Occasional Notes. 163 



same applies to vultures which pollute our gutters, they will come so long 

 as carrion can be found. Dirt, carrion and damaged food bring most of 

 our pests. — J.R. 



Guiana Furs. — It has been suggested that some of the wild 

 animals of this colony such as opossums have furs suitable for muffs, 

 etc. It would be well to protest at every stage against wanton destruc- 

 tion of wild animals where they are harmless, and it may be suggested 

 that rabbits can supply all the furs really necessary without going into 

 the tropics and disturbing the balance of life. What we want is a rational 

 public opinion that will be against destroying rare beasts and birds when 

 there are skins and feathers procurable from food animals everywhere. 

 Personally, and as a naturalist, I should not however be favourable to 

 legal prohibitions for we have too much law already for an undeveloped 

 country. — J.R. 



The Balance of Life. — This is so beautifully kept here under natural 

 conditions that it would be a pity to spoil it. We hear of such an animal 

 being a pest yet when we look carefully into the matter we find it to be 

 really essential to the welfare of the whole. Everybody has a horror of 

 snakes, especially in the cane-fields, yet they keep down real pests such as 

 rats and mice as well as acouris, labbas and other rodents which might 

 some day be real dangers. Bats again are shunned and often killed when 

 many of them are insect eaters as are also frogs and toads. Even scorpions 

 and centipedes feed on cockroaches which our housewives dislike and 

 ants in our beds destroy bugs. — J.R. 



Old Glen, the Hermit of Mibiri Creek. — As this eccentric character 

 was closely connected with Waterton and his friend Edmonstone, it is 

 desirable to note that he was very prominent in connection with the 

 founding of the New Jerusalem Church in America. A Convention was 

 held in Philadelphia in June, 1917, in connection with which a bronze 

 memorial tablet, with the following inscription was unveiled : — 



Bell's Book Store. 



Here in 



1784 



was delivered bt 



James Glen 



of Demerara, B.G., 



The First Public Lecture 



ever given on the 



Christian Doctrines 



set forth bv 



Swedenborg. 



At the Convention Mr. Hay gave an account of the early workers 

 including Glen ; it is reported in the New-Church Messenger, June 20th 

 as follows ; — 



