FAUNA OF THE LESSEE ANTILLES. 459 



in St. Cbristoplier, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and St. Vincent has always been 

 regarded by tbem as indigenous. 



Similar doubts have arisen respecting tbe origin of certain animal species, such 

 as that of the monkey till recently surviving in the woods of Barbados. While 

 Schomburgk regards it as an American species, Fielden identifies it with the West 

 African ccrcopithecus caUitrichus, presumably introduced from Guinea by the first 

 settlers, and found also in St. Kitts, Nevis, and Grenada. 



Each island has its special fauna. «Of 128 species of birds collected by Ober 

 seven only are common to all the Lesser Antilles, while as many as 52 occur only 

 in one island. Barbados, of oceanic origin and never connected with the mainland, 

 appears to have received both its plants and animals by the winds, the marine cur- 

 rents, the action of birds and men. Some of the forms found in the Lesser Antilles 

 by the early colonists have already disappeared. Such was a large pigeon at that 

 time very common, but-now occurring only in the fossil state and in South America. 

 According to Darwin the modifying influence of the environment is shown 

 especially in the Eurojaean butterflies, which become wingless in the West Indies, 

 where the wings would be a disadvantage, serving as sails for the winds to drive 

 them seawards. 



Naturalists who study molluscs and other lower orders discover endless examples 

 of strange contrasts between the local faunas. Certain forms found in remote lands 

 are wanting in the intermediate insular chains, as if the links belonging to different 

 periods of formation had been formerly connected by isthmuses to different conti- 

 nents. The existence of such limited biological areas is associated with the most 

 difficult problems of geology and natural history. A case in point is the bof/irops 

 lanceolatus, a poisonous trigonocephalous snake confined exclusively to Martinique 

 and two other members of the Lesser Antilles, where it is much dreaded by the 

 natives. Besides man it has many enemies, such as the steel-blue coibo adder, the 

 ant which attacks its eyes, and the mungoos which devours body, fangs and all. 

 There are no less than eight varieties of this dangerous reptile, none more than 

 6 or 7 feet long, another nearly 10 feet long having disappeared since the last 

 century. 



Inhabitants. 



At the discovery the inhabitants, all of Carib race, were distinguished by 

 their physical appearance, language and usages from the mild and peaceful natives 

 of San Domingo. They are described by the early writers as brave, fierce and 

 indomitable, rushing fearlessly on danger and boasting of their wounds, but 

 ferocious and pitiless towards their captives. They were even cannibals, possibly 

 on religious grounds, or to enhance their courage by devouring the heart of the 

 enemy. The first European visitors were horrified at the sight of human limbs 

 strewn on \\iq ground, or hung on the doorj)osts, or roasting on spits. 



Nevertheless, these fierce warriors were trustworthy friends, and faithful 

 observers of the duties of hospitality, at times risking death itself rather than 

 abandon their guests. They were also daring seafarers, venturing in their frail 



