372 TEINIDAD. 





with much reason, what would become of our vegetation, of our- 

 selves, should these insect-destroyers disappear? Everywhere 

 may be perceived one or other of these insectivora in pursuit or 

 seizure of its prey, either on the wing, or on the trunks of 

 trees ; in the coverts of thickets, or in the calices of flowers. 

 Whenever called to witness one of the frequent migrations 

 from one point to another so often practised by ants, not only 

 can the Dendrocolaptes be seen following the moving trail, and 

 preying on the eggs and the ants themselves, but even the 

 Tanagra Nigerrima abandons his usual fruits for this more 

 tempting delicacy. Our frugivorous and baccivorous genera are 

 also pretty numerous, and most of them are so fond of insect 

 food, that they unite, as occasion offers, with the insectivorous 

 tribes. 



Marsh birds (Grallatoria) are remarkable, not only for their 

 number, but also for their large size ; the kamichi is the size of 

 a turkey ; the heron {Ardea Americana) stands more than four 

 feet when erect ; the great egret [Ardea major) is as tall, and 

 the tantal, of the same height, is larger in body. 



As to the granivora, the number of species is scarce ; and it 

 cannot be otherwise, when the nature of our vegetation is taken 

 into consideration. 



We have eighteen species of humming-birds ; and this large 

 variety of these charming creatures which draw from the calices 

 of flowers the honey-dew which affords their sustenance, proves 

 that the country is not altogether destitute of flowers. They 

 also share in the prey of the insectivora, and whilst sucking their 

 nectareous aliment, they swallow together with it the small 

 insects that have been entangled in the viscous liquor which, by 

 agglutinating their wings, has rendered their escape impossible. 

 It is scarcely probable that these insects are found accidentally 

 in the digestive tube of humming-birds, as those have thought 

 who would have their sole food to consist of the juice of flowers: 

 on the contrary, they would appear to constitute the essential 

 part of their alimentary diet. On opening the crop of a : 

 humming-bird, one is struck with the large quantity of small 

 flies which it contains ; they are met with also, and in as great a 

 number, in the stomach of the nestlings that are wholly fed by 

 the parent bird. Besides, are there really in the juice of flowers 

 all the organic and inorganic elements which are indispensable 



