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CHAPTER II. 



GEOLOGICAL VIEW. 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 Ta'ira, and 

 the Otter, amongst carnivora ; the Lapo among rodentia; the Tatou, 

 or Cachicame, with the great and small Sloths, among edentata ; 

 the Guazoupita amongst ruminantia ; and the Pecari among pachy- 

 dermata. In the feathered tribe, I may mention, among numerous 

 species, the vultures Papa and Urubu ; the Crested Gavilan (Sjri- 

 zaetus ornatus), the 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 follow- 

 ing identical species : the Morocoy, 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 Malo (Salvator 

 Meriance), 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 Lan- 

 thorn 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 Copaiba 



