For a long time, investigation of the fauna of Suriname encountered great difficulties. These included: great abundance of species; inaccessibility of the territory concerned; lack of zoologists on the spot, and little interest in Neotropical material on the part of Dutch biologists. Moreover, the practice of this branch of science has depended on the initiative of private individuals, the result being that no definite programme has been followed. Owing to these circumstances investigation of the zoology of Suriname has lagged far behind investigation of its botany and geology.