20 



JOURNAL OF THE TRINIDAD 



name of Mangeur de Cacao ; for it was believed that it 

 destroyed the ripe pods and ate the sweet mucilage around the 

 beans. Observation of its habits, and experience, has since taught 

 the planter his error, for, though, it may attack pods into which 

 insects have already effected an entrance, it does not eat the bean, 

 and is recognised to day, by all sensible planters, as their best 

 friend, in destroying, as it does, the insects injurious to the tree 

 and its fruit. 



Leaving the cocoa patch, the road traversed a guinea grass 

 piece, in which were planted a number of cocoanut palms, all of 

 which were in fine condition, then it led me through a fine 

 pasture surrounding the dwelling house, which latter I reached in 

 time for dinner. On a barren spot in the pasture, I could not 

 help noticing the performances of a number of handsome sand 

 wasps, which kept up a series of ferial dances around the spot, now 

 and then alighting to burrow a hole in the soft earth. Each had 

 its particular burrow, and when disturbed would perform a series 

 of aerial evolutions, and return to the spot it had selected to 

 resume its work. I tried to capture one of these wasps but not 

 having a proper net failed to do so. 



On my return to the house the bad weather which char- 

 acterised the latter half of the day set in again, but the rain 

 cleared off in time to allow my friend and self to get the last 

 train to Port-of-Spain, where I left my companion, and, catching 

 a tram car to St. Anns, reached home just as the fire-flies were 

 illuminating mountain and valley with nature's night lights, 

 having spent a most pleasant day in spite of the inclement 

 weather. 



SANTA CRUZ. 



(T. I. Potter.) 



THE PROTECTION OF WILD BIRDS. 



A T the request of Mr. Syl. Devenish the Publication Committee 

 reproduce his report for the Ordinance for the Protection of 

 Wild Birds. 



Port-of-Spain, 



17th June, 1875. 



The Honourable the Attorney-General, etc., <fcc. 



Sir, — In compliance with the instructions received by me, 

 at the meeting of the Society of Arts held on the 9th March last, 

 I have the honour to forward to you, for the consideration of His 

 Excellency the Governor, the following Report on the practice 



