ORNITHOLOGICAL CHANGES. 365 



full moon ; and this method is preferred by the peons, as they 

 find the chase of this animal very trying to their dogs. The 

 manati is, in a like manner, shot whilst at graze : but if only 

 wounded, it rushes to the water, and thus escapes ; it is some- 

 times watched at the mouth of the Guataroand speared with the 

 harpoon. 



BIRDS. 



AN ESSAY ON THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRINIDAD, 

 By Antoine Leotaud, M.D.P. 



The study of the birds of Trinidad is far from being devoid of 

 interest. The number of genera to be found in the island is 

 sufficiently large to render the correct determination of species a 

 service to ornithological science. Respecting nearly 300 species 

 which have fallen under my observation, there are errors to cor- 

 rect, and facts to record, such as to constitute these researches 

 a matter of no idle curiosity. 



We lie so contiguous to the southern continent, that our 

 ornithology must necessarily differ from that of the other West 

 India islands. This is a point of geographical distribution 

 which has its importance, both as regards the science in general, 

 and in questions of pure locality. So luxuriant and varied is our 

 vegetation, so extensive our forests, so numerous our insects, and 

 the disposition of the country is itself so far from being uniform, 

 that the vastness of our ornithological treasures cannot form a 

 matter of surprise ; and should I but enumerate the species, that 

 alone would be to register facts which, at a remote period, 

 may acquire an immense local interest. Our vegetation will 

 change, our soil become impoverished, our forests will diminish 

 in extent, as they yield to the axe ; our marshes will disappear, 

 and our insects cease to swarm in such numbers as at present, 

 and, as a consequence, the ornithology of the island will then 

 present in its aspect a change which is even already perceptible. 



But this is a range which I am far from proposing to 

 bring within the limits I have prescribed to myself. I must, 

 therefore, confine my remarks to a few general considerations 

 and some restricted details. 



