ORNITHOLOGY OF THE ISLAND OF TOBAGO. 
which showed the important light in which lie held the increase of 
our facts to geographical ornithology — 
“ When we can obtain authentic information respecting the range 
to which species extend, either as indigenous to different countries, 
or visitors of them during their periodical migrations, we increase 
the number of these facts on which we are enabled to found some 
of the higher speculations of science.” 
M. Temminck figures many interesting Cuban species in the 
Planches Coloriees, and remarks, when describing Turdus rubripes: 
“ Le position geographique dc l’lsle de Cuba entre les deux Mexiques 
et les terres de l’Amerique meridionale, ne ferait point supposer 
que les oiseaux dont elle est peuplee offrissent des differences speci- 
fiques avec ceux trouves dans les contrees des deux Amenques qiu 
forment le littoral du Golfe du Mexique, si plusieurs especes rap- 
portees recement de cette isle et de quelques-unes des Antilles 
n’eusent servi a nous prouver que ces Hies nourissent aussi des 
especes d’oiseaux et de mammiferes qu’on n’a point encore trouvees 
sur le continent.” 
William Denny, Esq., staff-surgeon, has recorded some observa- 
tions on the geographical distribution of birds in the West Indian 
Islands, in the nineteenth volume of the Annals of Natural History. 
In Cuba, several notices of species are given, which exhibit still a 
partially northern type, though not so much so as in Jamaica, thus 
forty-five species, exclusive of the waders and aquatic birds, are nia e 
common to Jamaica, Cuba, and the United States ; but J amaica and 
Cuba in addition, possess also sixty-seven species unknown in Nort 
America. Mr. Denny also in a note written to myself, has we 
marked the ornithological character of this island and its tropica 
bearing — “A stranger arriving at Cuba from the United States 
during winter, would imagine that the ornithological features o 
that magnificent island were the same as the former. The presence 
of the Mimus polyglottus , the gaudily attired Pyranga rubra, an 
numerous species of Sylvicolce on the land, the Belted Kingfisher 
and well known aquatic birds on the coast, would strengthen 
if not confirm the belief. A more accurate observer, however, 
would not fail to detect, by troops of the Grotophaga am, floe vS o 
Flamingoes, on the margins of the aguados, and Tachypetes an 
Phdeihon , far overhead, that a tropical character was ecl e 
added to the zoological aspect of the country. In the moun a 
82-70 
