BARRO COLORADO ISLAND—GROSS 333 
Our field studies were confined chiefly to birds which were nest- 
ing, for it is then that their life is centered around a restricted 
area where much of their behavior can be successfully studied from 
blinds. It is also easier to secure photographic records of the 
birds under such conditions. I must admit that we went to the 
island with considerable apprehension as to our probable success 
in finding many birds nesting after the end of June, but in this 
connection it is interesting to note that we found so much material 
that practically all the life history work of the summer was con- 
ducted within a few hundred yards of the laboratory. I am greatly 
indebted to Mr. Frank Drayton, caretaker of the station, who 
assisted me in locating nests for the field studies. 
To anyone who attempts to gain a general impression of the bird 
life of the Canal Zone by a trip across the Isthmus via train the 
results are unsatisfactory and perhaps disappointing so far as num- 
bers are concerned, but to me those first impressions of Panama 
from the train were strong ones, and I still have vivid memories 
of that initial experience in the Canal Zone. Soon after leaving 
Cristobal the train passes through a marsh which at that time of 
the year (June) was alive with herons, of which I noted three 
different species. Here I saw those beautiful immaculate white 
egrets (Herodias egretta) which stood out in striking contrast 
with the dark colors of the surroundings. As we passed a dense 
mass of vegetation growing in the water near to the tracks, about a 
dozen little blue herons (/lorida caerulea) in white and gray phases 
of plumage were startled by the train and a little farther along I 
saw several black-crowned herons (Butorides striata) perched in 
the top of a palm tree. After leaving the marsh there were fewer 
birds, but the vegetation was very interesting and we had excellent 
views of Gatun Lake as we skirted around its eastern border. In 
the topmost branches of a dead tree partially submerged by the 
lake was a small group of Brazilian cormorants (Phalacrocorax v. 
vigua). I looked eagerly for the water turkey or snake bird 
(Anhinga anhinga) but it was not until weeks later that I saw this 
bird when making a trip up the Chagres River on the police boat. 
Soon after leaving the station of Monte Lirio I saw for the first 
time several black jacanas (Jacana nigra) striding in a most adept 
manner over the lily pads of a small lagoon. When we stopped at 
Frijoles several anis (Crotophaga ani) were there to greet us and 
then as the train continued toward the Continental Divide I had 
fleeting glimpses of many birds, but with the exception of a Panama 
erimson-backed tanager (amphocelus dimidiatus isthmicus) I was. 
unable to identify any of them. At Balboa the first birds to attract 
my attention after leaving the train were flocks of noisy paraquets 
(Brotogeris jugularis), which flew about in solid masses, some of 
