11 JOURNAL OF THE TRINIDAD 



7. The late Dr. Leotaud experienced so much difficulty in 

 getting sufficient data on the subject, that in despair, as he 

 repeatedly told me himself, when in the woods together, he had 

 to remain almost silent on that interesting point, in his, other- 

 wisa, so complete and remarkable book on the birds of the Island. 



8. Perhaps the Wardens may be asked to take an interest in 

 the subject, and endeavour in their respective districts, to gather 

 by themselves, as well as through their Ward Constables and 

 others, much of the useful information required. 



9. I have been myself, for years, at some pains to attempt 

 it, and from the meagre knowledge I could procure, I have 

 attempted something like a table of the nesting and laying times 

 of some of our birds of the richest plumage, and beg to append it 

 here, such as it is although 1 hope an absolute protection will be 

 soon afforded most birds, for some years to come, during which 

 time correct table may, no doubt, be prepared to regulate here- 

 after, the protective seasons. 



10. With regard to our game, or wild table birds, there is 

 certainly no such necessity for entire protection, and I believe 

 they may still continue to be under the provisions of the " Wild 

 Birds Protection Act" of 1873. 



11. Our principal table land birds, are the ground doves 

 (ortolans), the doves (tourterelles), two sorts of ramiers (wild 

 pigeons) and a few others which are not so much troubled, (the 

 ramiers, in fact, only appear in any quantity at certain times.) 

 Yet I believe it would be advisable to prohibit their being 

 pursued in March, April and May. 



12. Our swamp, or water game birds, such as plovers (if 

 they can be put in that category), several species of wild ducks, 

 and others, are, with the exception of our water fowls and snipes, 

 and a few lagoon birds, mostly migratory, though I have often 

 found in our swamps nests and eggs of ducks, but they generally 

 come over from the Main land, from July to December. 



13. I must remark that I have adopted as being, really, the 

 only ones by which they are generally known, the common, 

 mostly French names, used in Dr. Leotaud's book and collection. 



1-1. I might have swollen this report with many details 

 respecting some of our birds, but I do not see of what use it 

 would have been for the object in view, but, incomplete though 

 it be, if it can, in any way, assist in framing the new Ordinance 

 for the protection of wild birds, I shall feel more than repaid for 

 the trouble it has given me. 



15. Before concluding it, however, I wish to refer to one of 

 our most exceptional set of birds, which I have omitted to mention 

 here above, and which are considered one of the rarest delicacies 

 in the Colony ; I mean the Guacharo, or Diablotin (Steatornis 



