PREFACE. 



>*o 



The islands to which reference is made in the fol- 

 lowing chapters are those known as the Caribbees, 

 or Lesser Antilles, extending over eight degrees of 

 latitude, between Porto Rico and Trinidad, connect- 

 ing the Greater Antilles with the continent of South 

 America. 



This archipelago, containing the loveliest islands in 

 the western hemisphere, with settlements ante-dating 

 Jamestown and Plymouth, with structure and physi- 

 cal features interesting to men of science the world 

 over, has yet remained, as at the period of discovery, 

 almost an unknown field to the naturalist. 



In 1876, under the auspices of the Smithsonian In- 

 stitution, I undertook the exploration of these islands 

 with the especial view of bringing to light their 

 ornithological treasures. The investigation covered 

 a space of nearly two years, during which time I 

 visited mountains, forests, and people, that few, if 

 any, tourists ever reached before. It was only by 

 leaving the beaten path of travel, and taking to the 

 woods, that I was enabled to accomplish what I did 



