VARIETIES. 521 



even more insidious enemy, is the peoito (pulga) de la Savaiia, 

 or Savannah flea, not larger than a grain of sand, of a deep 

 vermilion colour, and very numerous. They attack the softer 

 parts of the flesh, and occasion a very painful itching. Com- 

 mon fleas, niguas or chijos, and mosquitoes, are in the usual 

 abundance. Lloyd. 



7. Mosquitoes m Anegada. — Of all the insects, the mosquitoes 

 (a species of Simulia or Atractodes) are the most troublesome 

 in Anegada ; indeed the torments which they cause the inha- 

 bitants and the casual visitor are unceasing. They swarm 

 not only during the day, but they are increased at night by 

 the " Gallon-nipper," a species of a larger description than the 

 common mosquito, and also more venomous. During the last 

 twelve years Anegada had not been visited by so large a swarm 

 of these insects as during the late summer of 1831 ; indeed, I 

 was several times obliged to return from my surveying to the 

 settlements, not being able to proceed in consequence of their 

 painful stings. It is only possible by making continual smoke 

 around the habitations to get rid of them in some measure. 

 They had mostly disappeared since 1819, without any reason 

 being alleged for it ; but returned in 1831 in larger swarms than 

 ever. These insects are not only a scourge to man, but the 

 poor beasts suffer likewise ; and I have been told, by different 

 persons, that they have known the wild goats return to the 

 settlements in order to seek protection. The sheep suffer the 

 most from their bites, which cause inflammation, cramps, and 

 even death amongst them. 



Of other venomous insects, there are the Scolopendra Morsi- 

 tans {Scorpio Americana,) black and blue spiders, the bite of 

 the latter of which is dangerous, causing sudden inflammation. 

 It is curious that there are no black worms or gongolos {Julus 

 fuscus) to be met with, though there are great numbers in the 

 other Virgin Islands. Persons who brought some over from 

 Spanish Town, out of curiosity, told me they died in a short 

 time without propagating. It is certainly a remarkable fact, that 

 as the distance between Virgin Goda and Anegada is so trifling, 

 and the Julus fuscus in such large quantities on the first island, 

 that there should be none in the latter. Can the air be the rea- 

 son of it, or the exhalation of the ground peculiar to Anegada ? 



NO. V. VOL. V. 3 X 



