334 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1926 
them so near the ground that I saw a boy wing one of them with a 
club, These birds literally infest the trees along certain streets and 
always seem in evidence much as are the English sparrows in our 
northern cities. ' 
After locating my family in comfortable quarters in Balboa and 
securing collecting permits from the Governor, Mr. Zetek arranged 
to take me to the island. We took the train to Frijoles, a small 
plantation village located at the tip of an arm of Gatun Lake, a con- 
venient place for transferring our baggage to the laboratory launch. 
As we followed the channel leading out to Gatun Lake we passed 
several thatched native huts surrounded by banana plantations and 
here and there were groups of palm trees further to remind us that 
we were in the Tropics. I saw but few birds in going across the 
lake, merely a number of Brazilian cormorants that were perched 
on the dead tree stumps and a flock of brown pelicans (Pelecanus 
occidentalis) which were flying over in their characteristic align- 
ment. As we crossed the channel of the Canal a great steamer bore 
down upon us. We succeeded in crossing its bow in plenty of time 
but the waves which followed were enough to make some of us think 
of the life preservers. As we were getting adjusted to the waves I 
noticed a giant kingfisher (Streptoceryle t. torquata) perched on the 
top of a channel buoy where he seemed to enjoy his ride much more 
than some of the persons in the launch. We came to a view of the 
station suddenly and unexpectedly as we rounded a point of the 
island. ‘There before us, nestled on a hill high above the lake 
and surrounded by giant trees of the tropical forest, were the build- 
ings of the station. Leading from the boat landing to the laboratory 
is a long series of steps, over 200 I was told, a number I soon learned 
to appreciate. The climb to the top is worth the effort of any visitor 
to the island, for from the laboratory door you have a remarkable 
panoramic view of Gatun Lake and the surrounding jungle. ‘There 
is always something interesting to be seen no matter what time of 
the day you chance to be there. The place seems much like a zoo- 
logical garden and among your expectations will be the toucans 
with their enormous and highly colored bills, gorgeous trogons, the 
long-tailed motmots, dozens of screaming parrots and paraquets and 
countless smaller birds including brilliantly irridescent humming- 
birds and highly colored manakins. The presence and notes of 
these birds mingled with the howls of monkeys and the cries of un- 
seen creatures in the forest make the place weirdly fascinating. The 
first time that I walked down the trails alone and heard the queer 
sounds, the source of which I could not guess, I felt uncomfortable 
and ill at ease at times, but after living there a few weeks, you soon 
learn that the animals of the jungle, even the larger ones like the 
