238 Wells, Birds of the Island of Carriacou. \'\^ 



trees on its borders. The hills have been much denuded of trees 

 for the purpose of shipbuilding, many small craft, of from five to 

 fifty tons, being continually built here. The island has an area 

 of about thirteen square miles, and a population of 7000. There 

 are no running streams in the island, the water supply being 

 derived from a few natural springs and wells ; rain water is also 

 collected in tanks and ponds. 



The following account of Carriacou, written in the year 1774, 

 may prove of interest : — 



" Cariouacou (its Carib name) , about 20 miles in compass, and 

 by those who should be best acquainted with it, represented as one 

 •of the fairest and finest spots in this part of America, enjoying a 

 -climate equally wholesome and pleasant, a soil wonderfully fertile, 

 abounding with valuable timber, as well as fine fruit trees. But 

 what distinguishes it most, and which induced more than one 

 recommendation to the French Court, is its having a harbor as 

 safe, as spacious, and as commodious as any that this part of the 

 world can boast, and communicating by a narrow, though a deep 

 channel, with a Lagune, in which, without any assistance from 

 art, ships may careen very conveniently. " 



Owing to the absence of forests in Carriacou, many of the birds, 

 found in the neighboring islands of St. Vincent and Grenada are 

 not represented, but on the other hand, there being a large area 

 of swamps and marshes, numbers of the aquatic and wading 

 varieties are to be found, and the extensive pastures on the coast 

 tempt many of the migratory species to visit the island, some 

 stragglers of which remain all the year round. The low, scrubby 

 'bush' of the hillsides and the cultivated fields of pigeon peas and 

 Indian corn, afford food and shelter to most of the resident birds, 

 whilst the cliffs on the southern and southwestern sides of the 

 island, as also the rocky islets oft' the coast, are the homes of 

 numerous waterfowl. 



From observations extending over a period of six years, I find 

 that there are 39 resident birds and jiZ migratory, or "partial 

 residents," thus comparing favorably with the larger island of 

 Barbados, from which 82 species are recorded, of which only 15 

 are resident. 



