X PREFACE. 



Wall and Sawkins I have also obtained the elevation of our 

 mountains and a few remarkable spots ; from many kind friends 

 I have received most useful and interesting contributions, and, 

 from some, material aid. To these gentlemen, too numerous to 

 be individually mentioned, I offer my most grateful acknow- 

 ledgments ; they are, however, especially due to Mr. John 

 Thatcher. I also acknowledge with pleasure that the Report of 

 MM. Wall and Sawkins on the Geology of Trinidad has 

 greatly assisted me in improving this second edition, by affording 

 most valuable information on the economic geology of the island. 



The zoological part of this work is very incomplete ; but not 

 only did I not possess the necessary facilities for writing very 

 comprehensively on the subject, but my intention has merely 

 been to give some short descriptive details of those animals which 

 do not exist in the other Antilles, or which deserve peculiar 

 notice (as I have elsewhere stated) either on account of their 

 prominent utility in the way of food, &c, their singular habits, 

 or their noxious qualities and destructive propensities. I hope, 

 therefore, the reader will make allowance for the little informa- 

 tion afforded under this head. The botanical part will be found 

 much more complete. 



My friend, Dr. Leotaud, has contributed a very interesting 

 memoir on the ornithology of the island. To him also I am 

 indebted for the catalogue of our fishes. The assistance of my 

 friend, Dr. Court, has enabled me to give a pretty complete 

 account of our most remarkable reptiles ; and another friend, 

 Mr. Herman Cruger, has kindly furnished a very talented and 

 valuable sketch of the flora of Trinidad. 



In the application of names, I have adopted those which I 

 consider as sanctioned by the common consent and usage of the 

 inhabitants, or which were originally given to certain localities. 

 Captain Columbine, in his report, had mistaken a few names : 

 for instance, he writes Les Couvas and Patter a instead of Las 

 Cuevas * and Matura. I would have given preference to Guataro 

 * las Cucvaa, a Spanish name signifying The Caves. 



