1895. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. fif)! 



The population of the ishiiid, according to the censns of 1873, was 

 31,000, and was ineieasiny, so tliat it is now estimated at 4(>,()00. I 

 found the inhabitants most kind and liospitable. 



Lying' between Margarita and tlie mainland are two small islands, 

 Cnbagna and Coche, which for want of water are })ractical]y deseri. 



The mainland, wbioh is in plain sight from Margarita, is a long cbain 

 of waterless, barren, and desolate mountains. 



I collected in the vicinity of Porlamar during the eight days from 

 June 30 to July 7, then moved to El Valle, where I spent a week, 

 returning to Porlamar on July 15, and leaving the island on the 20th. 

 During the latter part of my stay I was hourly expecting my steamer, 

 so could not go any distance from the town. I lost one day by being- 

 lamed by the jjrick of the thorn of a melon cactus. In sixteen days' 

 collecting I obtained two hundred skins, getting specimens of every 

 laud bird that I observed in a state of freedom except the two connnon 

 vultures and a caracara eagle. A few birds were in good plumage^ 

 but tlie majority were worn, and the humming birds were in iuU molt 

 when I left. 



As would naturally be inferred from the great difference in the char- 

 acter of the vegetation at different parts of the island, the bird life at 

 these points also varied. Thus the gulls, terns, skimmers, cormorants, 

 pelicans, herons, plover, and turnstones were found along the beaches 

 and nowhere, else; Ortalis, Amazona, Amaziliaj Chiroxiphia, Arhelo- 

 rhina, Mreo, and PlatycichJa were confined to the heavy forest region; 

 Thamnophilus and Dendroplex v^ere found everywhere; Eupsychortyx.^ 

 Cohimla, and Speotyfo were found only in the flat coast region; Colum- 

 hiijaJVina rujipennis, DipJopferuSj VoJathiia, Tachyphonns, and Tanayia 

 were found only on the mountain slopes not heavily wooded, and tlu^ 

 remaining species were found at all points except in the forests. 



In addition to the birds, 1 secured specimens of a monkey {Cehus 

 apella) whose fur emitted a very pleasant musky perfume; a rabbit 

 something like ours, but without the cottontail {Lepus brasiliensi.s)', 

 a red squirrel, "ardito" {Sciurns (csti«(ns hofmanni), a rat {Mus). a 

 spiny rat {Loneheres), an opossum, "rabo pelado" {DideJphyfi murina), 

 the native name implying skinned or hairless tail; and two small bats 

 {Ycspernfio parvuhts and ISchizostoina megalotes). A deer occurs and 

 the common mouse and other small mammals. 



The literature of Margarita is meager. Dr. A. Ernst' gives a partial 

 list of the plants of the ishmd, but this is the only scientific reference 

 to its flora or fauna that I have been able to find. However, all of the 

 few travelers who have written of Margarita refer to its birds. Thus, 

 M. Lavaysse- writes: 



From Pueblo de la Mnr to Paiiipatar * ^^ " humming birds aud the harmonious 

 notes of other tropical birds diverted my attention. 



'Carilcas, 1881, Esbozos de Venezuela. 



-"A statistical, commercial, and political description of Venezuela, Trinidad, Mar- 

 garita, and Tobago," Loudon, 1820, p. 14(i. 



