ANIMAL KINGDOM. 97 



a few dozen ramiers or ouikikis, which fetched at the rate of 

 sixty cents, or 2s. 6d. per pair. The number of those birds has 

 decreased to such an extent since, that any one now choosing 

 such a orecarious occupation as the chase for a maintenance 

 would inevitably starve. 



Reptiles. — Numerous as reptiles are in Trinidad, a few only 

 will be mentioned as deserving notice, either on account of their 

 utility, or of their venomous characteristics. Besides the turtle, 

 both the land and fresh-water tortoises are eaten, and when in 

 good season and condition are not to be despised ; the liver of 

 the morocoy (Testudo tabulata) is as delicate, or even much 

 richer and choicer than the foie gras; it requires the condiments 

 of lime-juice, salt, and pepper, and must be dressed in the frying- 

 pan. Morocoys are sometimes kept in pens, and fattened upon 

 ripe plantains, guavas, &c, for the table. By far the greater 

 number of sea and land tortoises exposed for sale in our markets 

 come from the Main. 



The common Iguana [Iguana tuherculata), but particularly 

 the Mato [Salvator Meriante), are not to be rejected from the 

 table ; the flesh of the latter, both in appearance and taste, very 

 much resembles that of a tender fowl. Some persons are also 

 very fond of iguana eggs : they are nearly cylindrical, with 

 rounded extremities. 



The supply of food derived from the great class of reptiles is 

 much greater than is, perhaps, at first thought. From the 

 Spanish Main alone, the town of Port of Spain receives, on an 

 average, 4,000 pounds of turtle per annum, to which we may 

 safely add 4,000 pounds more, as representing the quantity 

 supplied to all other parts, including, however, a quota from the 

 island itself ; thus the whole quantity of turtle consumed in the 

 island would amount to 8,000 pounds; if to this we add 1,000 

 pounds more for morocoys, lizards, matos, we shall then have a 

 grand total of from 9,000 to 10,000 pounds of flesh supplied 

 from the grand class of reptiles. 



Although venomous serpents are numerous and common in 

 Trinidad, accidents arising from their bite are of rare occurrence, 

 either because the Mapepire and Cascabel (Crotalus mutus, and 

 Trigonocephalus jararaca) , being very sluggish, are easily avoided, 

 or even do not attack or inflict wounds, except on their being 

 disturbed in the enjoyment of repose; or again, because those 



