Fie\d Ornithology and Aviculture in Tropical America 101


by a few larger ones that were white with blue backs (Larus occidentalis).

These Gulls had no nests on the rocks as far as I could make out.


If a Sea Lion after having caught a fish came above the water to

swallow it, the Gulls would at once be near him, and if he was not

very careful they would succeed in taking the fish from him. In this

case he would dive again and in a few seconds be up again with another

fish. On one occasion far away at sea towards the south-west I could

see through my glasses a great cloud of small black sea birds, apparently

Petrels, that were after some food or other on the surface of the sea.


On the Californian coast behind Cliffhouse there is a hill called

“ Sutroheights ”, after its owner. On the top is a country house,

whilst the immediate vicinity has been planted as a park, and is open

to the public during the day. Against the slope of this hill were

numerous families of Californian Quails that took not the slightest

notice of the crowd of automobiles and foot passengers on the road

below. This Quail is quite a common bird in the parks of San Francisco,

and as it is so confiding it is easily noticed.


In Golden Gate Park there is a small zoological collection.

American bison were there, of course, and also some Wapiti, but the

best thing I saw there was quite a large herd of rufus Kangaroos.


(To be continued.)



NOTES ON FIELD ORNITHOLOGY AND

AVICULTURE IN TROPICAL AMERICA


By Jean Delacour

I. Martinique


When one leaves Europe in the autumn, where all is becoming dull

and grey, he has quite a shock when he sees the first West Indian Island,

La Guadeloupe, the first landing-place since sailing from France. The

beautiful bay of Pointe-a-Pitre, with its high mountains in the back¬

ground, its low coral islets, covered, as well as the shore, with coco-nut

palms and mangroves, is incredibly green, and the scenery is a perfect

and lovely example of what one in Europe has dreamed of a tropical

island.


Dominica, St. Lucia, and Martinique give the same delightful



