158 - 
1894 
April 6 
Caura 
A clear, fine morning up to ten o'clock, after wnich 
one shov/er succeeded another in quick succession until 
near sunset. 
After the usual early bath in the river and the 
inevitable coffee and bread, I went again to the Pomarack 
Tree on the mountain side, this time alone. The half- 
mile climb made me breathe hard and the perspiration 
poured off my face in streams for the trace has an even and 
exceedingly steep grade the entire distance and I was in 
too great haste to take it by easy stages. Hence when I 
reached the tree I was obliged to sit down for several 
minutes before I was in any condition to begin operations. 
As I was resting and recovering breath, a bird 
that we have repeatedly heard from the house but have 
not, up to this time, identified, began singing very near 
me and after watching for a minute or two I at length dis¬ 
covered it sitting high up in a tall tree in the sunlight. 
After making perfectly sure that it was the author of the 
sound I shot it and found that it was a Basileuterus . Its 
song, which is one of the finest that I have heard on 
Trinidad, consists of a series of four or five clear, 
whistled notes given in a descending scale. It reminded 
me of the song of our Tree Sparrow, having the same quality 
of wildness. It also suggested the song of Swainson's 
Warbler. A singing quality very noticeable here is, Chapman 
