RECENT DISCOVERIES OF FOSSIL VERTEBRATES IN 



THE WEST INDIES AND THEIR BEARING ON THE 



ORIGIN OF THE ANTILLEAN FAUNA. 



By W. D. MATTHEW. 



(Read April 25, 1919.) 



Introduction. Interest of West Indian Fossils — Review of 

 Earlier Knowledge. 



Ten or twelve years ago almost nothing was known of the ex- 

 tinct vertebrates of the West Indies. There was good reason to 

 suppose that a considerable fauna had existed, and that if found it 

 would be a very interesting one. One would expect to find peculiar 

 insular types, different from the mainland faunas, and the affinities 

 of the various types would provide evidence as to former land con- 

 nections and other interesting problems. The modern fauna of the 

 islands has undoubtedly been greatly modified by man, both before 

 and since its settlement by white men. Such indigenous mammals 

 as existed have mostly disappeared in consequence, and with them 

 many of the lower vertebrates and invertebrates. And many ani- 

 mals have been introduced either by intention or by accident. Ca- 

 promys, Plagiodontia and Solenodon, two peculiar rodents and a 

 very peculiar insectivore, are the only surviving mammals that are 

 certainly indigenous. The lower vertebrates are more numerous, 

 but many of them also have been exterminated, and others intro- 

 duced since man arrived on the islands. 



The climate and geology of the islands limit the prospects of dis- 

 covery of fossil land faunas to cave and stream or spring deposits 

 of Pleistocene age. The underlying sedimentary formations are 

 practically all marine, chiefly Tertiary limestones and an older 

 metamorphosed series which seem to be chiefly altered volcanic ma- 



PROC. AMER. PHIL. SOC, VOL. LVIII, K, July I9, 1919. 



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