372 Sir W. Jardine on the Ornithology of the Island of Tobago. 



has Tobago two species of Crotophaga, or does the difference of 

 locality change or affect their habits ? 



" I have formerly watched the habits of these birds during the 

 period of incubation where they seemed to lay and hatch their 

 own eggs without the aid of others; true, the opportunities afforded 

 on former occasions were twenty-five miles distant from the scene 

 of the present observations ; nor have I yet sent you a specimen 

 from the leeward side of the island. In the windward district of 

 Tobago, which is the chief locality of my investigations, our 

 savannahs and swamps abound with underwood, shrubs and 

 creepers, in the leeward part, especially about Buccoo, the spot 

 where the nest which gives rise to the present letter was found ; 

 there is scarcely a shrub or bush beyond a pigeon pea-tree within 

 a mile of the spot ; it might therefore be argued that necessity 

 had driven them to the cocoa-nut trees ; but on the other hand, 

 why therefore use a general nest ? From these reflections I think 

 we may conclude that they sometimes make a common nest, 

 especially in the more cultivated spots." 



COCCYZUS ERYTHROPTHALMUS, Vieill. (Cuckoo.) N. 



" Arrives here in October ; shot on the sea-coast apparently 

 much exhausted." 



Certhiola flaveola, Linn. (Creeper.) s. 

 Cereba spiza, Linn. s. 

 Cereba cyanea, Linn. (Creepers.) s. 

 Apparently not common ; in all our collections from the island 

 a single specimen only has been received. 



" Native ; were until lately a rare bird in Tobago, and only 

 partially known ; they feed on the galba and dog-wood trees." 



Cereba CjERULea, Linn. s. 

 Phaethornis hirsutus, Gmel. (Doctor Humming-bird.) s. 

 m Native. This little bird is the most restless of all the Hum- 

 ming-bird tribe; it can scarcely be said to be seen at rest, but 

 darting right and left, zigzag ; at times when suddenly surprised 

 feeding, uttering a sharp squeak, it will dart off and disappear like 

 a meteor ; at other times will seem as if suspended for several 

 seconds by the point of the bill within three feet of a person's 

 face, after which it is sure to disappear like lightning ; in these 

 cases it truly assumes an attitude which a stranger might construe 

 into a meditated attack upon his person ; I have often been in- 

 duced to strike at them with my fowling-piece from their proxi- 

 mity." We also receive this species from Trinidad. 

 Campylopterus ensipennis, Swain. (Mexican Humming- 

 bird or Sabre Wing.) s. 

 " Feeds on ants, small flies and sweets, and are particularly 



