6.34 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [ANNO 1785. 



I have reason to think, that this is a bird of migration ; for the inhabitants on 

 the sides of the Coin do not recollect ever to have seen it in the winter months ; 

 and its food being insects, it is probable it must be obliged to shift its quarters 

 for a warmer climate at the approach of a severe season ; but this at present is 

 only matter of conjecture, and not certainty. 



///. An Account of Morne Garou, a Mountain in the Island of St. Vincent, with 

 a Description of the Volcano on its Summit. By Mr. James Anderson, Surgeon. 

 p. l6. 



" The many ridges of mountains which intersect this island in all directions, and 

 rise in gradations, one above another, to a very great height, with the rivers 

 tumbling from their sides over very high precipices, render it exceeding difficult 

 to explore its interior parts. The most remarkable of these mountains is one 

 that terminates the n. w. end of the island, and the highest in it, and has always 

 been mentioned to have had volcanic eruptions from it. The traditions of the 

 oldest inhabitants in the island, and the ravins at its bottom, seem to vindicate 

 the assertion. As I was determined, during my stay in the island, to see as 

 much of it as I could ; and as I knew, from the altitude of this mountain, there 

 was a probability of meeting with plants on it I could not find in any other part of 

 the island ; I should have attempted going up if I had heard nothing of a volcano 

 being on it. But viewing the mountain at a distance, its structure was different 

 from any in the island, or any I had seen in the West Indies. I could perceive it 

 divided into many different ridges, separated by very deep chasms, and its summit 

 appeared quite destitute of any vegetable production. On examining several 

 ravins, that run from the bottom a great way up the mountain, 1 perceived they 

 were quite destitute of water, and found pieces of pumice-stone, charcoal, several 

 earths and minerals, that plainly indicated there must be some very singular 

 place or other on some part of the mountain. I also recollected a story told by some 

 very old men in the island, that they had heard the captain of a ship say, that 

 between this island and St. Lucia he saw, towards night, flames and smoke 

 issuing from the top of this mountain, and next morning his decks were covered 

 with ashes and small stones. This was excitement enough to examine it, if I 

 possibly could ; but I was much discouraged on being told it was impossible to 

 gain the summit of it ; nor could I get either white men, Carribbee, or Negro, 

 that would undertake to conduct me up for any reward I could offer ; nor could I 

 get any information relative to it. But as difficulty to attain inhances the value 

 of the object, so the more I was told of the impossibility of going up, the more 

 was I determined to attempt it." Accordingly, having at length been afforded 

 assistance by some friends, Mr. A. set out on this dangerous and desperate ad- 

 venture. After suffering amazing hardships for several days and nights, some- 



