38 MR. A. BOUCARD ON BIRDS FROM COSTA RICA. [Jan. 15, 



My hunting-ground during the first weeks was in the valley of 

 San Jose ; but I was rather disappointed, birds being very scarce, 

 which was due chiefly to the poverty of the vegetation, all the soil 

 for many miles having been turned into coffee-plantations. The 

 only places for hunting were the roads from San Jose to the towns 

 and villages of Heredia, Alajuela, Tres Rios, Desamparados, &c. 



On the trees and shrubs surrounding the coffee-plantations small 

 flocks of birds were flying about. These flocks consisted of the 

 following species — Pyrgisoma cabanisi, Zonotrichia pileata, Buarre- 

 mon chrysopogon, Saltator grandis, Catharus melpomene, Turdus 

 grayi, Cyclorhis Jiavipectus, Elainea pagana, Myiarchus crinitus, 

 and several other species of Tanagridse, Fringillidae, and Tyrannidse. 



Among the Trochilidae Pyrrhophcena rieferi, Saucerottia sophice, 

 and Chlorolampis osberti were the only three species to be seen at 

 that time. 



In the gardens and maize-fields several species of Spermophila were 

 found feeding on seeds. 



In the barrancas (deep ravines occasioned by the large quantity of 

 water which falls in the rainy season) the vegetation was more 

 varied, and several species of Columbidae were met with. In all 

 parts of the valley you always find the same species. 



At the end of January, I made an excursion to the valley of San 

 Carlos, in company with MM. Koschny and Meil de Fontenay, who 

 proved to be very good travelling companions. The valley of San 

 Carlos divides the Republic of Costa Rica from that of Nicaragua. 

 It lies on the Atlantic slope, and extends as far as the river San 

 Juan, which is the boundary of the two countries. It is quite a 

 tropical climate, and considered very unhealthy. The forests are of 

 the most magnificent description. There are scarcely any roads or 

 inhabitants, except four or five settlers who are trying to raise cattle, 

 and some few Nicaraguans who are engaged in extracting the juice 

 of the india-rubber tree (Siphonia elastica). 



To reach San Carlos we had to pass Sarzero and Laguna, two 

 small villages lying at the summit of the Cordillera, near the volcano 

 of Poas. Thence we had to descend gradually about 5000 feet 

 through a very picturesque country. 



We arrived" the third day, at twelve, at the rancho where we 

 intended to stop. From this rancho you can reach Greytown by 

 water in little more than half a day. The return takes about six 

 days, as you have then to go against the current. 



The animal life is prodigious; flocks of birds are* constantly 

 passing to and fro. Early in the morning and at sunset large quan- 

 tities of Howling Monkeys (Mycetes pattiatus) are heard all around. 

 They make a fearful noise ; and one who has not heard them before 

 may well fancy that the forest is thronged with Jaguars. These 

 last-mentioned animals used to be very common ; but now they are 

 rather scarce, having been much persecuted. 



Large flocks of Ara macao, Chrysotis farinosa, Pionus senilis, 

 Conurus astec, and other species of Parrots are constantly passing in 

 all directions. 



