THE CUBA REVIEW 



19 



ALL AROUND CUBA 



MUSEUM GETS UNIQUEIFOSSILS FROM CUBA 



The American Museum of Natural History, 

 through the courtesj- of Prof. Carlos de la 

 Torre, of the University of Havana, who, bj' 

 systematic explorations succeeded in securing 

 large collections of fossil mammals and fossil 

 reptiles at three different localities in Central 

 Cuba, was recently permitted to join in 

 further explorations for these unique speci- 

 mens. It was announced that the Museum 

 had succeeded in recovering a very large 

 series, especially from a hot spring near Cien- 

 fuegos. 



Mammals of the West Indies, living and 

 fossil, are of peculiar interest. They afford 

 a clue to the geologic history of the islands, 

 and the effects of insular conditions upon evo- 

 lution of a race. The living mammals are very 

 few in number, and of peculiar types, widely 

 different from those of the mainland, except 

 for such as have been or may have been in- 

 troduced by man. ^'ery little has been known 

 of the extinct mammals. 



The remains found were chiefly skulls, jaws 

 and skeleton bones of extinct ground sloths, 

 representing four distinct genera, all of pecu- 

 liar type, and rather distantly related to any 

 of the genera that formerly inhabited the 

 continental regions to the north and south. 

 Their nearest know allies are Megaloiti/x, a 

 genus of gigantic extinct quadruped, of the 

 Pliocene and Pleistocene of North America, 

 and of the Miocene of Patagonia. Their 

 small size compared with their contempor- 

 aries on the mainland, and peculiar characters 

 indicate that the island has long been isolated 

 from either North or South America. 



\Mtli these groimd sloth remains were 

 found, also, rodents related to the living 

 Capromys of Cuba, large crocodiles of the 

 species now living on the island and peculiar 

 to it, giant tortoises, aquatic turtles and 

 lizards. Sufficient remains of the extinct 

 ground sloth were found to enable the Mu- 

 seum to select two complete skeletons for 

 mounting, one for this museum, the other 

 for the Academy of Sciences in Havana, in 

 return for the courtesies extended by that 

 society. 



ANCIENT CUBAN DOCUMENTS 



The Bulletin of the Pan-American Union 

 makes mention of the recent discovery in the 



Royal Archives at Seville, Spain, of manj' 

 ancient documents relative to the history of 

 Cuba from the year 1508 to a very recent 

 period. The documents in question consist 

 of royal decrees, orders, etc., reports of con- 

 ferences between the King and his Council 

 of the Indies, often annotated in the Mon- 

 arch's own handwriting, letters from the 

 Colonial Governor to the King, letters of 

 royal officials, letters from members of the 

 clergy and also letters from private individ- 

 uals. It is thought that material hitherto 

 unknown has been found, which will be of 

 great service to students of the history of 

 Cuba. 



OIL LANDS 



According to press reports, there are good 

 prospects for the development of oil lands in 

 the Province of Pinar del Rio. Claims have 

 already been made for oil rights at Guayabal 

 and vicinity. 



PIGEON R.ACE 



It is proposed to have a race of cairier 

 pigeons and to establish a station at Chaparra, 

 Oriente, and one at Havana. It is thought 

 that President Menocal will give three prizes, 

 one of $50, one of $30, and one of $25. 



CUBAN MINES 



According to the Havana Poal, the number 

 of new mines discovered in Cuba has been 

 greater in the Province of Pinar del Rio, some 

 200 claims having been filed with the Govern- 

 ment. Hitherto the Province of Oriente has 

 been considered the richest in mineral wealth. 



CUBAN NAVY 



It is reported that the Springfield rifle has 

 lieen selected for future use of the navy in 

 l)lace of the Krag-jorgensen, hitherto used. 



FORAGE FOR THE CUBAN ARMY 



After considering the various bids received, 

 the Cuban Government placed a contract 

 for the supply of forage to the Cuban army 

 with Fred R. Rohl, Inc., of New York, terms 

 and conditions submitted by these bidders 

 presenting more advantages to the Govern- 

 ment. 



