252 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



this sound over a valley in a truly bewildering manner, giving 

 one the impression that the bird is really commoner than 

 is actually the case. Pre-eminently a ground bird, the "Caille" 

 will only take to its wings under compunction. Once forced to 

 fly, however, it rises with a surprising bluster and whirr of 

 wings, and I can vouch for it, that as it swings sharply through 

 the cocoa trees it is an amazingly difficult bird to hit ! 



Then one distinguished the plaintive cat-like " me-er " of the 

 " Grive " (Turdus gymnophthalma), and again, from down among 

 the black shadows of a deep dell, the bold notes of the " Coucou" 

 (Thamnophilus major). Suddenly a great chattering sound at- 

 tracted my attention, and on looking up I espied a squealing 

 bevy of Parrakeets (Urochroma cingulata) flying hurriedly south- 

 wards. This flock, or one similar to it, passes over Haleland 

 Park regularly every morning and evening on their way to and 

 from their feeding grounds. The birds always seem to travel high, 

 and in a fairly compact body of twenty or thirty individuals, and 

 all the time they maintain a constant outcry of chattering notes. 



These are a few of the avine voices I have already learnt to 

 distinguish, but as the sun rises, and the " High Woods "* fill with 

 the sound of awakening bird-life, I realize that the vast majority 

 still remain unknown to me, but if I have time I shall hope to 

 make their acquaintance later on ! 



Trinidad, December 27th. — Stirred by the many and wondrous 

 tales of the Tarpon — or "Grand Ecaille," as they call him here 

 — this afternoon I went out trolling in the Gulf of Paria. Beyond 

 a sudden and violent tug, for all I knew the waters might have 

 been fishless ! But the outing was nevertheless entertaining, 

 and I saw much to keep me interested. Overhead there were 

 always a number of Frigate or Man-o'-War Birds (Fregata 

 aquila) to be seen. At one time I counted as many as seventeen 

 together, soaring in wide circles above the Five Islands. The 

 majority of them were young birds, as was denoted by their 

 white throats, but I also observed a fair sprinkling of adults. If, 

 at first, one is inclined to admire the clear-cut outline of this 

 strange species, one soon appreciates that in reality it is a some- 

 what unwieldy creature, for, like a yacht under too heavy an 

 expanse of canvas, it often seems to find a difficulty in manoeuvring 



- " High Woods " is the local term for the virgin forest. 



