1922.] TRINIDAD BIRDS. 125 



The account of the food and habits which it is yet possible to 

 give is in many cases not enough to decide whether any one species 

 is injurious or beneficial. However it is better to err on the side cf 

 over-protection than that of over-destruction, and the present law 

 which protects all the general insect-eating birds is probably sound,. 

 From an administrative point of view, however, it would be better 

 to list the species that are allowed to be shot rather than those for- 

 bidden, as this would protect the occasional rare visitor and also in any 

 case of doubt, put the onus of proof on the man with the gun. 



The humming-birds are described in more detail than the rest 

 owmg to the greater general interest that is taken in this group and 

 also in the hope that someone may be encouraged to carry on 

 observations on the nesting-Kabits, the few notes that I have been 

 able to put together being but a small beginning which anyone witK 

 interest and leisure could rapidly increase. 



Family TURDID^. Thrushes. 



1. Merula fumigata Licht. 1 he Cacao Thrush. 



Turdus cassius. Leotaud No. 107. 



This bird is not uncommon m the cacao districts. A nest was 



found m Maracas Valley on January I, 1921 on the upper surface of 



a broad leaf of a sm-all ornamental palm, about five feei; from the 



ground. It contained two young and one egg, v/hich had not hatched. 



The nest was rather large and of the usual cup shape, made chiefly of 



twigs. 



The egg IS ovate, dull light blue, spotted and blotched light brown. 



/. Merula gymnopthclmus. Cah. The Bare-Cheeked or Yeilow- 

 eyed Thrush. 



Turdus nudigensis. Leotaud No. 106. 



This 13 by far the commonest ol" the Tnnidad Thrushes and is 

 widely distributed, being often found in gardens in Port-of-Spain. 



Nests have been found on the following occasions. 



(1) On July 3, 1918, at Reform about 15 feet from ground on 

 an overhanging branch of a large tree. It contained tv/o eggs one of 

 which was taken. On September 8 the parent bird was still sittng 

 on the nest, but it is not known it there was a second brood in the 

 same nest. The nest was made ch;efly of roots. 



(2) On July 7, ! 91 8 at San Fernando, containing three eggs, 

 recently laid. 



(3) On June 20, 1919 at Port-of-Spain, m a hedge about nine 

 feet from the ground and containing three eggs nearly ready to hatcK. 



(4) On August 12, 1919 at the Usine Ste. Madeleine on the end 

 of a branch of a large tree about twelve feet from the ground. There 

 were no eggs. 



