92 TRINIDAD. 



ripe pod, apparently to suck the sweet mucilage that covers the 

 beans within; and each pod thus attacked, together with its con- 

 tents, rots on the tree, so that these not uncommonly wholesale 

 depredations often occasion great loss to the cacao planter. The 

 Merle Cavalier, or Black Corn-bird (Cassicus Ater), sometimes 

 makes great havoc in the corn-fields, by removing with its bill 

 the husk of the ear ; and although it eats but a few grains, the 

 mutilated ear invariably rots from being exposed to the rain or 

 heavy dews. 



Very few individuals of the Passerine order are useful as 

 articles of food ; though in this respect they are chiefly neglected 

 on account of their small size. The following are occasionally 

 served on our tables, viz.: Longue-queue (Tyrannus Savanna) f 

 the Campanero, several Tanagers and Thrushes ; also a Goat- 

 sucker (Caprimulgus Caripensis) — Guacharo or Diablotin. Of 

 the latter, the young only are acceptable, and they are caught 

 in the nest during February and March : the fledged bird is not 

 eatable. Nevertheless all the Passeres have their utility, in 

 destroying an immense number of insects, which otherwise 

 would become an intolerable pest ; even the Merle Cavalier and 

 the Merle Corbeau (Crotopkaga ani) are of notable assistance in 

 clearing the blood-thirsty tick from the hides of oxen, horses, 

 and mules, in the Estates' -pastures. 



Syndactyles. — To this order belong the Voutou or Mot-mot 

 (Prionites Brasiliensis), the Jacamar (Galbula Paradisea) — of a 

 beautiful metallic colour — the Ani and Toucan (Ramphastos) ; 

 the latter is very common in the high woods ; the Voutou and 

 Toucan serve as food. Trinidad harbours several varieties of 

 Parrots, and among them two Aras or Macaws ; they are met 

 with only in the high woods, where they generally perch on 

 the highest trees. There are also two kinds of Parrots proper 

 (Psittacus) in the island ; they are gregarious, and prefer unfre- 

 quented places, though sometimes met with in cacao plantations, 

 whither they resort to eat the green fruit of the Erythrina 

 coccinea. Generally speaking, they fly about during the day 

 in search of food, and return in the evening to some favourite 

 spot to sleep ; in this they show a preference for the mangroves, 

 and when assembled in some such locality, their loud chattering 

 is absolutely deafening. The Paroquets (Psittacula) are mostly 

 found in inhabited localities, and live chiefly on the fruits of the 



