78 linXillOl'I'KK BLIGHT OF .sUGAK-CANE. 



the food was animal and Orthoptera (grasshoppers and crickets) formed 

 over 40 per cent. In sjiite of the popular name of the bird no cattle 

 ticks were found in all these stomachs. 



The bird nests in lai-ge bushes and trees and frequently also in the 

 clumps of prickly "Black Roseau." The nest is usually over ten feet 

 above the ground and several birds ma3^ lay in one nest. Nests 

 containing eggs have been found in February, July, August and 

 September. 



In addition to the above, several other birds in the sugar districts 

 are believed to eat froghoppers, but up to the present have not been 

 proved to do so. The most important are : — 



HlRUNDINID^a:. 



Chelidon eryilirogaster. Red-bellied Swallow. 

 Stelgidopten/^r urcr^iygialis. Yellow-bellied Swallow. 



Tanagridje. 

 Tacliijiihonus rufus. Parson. 



Tyrannid^e. 

 Pitangus stdphuratus. Common Keskadee. 



Caprimulgid^. 

 Chord eilcs acvtipeiuiis. Long-winged Night-hawk. 

 N yctidromus albicolUs. Common Night-hawk. 

 These will be further investigated as occasion arises. 



Lizards. 



There is no doubt that lizards destroy large numbers of froghoppers 

 and in certain conditions are among the most important enemies. 

 Lizards are however not very common in the cane iields in Trinidad, 

 and, according to the general opinion of planters, much less so than 

 formerly'. 



Kershaw (1913 I p. 10) says '• I have never found lizards abundant 

 in the cane fields in any other countries even when very numerous in 

 grass and waste land adjoining." With this I can agree, with the 

 qualification that in Trinidad they seem to be even less plentiful than 

 elsewhere. 



The general reason given for the scarcity of lizards in Trinidad is 

 the introduction of the mongoose, and while this may be so, it must be 

 remembered that many agricultural practices, particularly burning the 

 trash and good continual ciiltivation, will have as great if not a gi-eater 

 effect on their numbers. 



Waterloo Estate, after a campaign against mongoose in 1917, 

 imported, with the assistance of Mr. Urich, about 1,500 lizards, but no 

 definite results could be seen as, although there was a large reduction 

 in the froghopper infestation in the next two years, there was also a 

 distinct change in the agricultural methods in use on the estate, and in 

 addition the reduction of froghoppers was general throughout the district 

 and not confined to the area where the lizards were released or even to 

 the estate in question. 



It has also to be remembered that lizards, while eating froghoppers, 

 \\ ill also destroy many other insects and spiders that would in turn eat 

 Iroghoppers. 



An accurate investigation of the food of lizards in the cane fields is 

 much needed and will be started as soon as possible. Pending this I 

 am inclined to think that the importance of lizards as a control has been 

 over estimated. 



According to Urich the commonest lizard of the cane fields is Ameiva 

 .iitrina7nensis. 



