274 bulletin: museum of compaeative zoology. 



the natives call " wild pines " (Bromeliaceae), which are epiphytic on 

 many species of Jamaican trees. 



Fresh-water turtles are not uncommon in certain localities, though 

 perhaps, from the fact that they are eagerly sought after by the negroes, 

 they are shy and hard to obtain. 



Mention of the sea turtles has been omitted because there is nothing 

 in»their habits or distribution of particular interest. Generally speaking, 

 all the species are becoming scarcer about the islands. Turtlers from 

 Kingston now scour the coast of Central America, travelling back and 

 forth in small almost open schooners. The Green turtles are sent to 

 market in London, while the shell of the Hawksbill is prepared to some 

 extent in Jamaica. 



Under the separate discussion of the various species of lizards a con- 

 siderable number of notes on the local distribution of each have been 

 included. The ranges of many forms are surprisingly restricted, and it 

 is very unusual to find the same species of lizard the most common one 

 in any two localities, which are separated even by comparatively short 

 distance. Notes made on species identified on a number of trips 

 through the island in various directions, as well as specimens actually 

 collected in different localities, serve to bi'ing out this point. 



I have drawn much valuable aid from Stejneger's " Herpetology of 

 Porto Eico" (Ann. Kept. U. S. Nat. Mus. for 1902, 1904, p. 549-724, 

 1 pi.), as well as from Dr. Stejneger himself. 



I desire to thank my friend Dr. J. L. Bremer for his assistance in 

 making the collections. 



I have used the specimens and valuable field notes of Mr. A. E. Wight, 

 and also other material in the Museum from various sources. 



Literature. 



There have been but comparatively few works which dealt with the 

 herpetologic fauna of Jamaica in any fulness. Many of the species 

 were described in scattered publications, and these may be easily re- 

 ferred to from the citations of original descriptions. In 1851, however, 

 Philip Henry Gosse published his classic, " A Naturalist's Sojourn in 

 Jamaica." This charming book contains many references, which, while 

 they throw comparatively little light on the subject of the local distri- 

 bution of the various reptiles, still have a great value in showing the 

 abundance of many species half a century ago, as compared with their 

 abundance at the present time. Under each species Gosse's notes have 



