ORNITHOLOGICAL CHANGES. 423 



B I R D 8 . 



AN ESSAY ON THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRINIDAD, 



BY ANTOINE LEOTAND, 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 enough 

 to correct, and facts enough to record, such as to constitute these 

 researches a matter of no idle curiosity. 



We lie so contiguous to the southern continent, that our orni- 

 thology 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, as in questions 

 of pure locality. So luxuriant and varied is our vegetation, our 

 forests so extensive, our insects so numerous, and the disposition 

 of the country 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 

 enregister 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 conse- 

 quence, 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. 



