386 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



which, if rubbed on the bills of specimens, the ants will religiously leave 

 the birds alone. This method was suggested to me by Don Jose Zele- 

 don, of San Jose, and proved to be all that could be desired. 



But there is another and far more terrible pest which attacks not the 

 specimens, but the naturalist himself. I refer to a little insect known 

 in those regions as the "Garrapata," which is a very minute species of 

 Tick. During the dry season it is impossible to avoid being actually 

 covered with these diminutive tormentors. They are so numerous that 

 it is impossible to avoid them, and their bite is so aggravating that a 

 man is actually panic-stricken when he finds himself literally alive with 

 them. These insects constituted the most serious difficulty I met in 

 Costa Eica. My body became entirely covered with their bites. "The 

 itching caused was frightful, and, although I could control myself dur- 

 ing the day, I would wake up at night and find myself literally tearing 

 my flesh in frantic though unconscious efforts to relieve the itching. 

 Working daily with arsenic, this poison unavoidably found its way into 

 the system through the bites of the "Garrapatas," and I was thus 

 severely j^oisoned and my person co\ered with festering sores, making 

 it dangerous to pursue my work further at that time. Any preventive 

 for this evil would be a boon to tropical explorers. I regret to say that 

 I know of none that is unobjectionable as well as effective. Moisten- 

 ing the lower part of the pantaloons and sleeves of the coat with a 

 decoction of tobacco juice is a partial success, and so is anointing the 

 entire body with kerosene. The best way to rid one's self of these pests 

 after they have established themselves on the person is to follow the 

 example of the natives, who first procure a piece of the black wax or 

 ^' j(era," which is abuiidant, and, after removing all their clothing, pro- 

 ceed to strike themselves with the wax. This they do systematically 

 until every portion of the body has been struck. The wax, by adhe- 

 sion, removes every '' Garrapata" that it strikes. This simple and effect- 

 ive method of getting rid of these insects is the universal practice 

 throughout the country. 



The slow and inadequate means of transportation, especially in the 

 less-settled portions of the country, is apt to cause long and annoying 

 delays. When possible it is advisable for the collector to keep with 

 him as many of his effects as he expects to need for a fortnight at least, 

 including a large supply oUpatie^ice. 



1. Merula grayi (Bonap.). 



Common. Habits and note similar to the common Robin of the United 

 States, M. migratorius. Rather solitary and silent during the time I 

 collected in that region, but this is probably due to the fact that it was 

 the breeding season. Iris brown. 



Three specimens obtained near La Palma, as follows : 



No. 172. $ ad. April 4. 



No. 242. 9 ad. April 24. 



No. 296. 9 ad. April 30. 



