CHAPTER XV. 



GRAND CAYMAN ISLAND. 



After leaving Jamaica on 8th March, 1904, we 

 laid our course for Grand Cayman, the largest 

 of the three islands of the Cayman group, which 

 lies to the west of Jamaica. 



The Cayman Islands have been but rarely 

 visited by naturahsts, and as they are inhabited 

 by many species of land-birds which are found 

 nowhere else, we looked forward to spending an 

 interesting time there. 



Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman 

 Brae form part of the Colony of Jamaica, and 

 are situated between the meridians of 79° 44' 

 and 81° 26' W., and the paraUels of 19° 44' and 

 190° 46' N. They are said to have been discovered 

 by Columbus on his return voyage from Portobello 

 to Hispaniola (now Ha-yti), and were named by 

 him Las Tortugas, owing to the number of turtles 

 which abound on the coast. The present name 

 is supposed to be derived from caiman — an 

 alligator, which Grand Cayman somewhat re- 

 sembles in shape when viewed from the east. 



