The Birds of Jamaica #255520

White of Selbourne has somewhere expressed the gratification which would be afforded to him by a sight of the hirundz'nes of the hot and distant island of Jamaica. We know, in fact, exceeding ly little of the biography of tropical animals — of those details of their habits, which are to be known only by a close and continued observation of them in their woodland homes. The present volume may perhaps contribute an acceptable item to the amount of information, derived, as it is, entirely from original investigation. Nearly two hundred species of birds are. Thus ascertained to belong to the Jamaica Fauna, though of several of these, the author can give only indications more or less precise. He cannot doubt that many species have escaped the researches both of himself and his friends, especially among the migrant visi tors. The valuable assistance, however, of a resident Ornithologist, whose notes pervade this volume, and to whom he would here express his deep gratitude, have greatly diminished the omis sions which must otherwise have been unavoid able.