J Clark, Birds of Margarita Islatid. 



,go2 J \^^i^v.w, Diras oj niargartta island. 2£5Q 



a great extent failed, which may in a measure account for some of 

 the differences in distribution, as in the case of the Crested Quail 

 {Eupsychortyx) and the Cardinal ( Cardinalis) . 



The island of Margarita lies off the Venezuelan coast, directly 

 north of Cumana, from which it is distant about twenty miles. 

 It is forty-two miles long, and is made up of two parts, each with 

 a high central peak, connected by a narrow neck. The eastern 

 part is the larger and contains all the principal towns ; the western 

 is practically barren. 



The island has three well defined life zones ; first, the flat and 

 hot coast region, sandy, and with scant vegetation, consisting of 

 post and melon cacti, with the dreaded ' tuna ' and thorn-trees. 

 This extends all around the island, and occupies a strip averaging 

 about three miles in width, in which the Burrowing Owl {Speotyto) 

 is exclusively found, while the Troupial {Icterus), Scaled Dove 

 {Scardafella) , Buzzard (Buieo), and Parrakeet (C^/z/zj/v/'j-) prefer 

 it to any other region. The chief towns of the island, Asuncion, 

 Juangriego, and Porlamar, are situated here. Next comes the 

 intermediate region, of rough, hilly country, with a large amount 

 of scrubby growth, and many varieties of cactus, forming the home 

 of the Tawny Cuckoo {Diplopierus), the Spinetail (SynaNaxis), 

 and the Honey Creeper {Ccereba). The interior of the eastern 

 part of the island is a heavily wooded mountain, with its summit 

 3240 feet above the sea level, and always hidden by clouds. 

 Here occur such forms as the Yellow-billed Thrush {Platycichla), 

 Manakin {Chiroxiphia, Guan {Ortalis) and Parrot {Amazoiia). 



Some birds, such as the Creeper {Dendroplex) and the Ant- 

 shrike {Thamnophilus) , occur everywhere. 



Several streams flow down the mountain and one, the most 

 important, attains a considerable size in the rainy season, flow- 

 ing from high up on the mountain to the sea which it meets a 

 little east of Porlamar. In the valley of this stream, at the base 

 of the mountain, is situated the little town of El Valle, in a large 

 grove of cocoanut palms. It was in this village that most of 

 the work was done, as it was a good place in which to live, and 

 was within easy reach of the mountain forest, and of the hot 

 coast plain. 



