578 Mr. M. J. Nicoll on Birds 



Jamaica. They were discovered by Columbus ou his return 

 voyage from Porto Bello to Hispaniola (now Hayti), and 

 were named by him " Las Tortugas" on account of the 

 turtles with which the coast then swarmed. The present 

 name is supposed to be derived from " Caiman " — the 

 alligator, which the largest island somewhat resembles in 

 shape when approached from the east. 



Grand Cayman is about seveu miles from east to west ; it 

 is about four miles in breadth at the east end and seven 

 miles at the west. The highest point on the island is only 

 150 feet above the sea. As regards the flora of these 

 islands, there is a peculiar orchid here which is very abun- 

 dant. The trees are mahogany, cedars, mangroves which 

 grow to a very fair height, and a few others. The palm 

 called " palm-thatch " grows in great abundance. Its fan- 

 like leaves make excellent thatch, hats, baskets, &c. It 

 grows to a height of about three feet. 



As regards the fauna, several species of birds are peculiar, 

 including a Parrot (Chrysotis caymanensis). There are, 

 curiously enough, no Humming-birds. The only mammals 

 are introduced rats and mice. There are also some bats, 

 but I saw only one, which I could not secure. 



The Cayman Islands have not been worked nearly so 

 thoroughly as the Lesser Antilles. The last collector there 

 was, I believe, Mr. Taylor, of Jamaica, who obtained a set of 

 birds' skins for Mr. Walter Rothschild. One new species 

 {Melopyrra taylori) from that collection was described by 

 Dr. Hartert (Nov. Zool. iii. p. 257) in 1896. When we 

 arrived Ave were told that Dr. Sharpe had been there about 

 three weeks before us in the S.Y. 'Emerald.' 



We staved three days at Grand Cayman, during which 

 time 1 collected about one hundred birds. I made a two 

 days' trip across the island in quest of the Parrot which 

 breeds only on the north and north-east of it. 



For permission to collect birds from the Cayman Islands 

 during the " close-time," and for his kindness in procuring 

 guides for me, I am much indebted to the Commissioner, 

 His Honour Frederick Sheddon Sanguinetti. 



