CHAP. XIV.] 
THE NEOTROPICAL REGION. 
67 
In the preceding enumeration the Bahamas have been included 
with Cuba, as regards the birds they have in common; but they 
possess some half dozen species not found elsewhere, and even 
one central American genus of humming-birds (Boricha) not 
found in any other part of the Antilles. We have thus given 
Cuba rather more peculiar species than it really possesses, so 
that the proportionate richness of Jamaica is rather greater than 
shown by our figures. 
The destruction of the forests and the increase of population, 
with, perhaps, the use of firearms, seem to have led to the 
extermination of some species of birds in the smaller islands. 
Professor Newton has called attention to the work of M. Ledru, 
who, in 1796, described the birds of St. Thomas. He mentions 
a parrot and a parroquet in the island, the latter only being 
now known, and very scarce; also a green pigeon and a tody, 
both now unknown. No less than six species of parrots are 
said to have been formerly found in Guadeloupe and Martinique, 
which are now extinct. 
Plate XVII. Illustrating the 'peculiar Mammalia and Birds of 
the Antilles . — The scene of this illustration is Cuba, the largest 
of the West Indian islands, and one in which all its peculiar 
zoological features are well developed. In the foreground is the 
agouta \ 8olenodon cubanus ), a remarkable insectivorous animal 
which, with another species inhabiting Hayti, has no allies on 
the American continent; nor anywhere in the world but in 
Madagascar, where a group of animals are found constituting 
the family Centetidse, to which Solenodon is said undoubtedly to 
belong. Above it are a pair of hutias ( Capromys fournieri ), 
rat-like animals belonging to the South American family Octo- 
dontidse. They live in the forests, and climb trees readily, eating 
all kinds of vegetable food. Three species of the genus are 
known, which are found only in Cuba and Jamaica. Just above 
these animals is a white-breasted trogon (Prionoteles temnurus), 
confined to Cuba, and the only species of the genus. Near the 
top of the picture are a pair of todies ( Todus multicolor), singular 
little insectivorous birds allied to the motmots, but forming a 
very distinct family which is confined to the islands of the 
