been collected and studied more specially by Mr. P. H, 

 Gosse (1847) and Sir Edward Newton. The collection formed by 

 the latter, while Governor of the island, is in the museum at 

 Cambridge, England. 



Jamaica possesses only one indigenous land mammal, Capromys 

 brachyurus, Hill, with the exception of the bats, of which there is a 

 rich variety. Four species of snakes, twenty-two species of lizards, 

 and several species of tortoises and turtles occur, while the crocodile 

 is not uncommon. Over three hundred species of fish are known. 

 A few live specimens of the most suitable animals are also exhibited 

 in the grounds of the Institute. 



A Herbarium of Jamaican plants, formed by Mr. Fawcett, the 

 Director of the Botanical Gardens, is maintained; as also a duplicate 

 of the Jamaica Court at the Imperial Institute, London, for purposes 

 of reference. 



The introduction of the mongoose into the island, about twenty 

 years ago, for the purpose of destroying the sugar-cane rat, has very 

 seriously disturbed the previous balance of nature among the 

 various land animals and plants. 



In almost every department of biological enquiry Jamaica and 

 the West Indies generally offer a very rich, but only partially investi- 

 gated, field for research. A vigorous attempt was made a few years 

 ago to form a marine laboratory upon a large scale, with the special 

 object of affording facilities to foreign biologists in studying tropical 

 life, but unfortunately the scheme fell through, largely because of its 

 too ambitious nature. 



A biological laboratory with most modern appliances for carrying 

 on scientific research, and a dark room for photography, have lately 

 been fitted up in connection with the Museum. What with constant 

 and regular intercourse with the outer world by means of various 

 lines of steamers, a library furnished with most of the European and 

 American publications, a laboratory, constant communion with 

 professional men trained in England and America, one feels none of 

 the insulation which might be imagined to exist in such a distant 

 colony ; while the varied richness and luxuriance of the tropical land 

 and waters add a completeness to the biologist's conception of life 

 not otherwise attainable. 



J. E. DUERDEN. 



