v1 PREFACE. 
in the way of discovery ; for which the curious reader 
is referred to the Appendix, and to the various cat- 
alogues of new birds discovered, published by the 
National Museum. 
While around the borders of each island there is a 
cleared belt of fertile land, sometimes densely popu- 
lated, and on the coast are often large villages and 
even Cities, the interior is generally one vast forest, 
covering hills and mountains so wild and forbidding 
of aspect that few clearings are made in them save 
the “provision grounds” of the negroes and Indians. 
Many tourists and writers have visited these islands, 
have stopped a while in the towns, have interviewed 
the natives, and then have hastened off to England 
or the States, and written books about them. Several 
naturalists of note: have likewise visited the shores 
of these interesting isles, but, Jike the writers afore- 
mentioned, have never penetrated beyond the line of 
civilization. 
Conjecturing that the public have had enough of 
descriptions at second hand, from writers: who are 
more ears than eyes, I have hastened away from 
town and city, and sought an early opportunity for 
taking my readers to the forest, where everything 
reposes in nearly the same primitive simplicity and 
freshness as when discovered by Columbus, nearly 
four centuries ago. 
I took my camera with me, and whenever a new 
bit of scenery presented itself, a beautiful tree, or cas- 
