CHAP. XIV.] THE NEOTROPICAL REGIOX. 



In the preceding enumeration the Bahamas have been included 

 "with Cuba, as regards the birds they have in common ; but they 

 possess some half dozen species not found elsewhere, and even 

 one central American genus of humming-birds (Voricha) not 

 found in any other part of the Antilles. We have thus given 

 Cuba rather more peculiar species than it really possesses, so 

 that the proportionate richness of Jamaica is rather greater than 

 shown by our figures. 



The destruction of the forests and the increase of population, 

 with, perhaps, the use of firearms, seem to have led to the 

 extermination of some species of birds in the smaller islands. 

 Professor Newton has called attention to the work of M. Ledru, 

 who, in 1796, described the birds of St. Thomas. He mentions 

 a parrot and a parroquet in the island, the latter only being 

 now known, and very scarce ; also a green pigeon and a tody, 

 both now^ unknown. No less tlian six species of parrots are 

 said to have been formerly found in Guadeloupe and Martinique, 

 which are now extinct. 



Plate XVII. Illustrating the peculiar Mammalia and Birds of 

 the Antilles. — The scene of this illustration is Cuba, the largest 

 of the AVest Indian islands, and one in wliich all its peculiar 

 zoological features are well developed. In the foreground is tlie 

 agouta ySolenodon cubanus), a remarkable insectivorous animal 

 which, with another species inhabiting Hayti, has no allies on 

 the American continent ; nor anywhere in the world but in 

 Madagascar, where a group of animals are found constituting 

 the family Centetidee, to which Solcnodon is said undoubtedly to 

 belong. Above it are a pair of liutias {Capromys fournieri), 

 rat-like animals belonging to the South American family Octo- 

 dontidce. They live in the forests, and climb trees readily, eating 

 all kinds of vegetable food. Three species of the genus are 

 known, which are found only in Cuba and Jamaica. Just above 

 these animals is a white-breasted trogon {Prionoteles temmirus), 

 confined to Cuba, and the only species of the genus. Near the 

 top of the picture are a pair of todies {Todus multicolor), singular 

 little insectivorous birds allied to the motmots, but forming a 

 very distinct family which is confined to the islands of the 



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