BIRDS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO. 253 



neatly ; at any rate, it does not appear to fly with that ease and 

 grace one is accustomed to associate with a really well-propor- 

 tioned bird. I noticed one drop out of the skies to gather, some- 

 thing from the sea ; bending sharply its immensely long wings, 

 it fell in a kind of spiral, turning round several times in the 

 descent. Several immature brown-plumaged Boobies (Sulci 

 leucogastra) were continually plying to and fro across the Gulf. 

 The other day I heard of one seizing a large spoon-bait that 

 was being used for Tarpon, but the bird dropped it when only a 

 few feet from the water, and was uninjured by the hooks. 



The stately Pelican (Pelecanus fuscus) was also present in 

 considerable numbers. In apparent contradiction to their habits 

 and structure, they are very fond of sitting with stolid mien on 

 the frailest of branches, usually overhanging some beetling cliff. 

 It is curious how, for no ostensible reason, they use one or two 

 trees only for this purpose, and never favour any others along 

 the same portion of the coast. 



I noticed several "Bainbats," as the little Swifts (Chcetura 

 cinierventris lawrencei) are called, flying in and out of a low- 

 mouthed cave. Hoping to find signs of their nests, I landed 

 and waded in, but the vault of the cavern was lost in obscurity, 

 and I could make nothing of them. As I entered three or four 

 birds dashed out, brushing close past my face. In the cool 

 hours of the mornings and evenings flocks of these Swifts, 

 together with the commoner C. spinicauda, may be noted hawk- 

 ing for insects above some of the mountain valleys, but they 

 disappear entirely during the heat of the day. 



The dusky Hawk (Urabitiriga anthracina) appears to be not 

 uncommon along the cliffs, and is often seen resting on a 

 prominent branch in the shade. He is a fine-looking bird, with 

 a bright yellow bill and a well-marked white band across the 

 middle of the tail, which is very conspicuous during flight. I 

 fancy he must prey on the Iguana, for many of these reptiles 

 may be seen basking on the uppermost branches of the cliff- 

 growing trees. Some largish Martins (Progne chalybea) were also 

 benefiting by the cool air of these precipices, but one sees many 

 more under the high bluffs by Macaripe Bay, where I believe 

 they nest in the crevices of the rocks. They likewise settle on 

 the clinging vegetation, and should a Black Hawk trespass on 



