122 CACAO 



the webs. The recognised scientific conclusion is, that 

 the insect spins its web from material contained in its 

 enlarged first joints of the anterior tarsi (fore legs). These 

 organs are passed alternately in front of the mouth parts 

 in drawing the thread and spinning it. The thread of the 

 web is, however, of so fine a character that the writer has 

 been hitherto unable to confirm the scientific view, as it 

 appeared to him that the action of the limbs was more in 

 favour of the presumption that the material of the web 

 was drawn and spun from the mouth. The two species 

 are described by De Saussure in the Journal of the Trinidad 

 Field Naturalists' Club, pp. 292-294, 1896, which also 

 contains a description of a parasite bred from the insects 

 by Mr. F. W. Urich. The emhids are very common on 

 trees of all kinds in Trinidad, and especially in the 

 cacao fields. It is quite possible that these insects may 

 also check the increase of " thrip " upon cacao-trees. 

 Having dealt with the principal insects, reference may 

 now be made to mammals. 



No. 26. " Deer " {Cariacus (Coassus) nemorivagus, 

 F. Cuvr.). — This very timid little animal is common in 

 the Trinidad forest, but with the extension of cultivation 

 its numbers are gradually decreasing. Plantations near 

 to forest lands, however, are still subject to damage from 

 its depredations, and especially young fields. They can 

 easily be destroyed when they come out to feed in the 

 early evening, or can be hunted with dogs, the latter being 

 a favourite sport. Their flesh, however, is dry, and has 

 not much flavour. 



No. 27. Squirrel {Sciurus cestuans Hoffmanii), Peters. 

 — This animal much resembles the common English squirrel 

 {Sciurus vulgaris), and has similar predacious habits. 

 It does a large amount of damage on plantations by eating 

 holes in the pods, and head money is paid for its destruction, 

 the gun being largely used for this purpose. It may be 

 expedient here to point out that the gun is a weapon which 

 should be very carefully used on cacao estates, as there is 

 nothing which invites the attack of parasitic or wound 



