1894.
March 30
Trinidad, B.W.I.
Caparo
  A fine day with strong breeze, the sky filled with trade wind
clouds as it always is at this season but no rain.

  I spent most of the early morning and the whole
of the forenoon taking photographs. Sam accompanied
me along the Trongon Trace and cut down a number
of small trees so that I could get the nests of
Ostirops on the hill beyond the brook. The strong wind
was a serious obstacle but there are always short
intervals of nearly or quite dead calm in the
windiest weather here.

  These mounds were swarming with hunting ants to
day an immense army of these creatures having
invaded them since our last visit. They were
making thorough work ascending all the trees and
sending strong detachments into every nook and corner.
We had to step carefully to avoid the streams,
three or four inches across, which poured over the
ground in every direction. As usual they had
attracted numbers of Dindranis. I saw five of
these birds in one tree and heard their calls on
every side. They kept flying down to the ground
sometimes hovering just above the streams of ants,
sometimes alighting for a moment. I repeatedly saw
them pick up something but not having my gun
I was unable to settle the mooted question as
to whether they were eating the ants themselves
or the insects which the ants disturbed.
  I find my time here all too brief. One might
spend a full month – or a year for that matter – very
profitably and pleasantly studying ants alone.