70 - . Bibliographical Notices. 



illustrated account of tlie Poly cystina, also a nev/ Scalaria, Ehrenbergi, 

 and two Nuculcc, Parkcri and Schomhurgki, described by Prof. E. 

 Forbes. 



The botanical portion, prefaced by a few general introductory re- 

 marks, contains a list of the Barbados plants ; to the scientific names 

 are added the vernacular names by which they are known in this 

 island, and frequently the French or other foreign names used in the 

 adjacent colonies. It contains all the species indigenous, natural- 

 ized or cultivated, the two latter being distinguished by the addition 

 of the name of their native country. Next follow alphabetical arrange- 

 ments of the vernacular names, one English and another foreign, 

 which referring by numbers to the scientific lists will be useful to 

 local botanical students, and are not without importance to us at a 

 distance. A single new species, a lichen, Endocarpon flavidum, 

 Taylor, is described. In the zoology the different classes are treated 

 seriatim ; after an account of the zoophytes, we come, under the head 

 of Insecta, to some interesting details concerning the Sugar Ant 

 (^Formica omnivora, L., Myrmica omnivora, Latr.), whose ravages 

 have often so fearfully interfered with human industry. They 

 showed themselves first in 1760 in Barbados, and our author states, 

 on the authority of Dr. Coke, that " it was deliberated whether that 

 island, formerly so flourishing, should not be deserted " on account 

 of the dreadful devastation they caused. It appears that these ants 

 do not actually feed on any part of the sugar-canes or the leaves of 

 trees, but make their nests under the roots, which protect them from 

 heavy rains, and, being firmly fixed in the ground, place them in se- 

 curity against the agitation of the usual winds. The stool of the 

 sugar-canes is firmly attached to the earth, and almost impenetrable 

 to rain ; the trees of the orange tribe afford similar advantages to the 

 insects, while the coffee, cacao, plantains, &c. are not molested. 

 The ants apparently live entirely on animal food, and not only attack 

 dead substances, but living bodies ; thus small animals and poultry 

 perish when not assisted, and it becomes necessary to guard the eyes 

 of cattle by a circle of tar, to prevent them from being blinded. The 

 destruction of these creatures was attempted with poison and fire 

 during the "plague" following 1760, but all attempts proved inef- 

 fectual till the hurricane of 1780, before the violence of which the 

 Sugar Ant disappeared. In 1814 they again made their appearance 

 and caused considerable injury, but soon disappeared. They are 

 still to be found in Barbados, but only in small numbers. The Great- 

 headed Ant or Cushi, Formica cephalotes, Fabr., is equally destructive, 

 attacking the leaves of trees and of vegetables, such as the sweet 

 potato, cassada, &c. The White or Wood Ant (Termes devastans, 

 KoUar) is another of the plagues of Barbados. 



Among the enemies of the sugar-cane are enumerated the Borer 

 or Yellow Blast, the grub of one of the Pyralidse, Diatrcea sacchari, 

 Guilding, which burrows into and feeds upon the interior of the stems ; 

 the Grougrou Worm, the larva of Calandra palmarum, Fabr. (which 

 is eaten by some of the Creoles and considered a great delicacy) ; and 

 . Calandra sacchari, Guilding, the Large Borer. Since the hurricane of 



