CHAPTER II. 



GEOLOGICAL YIEW — MINERAL SPRINGS, PITCH DEPOSITS — SOIL AND VEGETATION. 



The island of Trinidad has evidently been detached from the 

 adjacent peninsula of Paria. Of this we find numerous proofs 

 in the animal and vegetable kingdoms, as also in the geological 

 structure of the island ; and this must be evident even to the 

 least initiated. 



In the animal kingdom we find the following objects for 

 comparison : — The Howling Monkey and Weeping Ape, among 

 quadrumana ; the Tiger-cat, or Ocelot, the Gato-melao, or Taira, 

 and the Otter, amongst carnivora ; the Lapa among rodentia ; 

 the Tatou, or Cachicame, with the great and small Sloths, 

 among edentata ; the Guazoupita amongst ruminantia ; and the 

 Pecari among pachydermata. In the feather tribe, I may 

 mention, among numerous species, the vultures Papa and 

 Urubu; the Crested Gavilan {Spizaetus ornatus),th.e Campanero, 

 and the Yacou, with several pigeons ; the Macaw, the Guacharo, 

 the Kamichi, and Red Ibis ; also several ducks, &c. The tribe 

 of reptiles supplies the following identical species : — The Mo- 

 rocoy, or land Tortoise, the Galapa, or river Tortoise, among 

 chelonians ; the Mapipire and Coral Snakes, the Macaouel and 

 Huillia (boas) , among ophidians ; the Pipa and Paradoxal frogs 

 amongst batrachians ; the Mato (Salvator Merianai), and a few 

 others. "We have also several fresh- water fish, which are found 

 on the neighbouring main, viz. : the Cascaradura and Guabine ; 

 as also some kinds of insects which are not inhabitants of the 

 other Antilles — among them the Lanthorn and the Parasol-ants. 



The analogy between our Flora and that of the peninsula of 

 Paria is also well defined. The stately Moriche Palm, the useful 

 Timite and Carata, adorn the savannahs and woodlands alike of 

 Trinidad and of Venezuela ; the Mora Tree forms here, as it 

 does there, immense forests; the Poui, the Cyp, Roble, and 



