The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1920-06-04
Ex77-z2ZlY KE4Z2QZAEERS

found.
\ surprising feature Of the eXp!Ora.
ton conducted by the expedition was
the failure to find any mammals closely
related TO those found either on cuba
or IN Porto Rico This suggests the
possibility that Jamaicn may not nave
formed part Of the old Antillean con-
linent. but may have existed as an
eastern peninsula jutting out from
Honduras. A second theory Out one
which has few adherents among recent
day ZoologiSt>) is that jamaica was
isolated from all other land and re.
ceived its mammal deniZenS as waits
on life rsft>, tiOnting masses OF veEe-
,ati"n swept down the large continent.
al rivers.
In addition to its success In col.
lecting tn" soSsil fauna. the expetli.
tion obtained Il large collection Of the
living animal forms. Only one land
mammal is living on Jamaica to-day
| the Indian Coney (Geocapromys
/ brownei) and even that had been
thought 10 lie practically extinct. For
! the Introduction Of the MOngOOse on
the island, late in the last century, in
an attempt to exter,nnate the rats.
has resulted N the extinction Of many
OF the native animals.
Captain Anthony. in describing the
method of hunting the Indian Coney.
said: "ln order to get this animal.
which is Il rat-lke creature the size
! of ~ cat. the collectors went up into
HE high mountains and lived with the
natives. hun,in. the coney in the prim.
tive fashion With small dogs. The
dogs tracked The mammal to its hole
in the rocks under some large tree.
and there. amih>, great excitement.
the quarry WAS dug ont. If the hole
is a fairly large one. the dog can en-
ter ut once and come 10 grips with its
prey. but more often man has I"
pull away rocks an', enlarge the hole.
The natives gel as thoroughly aroused
as the dogs. and the scene AT the
finish is one worthy Of larger game.
When the dog finally gets close
enough 10 the conry tigh' en>nes-
Nnf me HulIiiii IL pun ny " "" tue
hunters decide tina, the dog has Sc
cured his grip they draw him out by
his tail or hind lie: and TAX. the
coney away from him.
Captain Anthony brought back with
him more than seven hundred speci
mems of lats Ms we'll as COLLECTIONS
Of REPTILES and birds This material
when properly worked ~. will I'M
,!ouhtedly throw much light on West
Indian natural history, and he results
will help to- direct the course Of future
Investigations In that region. As the
prophecies concerning Jamaica have
horne such gratifying fruit. natura
history exploration on the islands vii
receive great stimulus.
The expedition encountered n yer.
Interested cooperation on the part d
the people Of Jamaica. everywhere,
meetin. with ready assistance and un
failing courtesy. All the inp"rtan
areas Of the island were visited will
the idea OF maxim. the collection a.
complete as possible.
Captain Anthony reported that tn,
tourist travel to .jamaica had been III,
usually Heavy this winter. OvertaXin
the steamship service and the island
hotel accommodations One Of tl,'
> burning topics Of the day. there-an'
hy no means One-Stled question:
"HOw do the Americans regard IN
possible acquisition of Jamaica by tn
United S,ates?''