^40 



different zones of vegetation and of animal life ; tliat of 

 the coast, that of the higher hills and midway the moun- 

 tains, and that of the mountain-tops. In the middle 

 zone, situated (at a rough estimate) between 1500 and 

 2500 feet altitude occur the greatest variety of forms, 

 both in vegetable and animal life. There the famous 

 high woods, containing trees of the greatest magnitude, 

 and tree ferns and tropical plants of every description, 

 give hiding place to many birds not found along the 

 coasts. Indeed, the coast fauna is very meagre, owing 

 to the scarcity of trees and the cultivation of the sugar 

 estates. Ascertaining that my best collecting ground 

 would, probably, be in that region, I repaired to a moun- 

 tain valley some 1500 feet above sea level, and took up 

 my residence with some families of mixed blood (Carib 

 and Creole) for above a month. Here I was very suc- 

 cessful, discovering seven species and varieties not here- 

 tofore known to science. This was only accomplished by 

 secluding myself in the mountains and in forests away 

 from the general routes of travel. 



Thence I went over the mountains to the portion of the 

 island inhabited by the Caribs, of whom but a remnant 

 exist of all the many thousands found by Columbus in 

 his voyages. 



I secured many photographs, a good vocabulary and 

 many notes regarding their early history and present con- 

 dition. The difference in speech between the men and 

 women, in the ancient tongue, is very noticeable. The 

 language spoken by them, now, is a perverted French ; 

 the patois or provincial, that form of speech used by the 

 ignorant. Here I procured the imperial parrot (^Chry- 

 sotis augiista), but not many other birds of note. The 

 specimens of this bird which I sent the National Musuem 

 were the first seen in America. 



