1894
March 25
(No 5)
Trinidad, B.W.I.
Caparo
which in foliagebark and habit [delete]exactly resembled[/delete] was exceedingly like an
American elm. Other trees in these woods closely resemble
in the general character of their foliage our ash, hickory, live oak, &
magnolia. Save the palms there are few that have very large
or in any way peculiar leaves. This is a great surprise to me.
I saw one tree in this bottom which was remarkable
for the glossiness of its leaves. As they tossed in the
sunlight they shone like the most highly burnished
silver [delete]and[/delete]. It actually made my eyes ache to look
at them long. The sheen of our oak foliage is dull in
comparison.
  The [delete]trunks[/delete] stems of these tropical trees are, almost without
exception, smooth-barked and most of them are very
light gray or whitish with dusky blotches. As I walk
through the woods merely looking at the trunks of
the trees I often fancy myself in a grove of northern
beeches yet so great is the variety of [delete]the[/delete] species [delete]of
the trees[/delete] that it is rare to find two trees of the
same kind in close proximity. For this reason chiefly
lumbering is unprofitable although many trees yield very
valuable timber.
  On the way home we walked fast and steadily but
I shot a Dove (Eugyptila) and a Motmot.
  We reached the house at 2.30 P.M. and spent
the afternoon preparing our specimens. I brought
in fifteen birds in all.