^"iSgs'^l Brewster and Chapman oh Trinidad Birds. 20% 



region where birds were abundant, but had also the companion- 

 ship and assistance of Mr. Carr and his brother, both born natu- 

 ralists and skilled woodsmen, with a thorough knowledge of the 

 country. Every ornithologist knows what this means. Without 

 the guidance of our hosts we should have seen less in three 

 months than we did in three weeks. Through their unceasing 

 efforts every hour of the day, and almost every hour of the night 

 also, brought some interesting incident. The birds and mammals 

 of the region were passed in review for our benefit, and at the 

 conclusion of our stay there were but few species which had not 

 answered to the roll-call of gun, dog, and trap. 



Mr. Carr's home is near the point of a narrow wedge of cacao 

 estates which penetrates the forests from Chaguanas on the 

 western side of the island. The limits of the cacao and shading 

 immortel trees, among which his picturesque, thatched house is 

 situated, are sharply defined by the dark walls of the virgin forest, 

 distant only a few hundred yards. In the morning, from its 

 apparently fathomless depths, came the deep-voiced roaring of 

 monkeys {^Mycetes). Toucans, perching on the topmost branches 

 of the higher trees, croaked defiance at some answering rival half 

 a mile away. The united voices of cooing Doves {Engyptild) 

 formed a soft monotone to which the ear frequently became 

 insensible. The sweet, weird trilling of Tinamous arose from the 

 bordering undergrowth. In the trees about our house were 

 noisy Qu'-est-ce-qu'il-dits ; shrike-like Vireos {Cyclorhis flavipeciiis^ 

 whistled vigorously ; active bands of Tanagers (^Ra7}iphocelns and 

 Ta?tagra) flitted restlessly about uttering their weak, squeaky 

 notes. Five or six species of Hummingbirds were generally 

 numerous about the blossoming bois immortels, while overhead 

 were flocks containing four species of Swifts {Chcetura) whose 

 twitterings reminded us of other and very different scenes. In 

 the cool, darkened forest Jacamars were piping, Trogons cooing, 

 Motmots hooted softly, and the mournful whistle of a Pygmy 

 Owl {^Glaucidiuin) told of his partially diurnal habits. The species 

 mentioned were all more or less common. Their voices formed 

 an ever present accompaniment for all other bird-music — a back- 

 ground to the picture of bird-life which we do not intend to 

 attempt describing. 



