Blanquilla Island, Venezuela, 113 
The vegetation on the island elsewhere is very similar to 
what is found at the western end of Margarita and on the 
low arid stretches of the Cariaco Peninsula of the mainland 
of Venezuela, and on the island of Curacao. The central 
plateau is, however, bare, flat, and gravelly, dotted here and 
there with thin patches of acacia and cactus (Opuntia and 
Cereus ). 
Thinly scattered grass, dry and tindery, was struggling for 
existence on the parched-up ground at the time of our visit, 
but probably it springs up and flourishes in the rainy 
season, for, strangely enough, we saw large numbers of 
donkeys, horses, and goats all over the island. 
Stretching along the eastern side of the plateau is a long 
belt of thick bushy scrub, with fairly well-grown trees here 
and there. Progress through it is tiresome, as the ground 
is covered with sharp jagged edges of coral-limestone rock, 
which protrudes through the scanty covering of soil. Dense 
growths of prickly shrubs, innumerable sand-flies, and a fiery 
heat complete the visitor’s discomfort. 
I could see no evidences of water, either in dried-up water- 
courses or shallow ponds. The fishermen dig wells near the 
shore, from which they get brackish and disgusting water. 
Our stay at the island was limited to one day (April 5th, 
1906) ; but by dint of hard walking from early morning till 
five in the afternoon, when we left, I managed to secure 
55 specimens of birds. Of those seen, but of which specimens 
were not secured in the short time at my disposal, I noticed 
one other Tyrant-bird (most probably Tyrannus melancho- 
licus) and examples of Polyborus, Buteo, Cerchneis, Ceryle, 
and Nycticorav. Ialso shot a Dove, which I was unable 
to secure, but I believe it to have belonged to the genus 
Zenada. 
I saw no examples of the genera Cardinalis, Conurus, 
Quiscalus, Icterus, Dendroplex, Melanerpes, Cereba, or 
Polioptila, some of which might well have been expected ; 
and, so far as I could ascertain in the limited time, only 
one kind of Humming-bird (Chrysolampis moschitus), which 
is very common, occurs on the island. This is an abundant 
SER IX.—VOL I. I 
