450 
SPANISH-TOWN. 
name of Hesperomys, It is described as attaining 
the length of fifteen inches, exclusive of the tail, 
which is yet longer than the body. 
In the above quotation from Long, he speaks of 
three other Rats besides the Price Rat. One of 
these he distinguishes as the Black House-Rat 
(doubtless Mus rattus ) ; the other two are Field-Rats, 
which he thinks to be indigenous. ‘‘ The larger is 
of a light ash, or greyish colour on the back and 
other parts, except the belly, which is entirely white. 
This subsists almost wholly on the sugar-cane, and 
is therefore generally called the Cane Rat.” The 
other is described as much smaller, no larger than 
the English Mole. It is of a beautiful reddish 
colour, with a milk-white belly. Like the former, 
it takes up its habitation chiefiy about the hol- 
low roots of large trees, and the rocky acclivities 
of gullies and river banks. It is far from being 
numerous. 
SUGAR-CANE INSECTS. 
The ravages of insects on the various vegetable 
productions that are cultivated by agriculturists can- 
not but be a subject of deep and even anxious 
interest ; an interest which heightens with the im- 
portance of the plant as an object of commercial 
traffic, or its value as furnishing food to man and 
beast. The Sugar-cane will probably always be the 
staple production of the West Indian isles, and 
whatever affects it may be said to touch the very life 
of those valuable colonies. Some notice of its insect 
•enemies may therefore reasonably be looked for in 
