345 
Guppy Reprint 
197 
Natural Histor\' studies. Nev^ertheless he managed to note and 
even publish a multitude of facts relating to the Natural History 
of Trinidad. It seems indeed pathetic to find him in later daj'S 
regretting that in the prime of life he had no time nor means for 
the work he most loved, \\ hile in life’s eve, when time and more 
means were at his command he no longer had strength to work 
— one or two hauls of the seine producing complete exhaustion . 
All pha.ses of Natural History appealed to him, but it was to an- 
imal life, e.speciall3’ the Invertebrates that he devoted most of his 
attention. He cheerfully bore the hardships incidental to the 
collection of new facts in the field, but his greatest delight was 
in their interpretation. Note for example his interpretation of 
the meaning of the Matura dwarf fauna, the origin of the Bocas 
and his reasons for an “Atlantis”. Among the Invertebrates 
the Foraminifera and the Mollusca received most attention. 
These he found, ranging in age from the Cretaceous to the 
Quatenar}’. In fact, .some few indications he seemed to find of 
Paleozoic remains in the Northern range, and on two occa-sions he 
published the known molluscan fauna of the Gulf of Paria. 
He was a zealous worker for the upbuilding of local scienti- 
fic organizations as the jniblished proceedings of the Scienfijic 
Association of Trijiidad, the Field Naturalists' Club, and the Vic- 
toria Institute clear!}' attest. In the latter he hoped for real re- 
sults b}' waj' of librar\' and museum facilities. He found, how- 
ever, its resources gradually turned into non-scientific channels. 
Fortunatel}' he was spared the pain of witnessing its recent de- 
struction. 
The opposition, even bitterness, encountered in introducing 
modern, efficient, secular education in new territory' can well be 
imagined and easil}' understood. But the lack of .S5-mpath3’ 
shown to an original natural histor\’ worker in a distant land b\’ 
those w'ho had it within their power to aid rather than criticize 
.seems far more difficult to explain. Gupp}- wisely knew the 
weakness of his own .situation, without an adequate library, 
without museum material for compari.son, and without means he 
could devote to his scientific work. This is reflected in the mild" 
