JVest Indies. 473 



o'^ Mailer) freely feeds on the fiery-flavoured foliage of Clematis 

 Flammulai.— J.Z).] 



Fondness of Poultry for Pepper, The Capsicum frutescens, 

 which, and which alone, affords, when dried and powdered, the 

 genuine Cayenne pepper, is commonly known in Jamaica by the 

 name of bird-pepper, or hen-pepper, on account of its being 

 so much eaten by birds, and especially by hens^and turkeys, 

 which will not leave a pod remaining on the bush that is 

 within their reach by jumping up to them. They are so fond 

 of these pods, as to eat a great number of them at a time* 

 These peppers are called chilies in England. Even the 

 Cayenne sold in Jamaica is prepared from several sorts of 

 red capsicums, mixed with the C. frutescens ; but they are all 

 much inferior in pungency and fine aromatic flavour; and 

 persons who would have it genuine are obliged to prepare it 

 in their own families. 



Teal. {Whitens Selborne, p. 17.) During the months of 

 November, December, January, and February, the climate of 

 Jamaica is rendered delightfully cool, by the blowing of the 

 north-west wind, which passes over the continent of North 

 America, and, except an occasional light shower, the sky is 

 always bright, with constant sunshine : so that at an elevation 

 of about 1800 feet above the sea, where my residence was for 

 many years, the temperature was delightful, the thermometer, 

 in the morning, ranging from 56° to 60°, and, at noon from 70° 

 to 75°. Through the above-named period the island is visited 

 by vast flocks of teal, of the species, I apprehend, named by 

 Gmelin the carolinensis or American teal. They make their way 

 to ponds, and up the courses of rivers ; and are shot in great 

 numbers. I once saw a gentleman knock down several with 

 grains of Indian corn, used at the moment as a substitute for 

 shot, of which he had exhausted his little supply. This bird 

 is most dehcious eating, and so superior in flavour to all others 

 of its class, as to be worth preserving and sending to England 

 in the same way that we put up the game of this country for 

 ship use in long voyages. It is considered to come from the 

 Southern States of North America. I have been assured that 

 some few remain in Jamaica all the year round, breeding in 

 the swamps and lagoons near the sea. 



Humming-birds. (Whites Selborne, p. 189.) White, in 

 h\s Natural History of Selborne ^ says: — "In the season of 

 nidification the wildest birds are comparatively tame." This 

 observation applies to the humming-bird. I remember a 

 pair of these beautiful little creatures busily building a nest in 

 the branch of an orange tree, which was close to the outer 

 side of the open piazza of a house in Spanish Town, Jamaica ; 



