124 JOURNAL OF THE TRINIDAD 



" Sisters only one survives — the Dispenser, Sceur Marie Augustine. 

 " During a period of twenty three years she has only spent eight 

 " days outside the Asylum walls — a record probably never 

 •' approached in the history of leprosy. That she may long 

 "continue to adorn the post she so worthily occupies must be 

 " the wish of all who have the privilege of her acquaintance. 

 " When we remember the chaos which reigned at the Leper 

 "Asylum five and twenty years ago, we may well say of her, 

 "as of all the Sisters of Gocorite si monumentum quceris 

 " circumspice." Truly the noble tribute of a noble~heart to noble 

 hearts. Dr. Rake not only manifested his appreciation in 

 words but constantly pleaded with the Government for better 

 accommodation of these Dominican ladies, whose rooms he des- 

 cribed as little better than cupboards. 



So far an attempt has been made to give a sketch of Dr. Rake's 

 attainments and life work, but it was not alone in the character 

 of a great authority on leprosy that he was known to the Field 

 Naturalists' Club. He had been an ardent student of Nature 

 from his boyhood. At Fordingbridge he was well known as a 

 naturalist to whom neither bird, beast, reptile, insect or plant 

 came amiss, and during the year 1876-7 he searched the neigh- 

 bourhood of his home in quest of Natural History objects of 

 every description. From Trinidad he was constantly sending home 

 to his father curios which he obtained in his expeditions. He 

 was a true sportsman being passionately fond of rod and gun. 

 It was not to be wondered at therefore, that he soon identified 

 himself with the Trinidad Field Naturalists' Club of which he 

 became a member in August, 1892. He was a regular attendant 

 of the meetings at which his observations and remarks were 

 always interesting and to the point, and at almost the first 

 meeting he had something valuable to contribute with reference 

 to the much discussed question of the " Mosquito Worm" 

 (Devmatohia noxialis) which he had sent to the British Museum 

 for identification long before present controversialists had troubled 

 their heads about the matter. He was, as has been before stated, 

 interested in all branches of Natural History and went to 

 considerable trouble to make the monthly club gatherings 

 attractive ; sometimes he would exhibit trap door spiders and 

 their nests, at others, bees (Trigona), or insects akin to the ant- 

 lions or Myrmehonti<he. Now it would be the simple announce- 

 ment of a hasty glimpse of a rare butterfly (Papilio argesilaus) 

 flashing by as he drove to the Asylum. At other times a valuable 

 book or the transactions of a kindred society, or a porcupine so 

 young that its quills had not grown, or the eggs of a rare bird would 

 form his contribution to the programme of the evening. His first 

 paper read before the Club was a series of most interesting Natural 

 History Notes made during his visit to India, which was 



