ORNITHOLOGY OF THE ISLAND OF TOBAGO. 
It is very seldom that we fall in with persons who will take the 
trouble to collect specimens, and at the same time communicate 
notes of the habits and localities, along with their collections. 
These “Contributions” will however show, that the interest be- 
yond mere sport or shooting is extending itself ; but among the 
many who contribute to our information, and which is one of our 
chiefest pleasures and inducements to continue ornithological pur- 
suits, no one has employed his leisure time to more advantage than 
our valued correspondent, Janies Kirk, w’ho has now been many 
years a resident in the Island of Tobago. We published in early 
numbers of the Annals of Natural History, a sketch of the Orni- 
thology of that island, just as the specimens were sent over to us, 
and with the remarks that accompanied them, with the view of 
marking at the time whatever was new or peculiar, but more par- 
ticularly to draw attention to the subject of geographical distribu- 
tion in islands. Since the publication of these notes as above 
mentioned, we have obtained various other information, as well as 
additions to the species at that time enumerated, while the wish 
to correct and amend some of the descriptions and observations, 
are reasons why we again reprint a portion of them, and endea- 
vour to render them a more complete guide to the Ornithology of 
the Island. 
The Ornithology of the West Indian Islands, considered with 
regard to their relations to each other, and with the continents of 
North and South America, has been much neglected, and although 
large collections have been brought to Europe from different parts, 
few attempts have been made to insulate them, if we may so ex- 
press it, or to point out the species prevailing in, or peculiar to the 
different islands, the migratory birds from those which are resident 
in each, or their general affinity with those of the mainlands or 
adjacent islands. 
G 3 
