464 Zoological Society. 



Hab. Borneo, at the mouth of the river Lundu, 



I may remark, that the comparison of these Lancelets from Naples, 

 Cornwall and Borneo has induced me to think that most probably 

 the species from Naples may be distinct from the Cornish. All our 

 specimens are smaller and more opake ; the beards of the mouth 

 appear finer ; and the dorsal ridge above referred to appears compa- 

 ratively smaller, even making allowance for the difference in the size 

 of the specimens. 



A FEW Remarks on the Geographical Distribution of Birds in 

 THE West Indies. By William Denny, Esq. 



Humboldt, Vigors, Swainson and other eminent naturalists, lament 

 the defective state of knowledge respecting the zoology of the West 

 Indies. The Flora of Jamaica has been often successfully explored ; 

 the geology of a great portion has been investigated by De la Beche ; 

 the ornithology and entomology however remain nearly in the state 

 in which they were left one hundred years since by Sir Hans Sloane. 

 In all the departments of the natural history of the Antilles much 

 still remains to the inquirer, but in zoology he has an almost unex- 

 plored field for his researches. The region of Tree-ferns has been 

 left unexamined for the botanist, the western half of Jamaica for the 

 geologist ; but with the exception of about sixty species of birds no- 

 ticed by Sloane and Browne, the entire ornithology is unknown*, 

 including all the species peculiar to the mountainous districts. 



About thirteen years since an attempt was made to send out a 

 party of naturalists to examine the animals and productions of Ja- 

 maica, but it failed ; and had the party reached those shores, I doubt 

 that their researches would have thrown much additional light on 

 zoology. The insalubrious nature of the climate in the low grounds, 

 the excessive heat, and many other causes, would probably have ren- 

 dered their exertions fruitless. The naturalist must alike be familiar 

 with the inhabitants of the deadly swamp and the pathless mountain ; 

 he must brave the tropical heat and mountain cold, and the sudden 

 transitions of temperature. It is only those inured to the climate by 

 long residence, and who have had fortitude to resist its debilitating 

 effects, or those born in the country whose habits are active and 

 pursuits congenial, that can sustain these difficulties and dangers. 



Placed at nearly equal distance from North and South America, 

 it might be supposed that nearly an equal number of the species of 

 each division of that continent might be found in Cuba and Jamaica. 

 This supposition is not however fully borne out by observation, al- 

 though from our knowledge of the ornithology of Terra Firma being 

 extremely imperfect, it is difficult to render a conclusion free from 

 error. It will hereafter appear, that of the birds of Jamaica, one- half 

 are common to North America, while hardly one-fifth are also found 

 in the southern region of the New World. 



Of those species common to the islands more immediately under 



* This want of information has been reduced very considerably at the present 

 moment by the appearance of Mr. Gosse's work * On the Birds of Jamaica.' 



