XIX. — Notes on the Fauna of the Island of Dominica, 

 British West Indies, with Lists op the Species obtained 



AND OBSERVED BY G. E. AND A. H. VeRKILL. Bt G. E. 



Verrill. 



The following collections were obtained by my brother and ray- 

 self dui'ing March, April, and May, 1890, on the Island of Dominica, 

 one of the Lesser Antilles, situated in Lat. 15° 18' to 15° 45' N. and 

 Long. 61° 14' to 61° 30' W. 



This island lies approximately north and south, is of volcanic 

 origin, rising abruptly from the sea, and is about 29 miles long by 

 17 wide, the whole containing about 290 square miles. Generally 

 speaking it is composed of a high central ridge or crest running 

 lengthwise, the crest itself l)eing made up of a number of peaks, the 

 highest attaining an altitude of about 5300 feet. 



From this central crest it slopes down to the east and west in a 

 succession of lower peaks and ridges with deep valleys and ravines 

 between, many of which contain rapid mountain streams. Close to 

 the coast these valleys widen, frequently to quite an extent, giving 

 chance for sugar plantations, etc. This is particularly the case on 

 the western, or leeward side, where the slope is much less than on 

 the windward, or Atlantic side, so that it is possible to cultivate the 

 ground well up on the mountains on the former side. 



The vegetation of the island is of the most luxuriant type, cover- 

 ing the mountains to their tops and consisting of a very great variety 

 of trees, palms, tree-ferns, shrubs, vines, etc. The tree-ferns are 

 very abundant and often twenty feet or more high. Many of the 

 trees reach a great height, while the smaller ones with the various 

 vines and lianas form a network almost impassable unless a person is 

 armed with a *' cutlass " or " machete " almost invariably carried by 

 the natives to cut their way. 



The temperature along the coast averages about 85° F. most of 

 the time, but back in the interior, among the mountains, it is much 

 cooler ; so cool, in fact, that at night one needs a pair of good heavy 

 blankets. The climate is also very damp, especially up in the 

 mountains where, even during the dryest portion of the year, there 

 is a succession of short, sharp showers every day, each followed by 



Trans. Conn. Ag.vd.. Vol. vril. 42 April, 1892. 



