Birds of St. Thomas' Island. 93 



On more than one occasion I got to witliin 500 feet of the 

 Peak — that is to say, on a level with the eye from neighbour- 

 ing ridges, — and I have my doubts whether it will be worth 

 ■while to ascend it. Tiie hill is not extensive enough, and 

 not high enough, for the growth to alter. It is covered right 

 up to its summit with the same forest-trees that are to be 

 found on the neighbouring hills, and one can hardly expect 

 the fauna to be different, as it was in the case of the Peak 

 of Fernando Po. It is a difficult country to work ; the 

 valleys, full of thick wood, and tangle, are extraordinarily 

 deep, and many are quite impossible to descend into, while 

 water in the dry season is not plentiful. There has not been 

 much rain, but generally towards 6 o^clock a dense cold 

 mist from the south drives over the hills in thick clouds. 

 It is very depressing, coming over in a moment of time, 

 enveloping everything and blurring the trees to phantoms. 

 Very often at sunset there are some fine colour-effects, and 

 on the 25th there was a particularly impressive one. Look- 

 ing southward from my camp, a lofty ridge of wooded hills, 

 jagged in outline, stood out in clear contrast to a thick 

 layer of cumulus clouds directly behind, that had shaped 

 itself into the form of rugged hills and peaks, looking for 

 all the world like snow-capped mountains against the wooded 

 chain in the foreground, and this was further brought out 

 into contrast by a dark leadeii sky above. 



Many of the smaller hills are cultivated, in places even 

 the lower slopes of the Peak itself, giving the impression 

 that every available bit of ground in this rich island is seized 

 upon and made the most of. 



The interior of the island has a peculiar geographical 

 aspect; one looks down into a large and deep crater, which 

 practically forms the very centre of the island. Here the 

 wealth of St. Thomas becomes apparent, for it has a very 

 fertile aspect, v»'ith the foliage of the cocoa-plantations, the 

 coffee-trees, and the big clumps of bananas. 



Jose is working very well, and his skins have good form. 

 We have also been lucky in the weather — bright sunny 

 mornings, as a rule. 



