New-York tribune., 1880-01-11
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
A NATURALIST IN THE TROPICS.

The expedition of which the fruits are uescflDedlD
che present volume was undertaken by the author
I'm 1876 under the auspices of the Smithsonian In
stitution. with the special view of exploring the
Caribbean Stands OF Lesser Antilles, lying between
Porto Rico and Trinidad and connecting the Greater
Antilles with the continent of South America.
These islands. which form the loveliest archipelago
In the Western Hemisphere, with settlements prior
to jamestown and Plymouth, and with physical
features of great interest to the world OF science.
still remain az at the period of discovery almost an
unknown field for the researches of the naturalist
The Investigations of the author covered period OF
nearly two years, during which time he visited
mountains and people that few tourists ever reached
before. 1t was only by leaving the beaten paths oil
travel and taking to the woods that he was enabled
TO accomplish so many important discoveries. WINE
previous tourists have never penetrated Deyohu lhe
line of civilization, Mr. Ober hastens at once away
from town and city, and takes his readers TO the
DEPTHS of the forest where Nature reposes in the
same primitive freshness and simplicity as when first
discovered by Columbus. Ills sketches and Illus
trations are drawn entirely from the lfe and pos
.ess the charm of ongnaiity, well as the merit oil
Gdehty.
Leaving the town OF Roseau picturesque settle
nent on the Dominican coast on bright morning
,f March the author makes the best Of his way 10
the mountains of the interior He rode on native
solt which had been lent HIM for the purpose by n
friend and accompanied by another friend whom
be had met few days before, be was not long III
making the journey. His baggage consisting OF
heavy boxes and bales, carried by women who
had been sent early in the morning by friend, ana
who performed the uphill task faithfully and with
mt complaint He secured cabin-one of the seven
that composed the little hamlet-from mountain
ter. and before nightfa had comfortably settled in
UtS
him alone TO what proved but the first of many
camps in the tropical forests. The next morning. as
ne let in the light day through the shutters of his
shaIty his eye rested "a scene OF SURPRISING
oveness From beyond the mountains toward the
East the sun peers through deile in the hills, and
rift in the clouds deluge the northern
slope and part of the sombre valley
below, until it bursts upon the calm Canb-
bean Sea in flood of respendent glory.
Soon after little colored maiden appears with a
cup of coffee and slice or two Of bread, which
forms the only refreshment of the traveller TIL he
returns at noon from his tramp in the forest. When
he first came to the mountain valley, he brought
anegro boy who was to help him in preparing his
food and in cooking. But he proved bad stick
of timber and after three days the boy and bis
chief parted company. He forms a closer
friendship with Jean Baptiste, (the owner OF the
httle cabinl and takes him into his service at six
pence day which is considered high wage IN
those latitudes. Baptiste at once adopted the trav-
eller, and rejoices 10 give him his protection ana
care The little maiden appears every morning
with his cup of coffee; at noon as he returns weary
from the heat with dish of eggs fried IN oil, and
wild game ; and at dusk with the same varied with
plate of mountain cabbage or salad from the little
wattled inclosed garden on the hill side
The routine of the day at present is
A ,l,ed hy-f he
however, it affords an agreeable sylvan picture
II take my gun, ammunition, game basket and
notebook, and plunge into one of the lateral
ravines that feed the huge gorge below. IL is
morning The bread-fruit, mango, and lines that
thckly stud the slope above are glistening with
dew, and the low shrubs that line the ravne, as
well as the taller trees that darkcn its recesses, are
dropping cOpious showers. l am following the dry
bed of stream that shows by huge rocks dis
lodged and exeavated banks, what must have been
its size and force In the rainy season. Ferns,
iycopodiums, and matted and tangled roots conceal
theearth and make every footstep doubtful one,
and the loose stones and rocks. with dark holes be-
meath and beside them, suggest most forcibly the
possibility of the presence of SNAKES. But am
looking for birds land snakes also, if they come in
my way) and do not give them the attention that
pnce l thafght i should, when hearing tales of
their abundance and venomous character in these
Islands As this is q search for birds. the snakes
shall be left for some future chapter"
Each species of BIRDS il appears has its own peculiar
haunt where il feeds, sings, and sports daily. 1t
has also different haunt for different portions Of
the day. The birds of the morning which we find
In the ravne singing in the evening on the bor
ders of open glades or higher up the mountain SIDES
At midday ycu will find all under cover Of the
densest shade and silent. The first bird that greets
fxl.. hum nuU-t I'd
as he dashes here and there from flower TO
flower. scattering the dew-drops In tiny
showers and rejecting prismatic hues from
breast 20 back. new movement in the broad
CLASSY leaves Of tall, strange tree discloses
among the lower branches bird about the size and
shape of the brown thrush. with long, stout beak.
a yellow eye and a glossy brown coat. He hops
from twig 10 twig, feeding upon the coffee-like
berries of the tree, engaged in the cleaning OF his
morning meal. But he does not forget to stop every
few seconds and jerk his tail and shake his wings
In the drolest manner. A hop. quiver of wings
and tail jump with a convulsive shake. culver
Ing and spasmodic twitcbing of head, Wings and
tail. The bird has we'll earned the title throughout
the West Indies OF trembleur:-
And now the trembeurs having been attended TO, I
push on TN reach the brink OF Drecipice little
stream that falls muscay over the rocks and stones
green, on the summit OF which staud. Cautiously
cuging to tho trunk OF tree, look down into tho
valley The sight nearly makes dizzy for there, 800
feet beneath me, 1 see tall trees as little shrubs,
bananas and plantans as small plants ana huge Doud-
Crs as pebbles. The roots am standing on oyerhapg
The precpice and the tree shoots out far over the dzzy
height Above the signing OF the WIND In the treoc
tons and the music Of the birds, and ereaking of
branches is roaring Of water falling from immense
beight-a roar tbat browns every other noise, ana
,eaiens the ear every other sensation vending my
way the brink. ciingng to roots ana trees soon
roach pon: where can see halfway down the per-
uendicuiar cifi. a sheet Of foam hundred yards
fnrther, another. falling from lesser height, yet
neither Tess than $50 feet-the higher over 200.
They are in n OF green. reappearing ffther on
rs united which ruShes and rOsrs over iOoks
fhrongh gorgcs and at the base OF mountains through
gardens oi fgs and plantans, beneath towering,
eathery palms through green fields Oh cane at last 10
he esea-