NO. 9 BIRDS OF ISLA COIBA, PANAMA—WETMORE 3 
tion, and dangers, of interest to mariners, he mentions that the “isle 
of Quicarra is pretty large’ which is an early reference to Isla 
Jicaron. He makes no reference to human habitation on Coiba, but 
this must have come soon after, if not already in existence, through 
the pearl fishery which later was pursued through the annual period 
of good weather. From June to November, the season of the “ven- 
devales,” strong winds blowing from unfavorable quarters were too 
frequent to make pearl diving profitable or safe. 
Capt. George Shelvocke of the British Navy, in his account of his 
voyage around the world, came to Coiba on January 13, 1720, 
anchored off the northeast point, and found two or three deserted 
huts that he supposed were used by pearl fishermen, as there were 
heaps of pearl shell around them. During his stay two large piraguas 
landed on adjacent Isla Rancheria (which he calls Quivetta), and he 
learned from prisoners that he took of another Spanish ship laden 
with provisions that had passed during the night. Shelvocke came 
again to Coiba about the first of May 1721, and then gives a con- 
siderable description of it, in which he mentions “‘the great variety of 
birds, which the woods would not permit us to follow,” and the 
abundance of black monkeys and igaunas. 
George Anson, on another British expedition around the World, 
stopped at Coiba on December 3, 1741. As the expedition included 
several vessels, and was therefore in strong position, they anchored 
in Bahia Damas, off the present location of the Colonia Penal, as 
indicated on the map that Anson made of the eastern side of the 
island. Anson mentions parrots and parakeets, and especially great 
flights of macaws. Like his predecessors, he writes of monkeys and 
deer, which, however, could not be hunted because of dense forest. 
He discredited reports from prisoners he had taken of “tigres,” since 
he saw no tracks or other sign of them. These same prisoners de- 
scribed in detail a highly dangerous poisonous snake of which they 
were much in fear. Pearl oysters were reported in greater abundance 
here than anywhere else in Panama. Anson was impressed by the 
great number of turtles, and includes an account of the pearl 
fishery, and of the divers who obtain the shells. Only a few 
unoccupied huts were found. 
Coconut plantations were established in due time, but there seems 
never to have been any extensive settlement on Coiba. At the open- 
ing of the present century, the pearl fishery was in operation, with a 
store, cantina, and other buildings located, in part at least, near Punta 
Observatorio in the southern section of the bay, the site of the present 
convict camp at Maria. Other fishing went on also, but all this 
