Letters, Extracts, Notices, ^c. 477 



OD the evidence of the resemblances and considerations which 

 he discusses, that Ornithodesmus was probably a bird, but 

 that it differed from existing birds so as to suggest that it 

 was a link towards lower forms. It cannot be placed in any 

 existing division of the class, but approximates towards the 

 Dinosaurs in a way of which no bird had previously given 

 evidence. 



Gudcharo-shooting in Trinidad. — The Report of the U.S. 

 Fish-Commission for 1884 contains an interesting narrative 

 of the cruise of the steamer ' Albatross ' in the Caribbean Sea 

 in the early months of that year, prepared by Mr. Benedict, 

 the naturalist of the expedition. From Port of Spain, Trini- 

 dad, an excursion was made to the caves of the Guacharo-bird 

 {Steatornis caripensis), which are described as follows : — 



" At half-past 7 on the morning of February 1, Captain 

 Tanner and four members of the scientific staff left the ship 

 in the steam-launch for Mono Island, 10 miles distant, and 

 near where the birds we were in search of live in caves. 

 When nearly there Mr. Garrett and Mr. Ackerman were left 

 on a small island to collect until the return of the launch. 

 The others kept on to Mono Island, where the captain found 

 Mr. Morrison, to whom he had been directed as the best guide 

 to the caves. Mr. Morrison consented to go with us in search 

 of the birds. 



" From this place we steamed around the island to Trinidad, 

 and tried to enter a cave there inhabited by the Guacharo- 

 birds. The larger caves on Huevos Island were then too 

 much exposed to the ocean to be accessible, and at any season 

 can be approached only on occasional days, when the water is 

 very smooth. 



" We found the cave on the western side of Trinidad too 

 much exposed to enter with anything like safety, though 

 several attempts were made. We were finally obliged to 

 give it up, to our great disappointment. The entire floor of 

 the cave is water. As a swell advances inwards, innocent at 

 first, it becomes angry and dangerous long before it reaches 

 the farther end, where it brings up with a heavy booming 



