104 Field Ornithology and Aviculture in Tropical America


with black marks and brilliant voilet reflections on the next, very

similar to the well-known Zenaida auriculata.


A very interesting fact, so far never recorded in any work on

ornithology, is the migration through Martinique of the Guiana

Parrotlet (Psittacula passerina). These little birds arrive from the

north in February and March as a rule, and remain three to four weeks

in the island. I was fortunate enough to see several flocks of them and

to bring home a pair caught near Fort-de-France. They are typical

P. j>asserina. On my knowledge no author has ever reported the

presence of this Parrotlet in the Northern West Indies, and it is to be

hoped that further observations may be made.


There are in Martinique many other interesting birds that one

would be glad to have in aviaries, but owing to their scarcity I would

not capture them. As an instance, let me mention some charming

hours I spent one afternoon in a wood of giant tree ferns on the slope

of the “ Montagne Pelie ”. One remembers that twenty years ago this

awful volcano destroyed the city of St. Pierre and its suburbs, causing

in three seconds the death of all the 40,000 inhabitants. Now every¬

thing is quiet again, and the tree ferns which have grown since the

eruption are some 30 feet high, so rich is the vegetation in the West

Indies. A family of birds inhabited the Tree fern wood : a pair and

three young Clarinos (Myiedestes geniharbis), or “ SifHeurs de Montagne ” •

The Martinique species is, I believe, superior to all others in beauty and

song. This graceful bird, of the size of a Sparrow, with its delicate

short bill and long legs, is truly delightful ; its elegant and simple

dress reminds one very much of that of a Cossypha caffra, an harmonious

mixture of pearl-grey, orange, buff, and black. These birds only live

on the hills, above an altitude of 1,000 feet. The five Clarinos were

sitting in the shade, sometimes flying to catch an insect, the only

other feathered inhabitants of the wood being gorgeous garnet-throated

Humming-birds. It was a wonderful sight, these handsome birds in

the stately tree ferns ; but more beautiful still was their concert,

The male was singing all the time, and the young ones joining him now

and then ; I had never heard before such a melodious and pure voice.

Its own song is most varied, but the Clarino still mimics perfectly

human whistling ; I tried Arpeges and other tunes, which he answered



