SOUTH AMERICA. 291 



was said to beggar all description, and the loss FOURTH 



JOURNEY. 



was immense. 



Dominica is famous for a large species of frog, 

 which the inhabitants keep in readiness to 

 slaughter for the table. In the woods of this 

 island, the large rhinoceros beetle is very com- 

 mon ; it measures above six inches in length. 

 In the same woods is found the beautiful 

 humming-bird, the breast and throat of which 

 are of a brilliant changing purple. I have 

 searched for this bird in Brazil, and through the 

 whole of the wilds from the Rio Branco, which 

 is a branch of the Amazons, to the river Pau- 

 maron, but never could find it. I was told by a 

 man in the Egyptian-hall, in Piccadilly, that this 

 humming-bird is found in Mexico; but upon 

 questioning him more about it, his information 

 seemed to have been acquired by hearsay ; and 

 so I concluded that it does not appear in Mexico. 

 I suspect that it is never found out of the Antilles. 



After leaving Dominica, you soon reach the 

 grand and magnificent island of Martinico. St. 

 Pierre, its capital, is a fine town, and possesses 

 every comfort. The inhabitants seem to pay 

 considerable attention to the cultivation of the 

 tropical fruits. A stream of water runs down 

 the streets with great rapidity, producing a 

 pleasing effect as you pass along. 



Here I had an opportunity of examining a 

 cuckoo, which had just been shot. It was 



u 2 



