JAMAICA 199 



there are many introduced plants, which will be mentions l 

 later among the agricultural products. 



Jamaica cannot boast of a single native mammal, 

 although the island is overrun by the exotic mongoos. 

 This small weasel-like animal constantly crosses the high- 

 way before the traveler, infests the yards, and seems to 

 pop out from every bush and stone. It was originally 

 introduced for the purpose of destroying the Norway rat, 

 another immigrant, which bade fair to eat np the cane- 

 fields. The experiment was unsuccessful. The mongoos 

 did not exhibit any particular predilection for a diet of 

 rat, although the latter was so frightened that it was forced 

 to change its habitat from the ground to the tree-tops, 

 and, instead, feasted upon the native birds and reptiles, 

 which had hitherto benefited the island by keeping 

 down the injurious insect life, especially the field-tick, 

 which, with the destruction of its natural enemies, in turn 

 began to increase enormously. Chickens, puppies, cats, 

 and other domestic animals were devoured by the mon- 

 goos, and the blacks believe the dusky piccaninny was 

 included in the list. In later years, however, the ticks 

 have assailed the mongoos, and the latter is succumbing 

 to them. Besides a large iguana, there are many smaller 

 species of lizards and a few harmless snakes. 



The scorpion and centipede are slightly poisonous, but 

 neither very dangerous nor abundant. Ants, mosquitos, 

 and sand-flies are common in the lowlands, but the uplands 

 are singularly free from insect pests. The butterflies, 

 beetles, and fireflies are beautiful, the latter including 

 fourteen kinds besides the beautiful Cuban flat. Mid, 

 which carries upon each shoulder a miniature electric 

 Light. Gosse, the naturalist, who lived in Jamaica for 

 eighteen months, enumerates twenty different song-birds, 

 besides the parrots, pigeons, and a greal variety of water- 

 fowls. The crocodile, the manatee, and the Wesl Indian seal 

 inhahit the adjacent sea borders. A few species of fresh- 

 water fish are found in the rivers. Edible marine fish 



