114 Sir W* Jardine on the Ornithology of the Island of Tobago. 



XV. — Horce Zoologies. By Sir William Jardine, Bart., 

 F.R.S.E. & F.L.S. 



No. VIII. Ornithology of the Island of Tobago. 



The ornithology of the West Indian Islands, considered with 

 regard to their relation to each other and with the continents of 

 North and South America, has been much neglected, and al- 

 though large collections have been brought to Europe from dif- 

 ferent dependencies, no attempts have been made to insulate 

 them, if we may so express it, or to point out the species preva- 

 lent or peculiar to the different islands; the migratory birds 

 from those which are resident in each ; or their general affinity 

 with those of the mainlands or adjacent islands. 



The West Indian Islands form an archipelago cut off from the 

 continent by greater or lesser distances. Some are of very large 

 extent, while others are of comparatively limited bounds, and 

 they exhibit an ornithology sometimes quite distinct from each 

 other, and in a few instances remarkably peculiar. Some of 

 these islands serve as a refuge for the migratory species of the 

 northern continent and receive them ; some again have as it were 

 only a partial share of the birds of South America ; but all our 

 consignments have been so distinct, or as we have termed it, " in- 

 sulated," that we consider any materials that tend to throw light 

 on the geographical distribution throughout the group will be of 

 service to ornithology. 



To the exertions of Mr. Kirk, who has now resided above 

 twenty years in Tobago, and who has taken a lively interest not 

 only in natural history but also in the commercial abilities of the 

 island, and who has always shown himself anxious to apply his 

 information of the former gained entirely by his own application 

 to one of its most important uses, the improvement and cultiva- 

 tion of the numerous and most valuable products which enter 

 into the exports of those colonies, we have been indebted from 

 time to time for a large collection from the above-named island, 

 which though a minor member of the group, has yielded an orni- 

 thology both varied and highly interesting. And while corre- 

 spondents in four or five of the other islands may hereafter enable 

 us to give extensive lists, we think that we are now only doing 

 justice to the zeal of our friend in publishing a correct notice of 

 the species which he has forwarded to us, some of them we be- 

 lieve hitherto undescribed. 



Tobago is situate at comparatively no great distance from the 

 eastern corner of the northern part of the great southern conti- 

 nent of America, having the much more extensive island of Tri- 

 nidad within sight, and lying between it and the mainland. The 



