The Fauna and Flora of the Lesser Antilles

Abstract

ALTHOUGH much has been done of late years, both in the United States and in Europe, towards the investigation of the fauna and flora of the smaller West Indian Islands, or Lesser Antilles, as it is better to call them, much remains to be effected before we can be deemed to have an accurate knowledge of the natural products of these islands. And it is most important that steps should be taken to remedy this deficiency without further delay. As the tide of civilization advances—more slowly, perhaps, it is true, over these islands than in many other parts of the world's surface—the special peculiarities which each individual island possesses among its animal and vegetable indigens are fast becoming overwhelmed by the more powerful animals and plants that accompany the inroads of civilized man upon the wilderness of Nature. As in other places, where settlers from Europe arrive, rats and mice eat out the indigenous animals, and exotic weeds starve out the native plants. It is therefore most desirable that, while there is yet time, exact information should be obtained of the flora and fauna of these islands, every one of which seems to exhibit features more or less peculiar to itself.