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the trunks of trees. It requires obscurity during the day, and goes 

 out, only at night, in search of small animals for food. Its cry has a 

 mournful sound, and to ignorant people is a sign of bad augury which 

 chills them with fear. Although they fear it, their hate of it is still 

 greater, and they destroy it without mercy Avheu opportunity occurs. 

 It should however be preserved as it is useful for destroying the 

 mice and rats, but those who are incapable of comprehending the 

 harmony of the laws of nature think nothing of destroying it. 



No. 29. — "Petite Chouette." — Athene phalcenoides, Daud. 



The above is Leotaud's name for a tiny and pretty little owl, 

 which is quite common in the garden and its vicinity. Unlike the 

 •ubject of No. 28, it cries and feeds in the day time, as well as at 

 night, and sometimes during the day its cry is so frequent and 

 mouonotous, as to become quite distressing to nervous ears. Leotaud, 

 in Oiseaux de I'lle de la Trinidad says : Elle est aussi bien dinrna que 

 nocturne, aussi Ventend-on a toute heure du jour et de la nuit. Son 

 cri se compose d'une seule note qui semhle vendue par une flute, elle la 

 repete coup sur coup et pendant longtemps. I have at times been 

 obliged — when not feeling well — to have them driven away from the 

 trees near by the office, especially when engaged on work requiring 

 special attention. The bird is not a shy one by any means and will 

 allow itself to be approached fairly close before it takes wing. As 

 far as an oavI can be — it is the prettiest of its class that has come 

 under observation. 



No. 30. — A Bat's Dining Room. 



In many places under spreading trees in the Royal Botanic 

 Gardens are to be found small heaps of the various fruits which may 

 be in season at the time, — more or less mangled and eaten. The 

 observer will learn that these seeds are brought to such situations 

 by the frugivorous bats, which are very numerously represented in 

 Trinidad. Advantage is taken of this fact, as an easy means of 

 obtaining some seeds of our woodland and other trees ; and when 

 such are desired, a careful watch is placed upon such spots and the 

 seeds taken possession of early in the morning before day feeding 

 animals can destroy them. Amongst the fruit found on a late examin- 

 ation at one of these places, were those of Terminalia catappa 

 Psidiuni guava, Sapota acliras, (Hort.) Mimumsops Elengi, (Hort.) 

 Sideroxylon masiichodendron, Coffee arabica and Camellia tliea. 

 So that it would almost appear that bats like the human species are 



