FIELD NOTES ON SOME WEST INDIAN BIRDS. 445 



the adult female (see ' Ibis,' July, 1897, p. 431). I found its nest 

 in February, 1897, and watched it rear its two young in safety. 



Chlorestes ccerulea, Vieill. " Small Emerald." — Under this 

 heading I will describe a ruse I used for attracting small birds, 

 as I believe the necessitated victim belonged to this species. By 

 imitating the high-pitched whistling call of the Pearl Spotted 

 Owlet, I attracted a fine assortment of all the small birds within 

 hearing, who promptly held an indignation meeting. As this 

 procedure generally brought the Owlet as well, it produced the 

 the most amusing scenes. Two of these small spitfires repeatedly 

 hurled themselves, like flashes of light, at the intruder, who 

 seemed only half-awake, whilst the other small birds shrieked in 

 unison. Presently, however, it chanced that Mr. Blinks turned 

 his head just in time to see the winged bullet approaching ; up 

 went a feathered leg, a claw closed like a rat-trap, his mouth 

 opened, and there was one gulp, and, quicker than one can write, 

 this little Hummer's career was ended. 



Chlorostilbon carribaus, Lawr. — This species was far from 

 common, and I only took it in one locality, i.e. Caparo, in 

 Trinidad. 



Phcethornis guyi y Lesson. — It was in the depths of the high 

 woods near Moruga, in the Savana Grande district of Trinidad, 

 that I secured this bird, and the discovery was due to its curious 

 harsh notes, which could scarcely be dignified by the term 

 song ; these are uttered whilst the birds rest on bushes only a 

 few feet above the ground, and the position assumed is so erect 

 that the beak is in a straight line with the tail-feathers, which 

 point directly downwards. 



Phcethornis longuemareus, Lesson. — This species was taken in 

 the high woods, in a very shady spot close to a clump of Borassus 

 Palms. Its shrill, weak, grating song was uttered whilst it was 

 on the wing, and was sustained for some minutes. It was so 

 small that it might easily have been mistaken for a large bumble- 

 bee in motion. 



Lophornis ornatus, Bodd. " Whiskerandos." — The only two 

 I shot were obtained at Tacarigua, in Trinidad, and I never saw 

 them elsewhere, 



Florisuga mellivora, Linn. "The Jacobin." — This lovely 

 bird I never met with in Trinidad, but whilst I was staying with 



