76 FROGHOPPEK BLIGHT OF ,SLGAR-CAN£. 



It is a migrant and does not breed in Trinidad. Normally it arrives 

 here from the mainland of S. America in June and leaves in October.. 

 The birds seem to congregate in the fields which are infested with 

 froghuppers and are in this way particularly valuable in destroying the 

 first brood. 



In 1918 the first individuals began to appear towards the end of May 

 and nearly all had departed by the end of October. In 1919 the first 

 were seen on 15th June ; by the 27th June they wei'e present in 

 thousands. By the beginning of October they had begun to leave,, 

 but stragglers were seen up to the 24th November. 



It is interesting that a field of young plant canes in the Naparimas 

 had, quite abnormally, adult froghoppers present in it throughout the 

 dry season of 1918, and in March of that year four Scissors-tail Fly- 

 catchers apjieared in it for about two weeks and were busily engaged in 

 eating the froghoppers. 



One bird shot on 4th July, 1918 at La Fortunee Estate contained 

 seven adult froghoppers, several small Elaterid beetles, other small 

 beetles, four winged-ants, and pieces of a small millipede. 



One shot on 12th August, 1920 contained seeds in addition to insects. 



(15.) Sijnallaxis cinnamomea. Marsh Giouiti. Marsh Rootie, or Kri- 

 kri-kri. 



This and several related species of Si/nallaxis are not uncommon in 

 the cane fields. 



They have active wren or tit-like habits and their sharp grating cry 

 has given rise to the local name of "kri-kri-kri". 



A pair were shot at La Fortunee on 4th Tuly. 1918. One contained 

 two froghoppers, two spiders, several small beetles, and various insect 

 remains too small to identify. The other one contained one froghopper, 

 one ant, one red-mite (Trombidiiim sp.) and various small beetles and 

 insects. 



It nests in bushes and low trees, seldom above ten feet from the 

 ground and occasionally quite low dawn, only two or three feet from it. 



Its large retort-shaped nest, made of interwoven twigs, is a 

 conspicuous object but well protected ngainst intruders. 



This species or related ones have been found nesting in February, 

 June. July. September and October. 



(16.1 Podagcr nacunda. Nacunda Night-jar or Night-hawk. 

 This is a fairly large species of Night-jar with a conspicuous white 

 bar across each wing, white beneath and a white collar. 



According to Leotaud it is probably a migrant, remaining from July 

 to October. I have seen it in the cane fields at the end of June and in 

 July and again in October 1919. It starts fiying early in the evening 

 almost as soon as the sun has set. 



One shot at Harmony Hall on 29th June 1919 at 6.45 p.m. (sun set 

 about 6.30) had already in its stomach 26 adult froghoppers, one 

 Metamaaius weevil, one Scarabseid beetle, one Elaterid beetle and two 

 winged ants. 



The birds rest on the ground during the day and a flock of about 

 six which I observed kept close together usually near one particular spot. 

 On one occasion (4th July 1919) when the flock was disturbed during 

 the day time, a close examination was made to see if they were nesting.. 

 No eggs were found, but on the spots where they had been lying were 



