52 JOURNAL OP THE TRINIDAD 



commonly and erroneously known as the sloth. Mr. Carr 

 was the first person to discover that the song was that of a bird 

 and not the cry of a mammal. Mr. Cumberland, who had also 

 made some observations upon the bird in question, gave a re- 

 markably clear and characteristic illustration of the song and 

 further read some original notes which fully bore out Mr. Carr's 

 remarks. The value and interest of the paper was enhanced, by a 

 stuffed specimen shot by Mr. Carr, and ably prepared by 

 Mr. Cumberland being handed round for examination. An 

 animated discussion followed in which Mr. Devenish drew the 

 attention of members to the resemblance which he said existed 

 between the bird in question and the Guacharo (Steatornis cari- 

 2)ensis Humb.) Dr. Rake read some original observations upon 

 the nesting habits of the small night jar ( Nyctidromus albicollis 

 Cm.,) and compared it with those of the common English 

 species. Eggs of the Trinidad bird, which is popularly 

 known as "Watchman of the Road, " were handed round for 

 examination and further discussion ensued. — The President des- 

 cribed how he had suffered from the bites of Vampire bats in a 

 recent visit to Gasparillo island, and stated that the wounds were 

 triangular in shape, the pieces being bitten right out. Fowls, 

 said the President, suffer severel} 7 from the bites of these animals 

 which attack them between the toes and in one night, during 

 his stay, two fowls died from loss of blood. — The President drew the 

 attention of the Club to a beautiful example of Gorgonia (belong- 

 ing to the Coral order) presented by Mr. *VV. Scott Kernahan who 

 obtained it in the Second Bocas at a depth of eighteen fathoms. 

 To the stem of this remarkable plant-like animal were attached a 

 number of bivalves and a star-fish, which the Club's conchological 

 member, Mr. R. J. Lechmere Guppy, C.M.Z.S., had kindly deter- 

 mined as Avicula vitrce and Asteroporpa annulata. Dr. Rake 

 placed on the table a fine specimen of Hyla crepitans (tree frog) 

 which, he said, was in life a beautiful white. The President drew 

 attention to an albino agouti presented by Mr. P. Gonzales. 

 Mr. Broadway exhibited four species of Castnia moths (Cane 

 suckers) amongst which was a beautiful white one recently taken. 

 Mr. Henry Tate shewed two fine butterflies, one a species of 

 Zeonial and the other a species of Catogramma, which he had 

 secured at Maraval, and which are not at all common, especially 

 in such perfect condition. Mr. R. R. Mole exhibited a living 

 coral-snake (Flaps lemniscatus. ) 46 inches long, caught when in 

 the act of swallowing another snake, by Mr. AVatkins of Maraval. 

 The specimen was in perfect condition and attracted consider- 

 able attention. Mr. Mole also drew attention to a fine snake* 



* See Preliminary List of Reptiles published in this number — page 85. 



