Narrativ]-: oi" J3ahai\ia Exi^edition. 95 



Upon our return to the vessel we found all hands engaged 

 in a desperate battle with the mosquitoes. There was little 

 sleep that night, as a number of the party, finding sleep im- 

 possible, tramped the deck till morning, making repose out of 

 the question for those who had learned to endure the pests 

 from past and oft-repeated experiences. In the morning all 

 hands, except those whose presence was needed on board, 

 were detailed for work along the shore and in shallow water. 



The entomologists and botanists found that the thirty vard 

 strip of land conceded by " El Capitan " well repaid careful 

 exploration. Those interested in Conchology discovered in 

 the mangrove swamp a splendid field for their favorite pursuit, 

 and crustaceans and echinoderms were discovered in consider- 

 able abundance in the quiet shallow water near the shore and 

 in the swamp. Only three species of birds were secured be- 

 fore the authorities put a stop to our shooting, Gavzctta 

 caiididissiina, the little white Egret, was found breeding in 

 the swamp, several fledgelings being secured and placed in 

 alcohol. Ictcris hypoinelas (Bonap.^, an oriole, was found. 

 The body was black, shoulders, rump, lower wing coverts and 

 upper and lower tail coverts bright yellow. The sexes were 

 colored alike, bftt a young specimen had the black of the lower 

 parts behind breast, and entire upper parts replaced by yellow- 

 ish green. Spiiidalis frctrei {'LQ^s.^^'ix brightly colored tana- 

 ger, was the only other bird secured. ^ 



It was a decided aggravation to one interested in Orni- 

 thology to be within sight of the densely wooded slopes of the 

 Cuban hills, imagination peopling the dense jungles with 

 abundant bird-life of new and interesting forms, and still be 

 forbidden by what seemed official stupidity, from exploring the 

 region at all, although we had been informed that the Govern- 

 ors of the provinces had been expressly instructed to permit 

 the landing of parties of our naturalists for just svich purposes. 

 The Governor of this particular province, being, we were told, 

 some sixty miles distant, was as inaccessible to us as if he had 

 been at the North Pole. 



Mr. Wickham furnishes the following entomological notes: 



