.1 Holiday in tlie West Indies. 257 
immediately the young birds died, and this probably was 
the cause of their death. 
After leaving Georgetown by the Inter-colonial steamer, 
we next called at Grenada, a most charming little Island, 
situated north of Trhiidad, witli a fine natural harl)our, ail 
surrounded witli mountains, which are clad with Cocoa Trees, 
tlii' and Sugar Cane being the chief industries and employ- 
ment in the Island. On landing I sent my small 
collection up to the Home Hotel, and " fell on my feet " 
immediately, as the manageress turned out to be a lover of 
birds, and she was very kind in helping me to feed and clean 
my birdt out every morning. Here we soon made friends, 
tliiough the introduction of my friend's agent Mr. Slinger, 
which latter gentleman introduced me to Mr. De Fretas, now 
our esteemed member; I met him when paying a visit 
to his Sugartvuic Estate. He soon found out that [ was a 
lover of birds, and he kindly showcul me his various and 
many pels, which were all most beautifully ke])t, a whole 
farmstead being practically devoted to nothing else ))ut his 
hobbies, which consist of; a herd of Horned >Sheep, prize 
Chickens, Ducks, Pheasants, Guinea Fowl, Pigeons, Deer, and 
other delightful creatures, all well housed and cared for. A 
striking feature of the farm, was the fine Bullocks employed 
in the Cane fields, huge fellows, with horns five or sjx feet 
across, and as sharp pointed as a lance. Mr. Dc Freitas very 
kindly asked my friend and self to lunch with him, and after- 
wards we talked about birds and chose a site for an aviary in 
his garden. 
The Birds I noticed chiefly in this Island were large 
black Starlings,* with a fhie liold glassy eye, these seemed to 
hang about the stables and farm yards feeding on grain, 
going into the manger whilst the horse was feeding. The 
Rice Sparrow is also very common, a bird about the same size 
and shape of our sparrow, but blue with a red throat patch 
and ear coverts; the hen is nut brown, with the red markings 
le.ss defined. Another bird I noticed, was the Pipperie, a small 
bird not unlike a hen Blackcap, but a trille larger; this bird 
is the terror of the " John Crow " which inhabits most of the 
*Quiscalus luminosus. 
