200 Mr. Broderip on Paguri. 



Art. XXI. On the habits and structure of Paguri and other 

 Crustacea. Bi/ W. J. Brodkkiv, Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S., 

 Sec, G.S., ^c. 



I make no apology for the publication of the following letter : because 

 an account of the habits of any animal is interesting, and because inform- 

 ation touching the Natural History of any of the Islands of the Antilles 

 is highly acceptable.* 



* A. De Humboldt says in the twentieth page of his Treatise De distributione 

 Geographical Plantarum " Nulla exstat regie inter tropicos sita, cujus plantae 

 " sponte crescentes accurate adhuc enumeratae sint. Ex majoribus insulis 

 " Antillarum, montibus et sylvis obtectis, nullius Florula rite explorata est, et 

 " nostra aetate fere quotidie peregrinatores in Hispaniola, Jamaica vel insula 

 " Cuba arbores inveniunt proceras et nova genera efficientes." What is here 

 said of the Botany, may be with equal truth affirmed of the Zoology. Sloane 

 and Browne did a good deal towards the elucidation of the Natural History of 

 Jamaica but much more remains to be done. The region of arborescent Ferns 

 appears not to have been searched either by the botanist or Zoologist, and, if an 

 uninitiated traveller has been led by curiosity to invade it, he speaks of plants, 

 insects and humming birds such as are not to be seen in the more cultivated 

 parts of the Island, such as he never saw before, and such as, unfortunately, 

 he cannot accurately describe. Browne, in his preface, after dwelling on the 

 importance of Jamaica both in a private and national point of view thus pro- 

 ceeds " Yet how small a part either of those who inhabit it, or of those who 

 " by one means or other draw the principal part of their subsistence, wealth and 

 " affluence from this fruitful spot ; know any thing of the Island in general, its 

 " productions, advantages, or inconveniencies ; or give themselves any pain in 

 " considering whether the former may be improved, or by what means the latter 

 " may be remedied or removed. And, indeed, were any disposed to do either, 

 " what grounds have they at present to proceed upon ? For, though many 

 " amongst those who have resorted thither, have been distinguished for their 

 " talents and learning, for their curiosity and abilities, the arts of government, 

 " or the means of acquiring wealth and power, have generally occupied their 

 " thoughts ; or the love of ease and pleasure, to which the climate but too 

 " much disposes even the most determined minds, has dissipated the best 

 " established resolutions; and in consequence, scarcely anything has been 

 " attempted towards exhibiting a just idea of this Island considered both in a 

 " civil and natural light, except what bears the evident marks of imbecility, 

 •' inattention, or erroneous information." This reproach, it is hoped, will, at 



