PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 351 



side. From there I scoured the hills and valleys to 'Ance dii Diamant' 

 on the southern point, near the famous Diamond Eock, and thoroughly 

 canvassed that historic ground, trodden 100 years ago by the feet of the 

 beautiful Empress of the French. In the Jardin des PlmitcSj in the sub- 

 lU'bs of St. Pierre, I had permission to shoot, through the courtesy of 

 the directeur, Monsieur Chs. Belanger. But though these gardens are 

 extensive and beautifid, crowded, with trees and shrubs of the Tropics, 

 secluded and forbidden to the ordinary cMss-eur, I found Aery few spe- 

 cies and no great numbers of any one species. 



"Throughout the island there exists such a dread of the ' serpent', 

 the Iron lance {Trigonocephalus lanceolatus)^ that I found it impossible to 

 obtain a good boy, to assist me in finding the haunts of birds. More 

 than once I have been startletl by the cry of 'serpent' and found that 

 my coloiu'ed brother had absconded. 



" Though at first inclined to believe in the oft-repeated stories of deaths 

 from snakebites, I soon found that the number of serpents was either 

 grossly exaggerated, or they took good care to keep out of my way, for 

 in all my tramps I saw but tAvo large ones. 



^ " There are, however, numerous deaths from these noxious reptiles 

 during the cane season. The serpent prefers the cane fields, where he 

 hunt« the numerous rats ; and, as my ground for hunting is any but the 

 cane, for birds, this may be the reason we met so seldom. I cannot say 

 that I wa^s anxious to find one, however; though I did not let the possi- 

 ble presence interfere with my regidar work. 



"My thanks and those of the Institution are due to Capt. W. A. Gar- 

 field, IT. S. Consul; Monsieur Chs. Belanger, directeur du Jardin des 

 Plantes, and Monsieur Louis Hartmann." 



Fam. TURDID^. 



1. Margarops hermiuieri (Lair.). 

 "'Grive ^ pieds jaunes.' 



" Rare, owing to the persecution of hunters." 



2. Margarops densirostris (Yieill.). 



"'Gros Grive.' 



"Not common, bemg i\\ii chief bird sought by the hunters in the hunt- 

 ing sea^sou, cousequentlj" shy." 



3. Margarops montanus (Vieill.). 

 " ' Grivette.' Iris yellow. 



"Length, <?, 10 in.; alar extent, 11; wing, 1^. 



" Like the same species of Dominica, it prefers the higher hills and 

 mountains, the deep woods aii<l their l)orders, and detached wood with 

 deep shade. As iininerons apparently as in Dominica." 



4. Cinclocertliia gutturalis (Lafr.). 

 " ' Trembleur.' Eesident . 



•■Length, c?, 9A in.; alar extent, 13; wing, 4|. 



