VEGETATION OF THE ISLAND 41 



apparently of a species of acacia, which from all 

 appearances have been dead for many years, 

 though why they died it is impossible to say. 

 They show no signs of having been destroyed 

 by fire. The whole of the island is covered with 

 these dead trees ; some standing with their bare 

 branches spread out as in life, and others lying 

 in all positions. In some places so thickly is the 

 ground strewn with them that it is difficult to force 

 one's way through. When South Trinidad was 

 first discovered it was thickly wooded, but no 

 record seems forthcoming as to when and why 

 the trees died. It may have been that some 

 volcanic disturbance destroyed all the vegetation, 

 but this seems unlikely, because on the summit of 

 the island there flourish trees and tree-ferns 

 which appear to be of a great age. 



At one time a number of goats inhabited the 

 island, but for many years these have disappeared, 

 though the reason for this is also unknown. There 

 is at the present time sufficient green food to 

 support any number of goats, for, besides the grass, 

 which covers the greater part, there are quantities 

 of beans growing in masses on the fallen trees on 

 the windward side. 



As soon as we began to ascend to the plateau 

 numbers of petrels appeared flying overhead ; 

 these were of two species, the most numerous 

 being the (Estrelata wilsoni of Sharpe. About 

 the size of a pigeon, this bird has a dark slate- 



