CHAPTER XI.

THE LIFE OF THE ABARY SAVANNAS.

(_By C. William Beebe_).

We had made two successful expeditions into the jungle or “bush” of Guiana, and now our third and last trip was to be in the open savanna region in the eastern portion of the Colony, near the coast. The first resident American to welcome us to British Guiana was Mr. Lindley Vinton who, with Mrs. Vinton, did all in their power to make our stay in Georgetown a pleasant one. Their house was made our home and certainly no strangers in a strange land were ever made more welcome than were we.

Mr. Vinton is a living refutation of the statement that continued residence in the tropics invariably results in loss of energy, for seldom, even in our own virile country, can one find a man more full of vitality. At the time of our visit he was interested in several large concessions, one of which was a rice growing proposition on the Abary River.

When he promised “Canje Pheasants,” or Hoatzins[11] in his back yard, and thousands of Ducks flying past every day, we smiled as we remembered the Hoatzins in the depths of the Venezuelan mangroves. But, exaggerated as we believed his enthusiastic reports to be, we were glad indeed to accept his invitation to spend a week at the bungalow on the rice plantation. We ultimately found that he had actually understated the conditions of bird life on the Abary!

On April 12th, Milady and I took the funny little compartment train for Abary Bridge, or, as our ticket read, Belladrum, which we reached at 9.30 after a two hours’ slow ride.

The land along the coast is all flat savanna, dotted for the first half of the journey with tumbled down coolie huts and tiny dyked fields of pale green young rice. Later for some distance these give place to large groves of cocoanuts. On the left, stretch the seawall dykes, relics of Dutch industry, perfected by the English.

Throughout the entire journey, hundreds, sometimes thousands of birds were in sight, often for several miles in succession; but as exactly similar scenes were later visible and at closer range on our up-river trip, I will not repeat myself.

The train was stopped for our benefit at the bridge across the so-called Abary River, which proved to be a little stream only about a hundred and twenty-five feet wide. Loading our luggage and ourselves into a fussy little launch we chugged up-river for three hours.

Along the right bank—the leeward—for most of the distance, grew an irregular fringe of bushes and low trees. Beyond, almost to the horizon, stretched the vast savanna, covered with reeds, rushes and tall coarse grass, each a pure culture in its place of occurrence.

Scattered over this great expanse were myriads of birds of many species, the only other visible living creatures being a small herd of half-wild cattle here and there.

[Illustration: FIG. 143. AMERICAN EGRET ON THE ABARY RIVER SAVANNA.]

For the first few miles two species predominated—as they had almost all the way from Georgetown—the Little Yellow-headed[154] and the Red-breasted Blackbirds.[155] Few more beautiful sights can be imagined than a cloud of these birds rising ahead of the train or launch, and scattering far and wide over and through the reeds. The general color of both is a rich black, which itself contrasts strongly with the green of the savanna. But when we add to this the brilliant yellow head and neck of the former and the scarlet throats, breasts and wing edges of the latter, the color scheme is one which is never forgotten. The two species would rise in distinct flocks, perhaps six or eight hundred of each, flow up and over the tall grass in two living waves of scarlet and gold, and then intermingle, the rain of red and yellow sparks being gradually quenched by the green expanse, as the birds settled among the shelter of the reeds. Of course these flocks were composed only of those individuals close to the track or the river bank. How many myriads were scattered over the savanna we shall never know. We must have flushed a great many thousand of these two species in the course of the day, and scattered among them were a few Guiana Meadow larks[157] looking much like our northern birds.

Every few dozen yards over the savanna, a tall white figure stood motionless, silently watching us—American Egrets[32] distributed for their day’s fishing, hundreds dotting the marsh, each solitary, statuesque. Among them was a sprinkling of Wood Ibises[28] and beautiful Cocoi Herons.[31] These latter were much shyer than the others and all within a hundred yards of us would take to flight as we passed, leaving their more fearless comrade-fishers in full possession.

All these Herons soon became a common sight, and we swept mile after mile of savanna with our glasses, seeing nothing but the white birds dotted everywhere. At last we were rewarded, and a giant white Stork came into sight, towering above the Herons, with black head and neck, and the sun reflected from the distended scarlet skin of the lower neck. The bill had the faintest of tilts upward and we knew we were looking for the first time at a living Jabiru,[30] the biggest and perhaps the rarest wading bird of our continent. It stands fully five feet in height and the spread of the wings is about eight feet.

Soon another appeared a half mile farther on, and a third, and before our journey’s end we had seen at least a dozen of these splendid birds. We have but one or two meagre descriptions of its nesting and I therefore have included among the illustrations a most interesting one taken by Dr. Bingham, showing a Jabiru on its nest together with its two half-grown young. These birds do not nest on the Guiana savanna but retire at the rainy season far into the interior.

[Illustration: FIG. 144. NEST AND YOUNG OF JABIRU. (Photo by Bingham.)]

Spur-winged Jacanas[23] in loud cackling pairs were everywhere, showing conspicuously against the green reeds—dark chocolate when at rest and flashing pale yellow in flight. Guiana Cormorants[47] and Snakebirds[48] rose or dived ahead of the launch, twenty of the former taking refuge in one small tree as we passed.

Hawks were abundant and one of the most numerous was the Cream-headed Hawk,[54] which soared low over the savanna or perched on the shrubs along the bank. Small birds showed no fear of it, often alighting in the same tree. From almost every bush along the river bank little Guiana Green Herons[38] flew up from their nests, built close to the surface of the water. These herons “froze” like Bitterns when they alighted, standing motionless with the bills at an angle of 45°. Along the railroad they were semi-domesticated, flying fearlessly in and out of the coolie yards, and snatching bits of food from the very door-ways of the huts.

About eleven o’clock, on rounding a sharp turn in the river, we saw what appeared to be great expanses of burnt marsh. On and on we went and at last we realized that we were looking at vast phalanxes of Ducks. Suddenly, without warning, a living sheet of birds rolled up from the ground, hung a moment, then gained momentum and wheeled upward. Thousands began to rise at once, until for fifty or a hundred yards on each side of the river, there was an almost unbroken wave of birds, flying upward and backward. From this mass of life, giving forth a medley of shrill whistles which soon deepened into a perfect roar of wings, single lines of ducks detached themselves, shooting out in all directions, passing up and across the river, or right and left out over the savanna. They were Gray-necked Tree-ducks[45] with a plentiful scattering of the Rufous[44] and a very few White-faced.[46] The great curving wave never ceased for a moment as we approached, but widened and thickened and wheeled over and behind us until the sky was pitted with their bodies. I took picture after picture with my Graflex, the ground glass reflecting a myriad of swiftly moving forms.

Then the Ducks which had first arisen, having flown in a great circle over the savanna, returned, and intersecting the newly arisen host, formed a crisscrossing maze which carpeted the heavens with a close warp and woof of living birds. Even in Mexico, where we had watched the vast flocks of Ducks and Geese on Lake Chapala, there was nothing to equal this. The Ducks looked dark against the sunlight but whenever they veered, the white wing-bands flashed like mirrors.

[Illustration: FIG. 145. GRAY-NECKED TREE-DUCKS RISING FROM THE SAVANNA.]

We counted the birds in one short line near us and found there were four hundred and twenty individuals. No one could count those in even one of the flocks but there must have been at least twenty thousand in the first phalanx we encountered.

As we passed on, many hundreds settled again on their feeding grounds, where nothing was visible of them save a myriad heads and necks, stretched high and watching us curiously. As many others however flew far away, the dense matted flocks fraying out into long single or double lines, some of which must have been a half mile in length.

In this region these birds are Tree-ducks only in name, as later in the year hundreds of eggs will be found scattered over the savanna, and sooner or later the flocks will dissolve into pairs, each to nest on some low hummock in the marsh.

These Ducks never settle on the open water of the river on account of the many dangers swimming beneath, of which more anon. They sleep and feed and nest among the thick growth of reeds and grass of the savanna itself.

After passing the second main body of Tree-ducks we now and then heard a louder whistle of wings, and a family flock of four or five great black Muscovy Ducks[43] would rush past; the leader, the drake, being almost twice the size of the members of his harum.

Small birds were not much in evidence from the launch, although Anis[80] were abundant, fluttering awkwardly among the bushes, and the big Kiskadees[101] were nesting about every hundred yards. This was the first time in the Colony that we had seen these latter birds nesting away from human habitations, so this open savanna region would appear to be their natural home, while the other yellow Tyrants frequent wooded river banks.

At one o’clock we came in sight of a barn-like shelter in which was housed a huge steam traction plough, and radiating out across the savanna were the lines of dykes which marked the great fields intended for rice planting.

[Illustration: FIG. 146. OUR BUNGALOW ON ABARY ISLAND.]

A few minutes more of steaming brought us to a landing place on a small island, with the bungalow in the centre. This islet and in fact this whole region has an interesting history. All this savanna was once a densely wooded jungle of mora trees, eta palms and other growth. In 1837 a drought occurred of such extent that all the vegetation—trees, palms and underbrush—became dry as chips. The inevitable followed and a fire started in some way which swept this whole region, reaching in places even to the Demerara. Then floods came, broke through the loosened barrier of tangled roots, and infiltrated through the soil. Grass and reeds took the place of the great moras, and now, almost to the horizon, stretches the flat, open expanse of marsh. Indeed it is only to the west that trees are visible, where two miles away “eta bush” begins. In the tops of these palms the black Muscovy Ducks make their homes, feeding out on the marsh and bringing down their young—so it is reported—in their beaks.

Sixty years ago or thereabouts, many runaway slaves fled into the interior, most of them hiding in the recesses of the “bush” or high woods. These lived either with the Indians, in many cases intermarrying with them, or founded settlements by themselves. Some of these unfortunate blacks, however, made their way up the Abary and when they had come thus far—eighteen miles—finding no habitable land they set to work to make an island.

In the midst of this then (as practically now) unexplored region, these desperate men toiled at the black muck of the river edge, scooped it up and packed it on the foundation of reeds until a more or less dry island of about five acres had been formed. Here to-day we found a low mound of rich black mould, with nine good-sized isolated trees, several cocoanut palms and a few bananas. Corn planted here grows with wonderful rapidity.

The long occupancy and numerous inhabitants of the islet is attested by the thousands of pieces of pottery with which the ground is covered. On some I found a rude attempt at decoration, and the shape of the rims and handles were much like the primitive African art of to-day. There was probably a low hummock or mound as the nucleus for the island, and four or five feet beneath the surface several Indian stone axes have been unearthed—telling of still earlier human habitation—perhaps in the days of the jungle.

Here we had planned to spend a week, but were prevented by an accident from remaining more than three days, but even in the short space of thirty-six hours of daylight we learned much of the life on and about this islet.

Our two other trips had been to tiny islands of cleared ground in the midst of a sea of the densest jungle; here we were marooned in the shade of a little isolated group of trees on a diminutive hillock of earth, bounded in all directions by an impenetrable marsh. If one so much as took a single step from the island, it was into three feet or more of water and tangled reeds, too dense to push a boat through. During the rainy season boats can be poled through, and at the dry season firmer footing is possible, but our visit was at a time betwixt and between. I have made a small rough plan of our domain on the Abary, Fig. 147.

The river was at this point only about seventy-five feet in width, flowing almost due south. As we ascended it, a narrow inlet became visible in the right bank, which led into a good-sized lagoon about as wide as the river, which had probably been formed by the excavation of the marsh. This lagoon bounded the north and part of the east sides of the island. The prevailing wind was from the east and this probably accounted for the line of small trees and bushes being almost altogether on the western bank.

We were welcomed at the bungalow by Mr. Harry, the young American engineer in charge, who, without the ornate phrases of Spanish hospitality, but in the simple American manner, put the bungalow and everything at the plantation at our disposal.

[Illustration: FIG. 147. MAP OF ABARY ISLAND.]

Nothing more different from what we encountered in the bush can be imagined. There, no sunlight save what sifts down through the tall trees; here, a blaze of light from horizon to horizon: there, hosts of living creatures, but as a rule single individuals of a species or in pairs; here, unnumbered hosts in flocks of many thousands of the same species. It was a wonderland guarded by stern guardians; teeming with life on land, in the air and in the water. Not a moment of the day, or for that matter, of the night was free from sight or sound of some of these interesting creatures.

[Illustration: FIG. 148. ABARY RIVER, SHOWING HIGH GROWTH ON WEST BANK.]

First as to the guardians. The sun we found to be a most terrible menace on the quiet open waters, and an exposure of an hour would have resulted in most painful blisters, and these in the tropics are of more serious moment than in the north. With broad-brimmed hats, however, there was no danger.

[Illustration: FIG. 149. SPIDER LILY NEAR ABARY ISLAND.]

The day, even out on the marsh itself, was comparatively free from insects, but at 5.30 a few mosquitoes appear. By 6 o’clock one would call them numerous, and between 6.30 and 7.30 they are legion and ferocious. One cannot sit still unprotected for a moment at a time. After 7.30 they all disappear, especially when there is a light wind, but at nine o’clock they are present in full numbers again. We slept the first night, or rather lay down, on cots with nets. The mosquitoes, or most of them, could apparently easily make their way through the mesh, but when swollen with blood failed to escape again. We slept but little, kept awake by the biting and humming of the wretches.

From daybreak when we arose until about nine o’clock sand flies held high revel, biting severely, after which all the insect pests vanished and one could decide to postpone suicide until the coming night! After this however we used close cloth nets, which defeated the efforts of the mosquitoes.

We found so much to interest us on and in the immediate vicinity of the islet that we made no extended trips either up or down the river. In the three days we lived there we observed the following fifty species of birds, nineteen of which (marked with asterisks) were nesting on the islet or within a few yards of it:

Red-underwing Dove (_Leptoptila rufaxilla_). * Hoatzin (_Opisthocomus hoazin_). * Wood Rail (_Aramides cayana_). Purple Gallinule (_Ionornis martinica_). Great-billed Tern (_Phaëthusa magnirostris_). Eye-browed Tern (_Sterna superciliaris_). * Jacana (_Jacana jacana_). Wood Ibis (_Tantalus loculator_). Jabiru (_Mycteria americana_). Cocoi Heron (_Ardea cocoi_). American Egret (_Herodias egretta_). * Guiana Green Heron (_Butorides striata_). Horned Screamer (_Palamedea cornuta_). Muscovy Duck (_Cairina moschata_). Rufous Tree-duck (_Dendrocygna fulva_). Gray-necked Tree-duck (_Dendrocygna discolor_). Guiana Cormorant (_Phalacrocorax vigua_). Snakebird (_Plotus anhinga_). Black Vulture (_Catharista urubu_). Yellow-headed Vulture (_Catharista urubitinga_). Caracara (_Polyborus cheriway_). South American Blue Hawk (_Geranospizias caerulescens_). * South American Black Hawk (_Urubitinga urubitinga_). * Rufous Kingfisher (_Ceryle torquata_). Parauque (_Nyctidromus albicollis_). Goatsucker (sp?). Green Hummingbird (sp?). Little Rufous Cuckoo (_Piaya rutila_). Smooth-billed Ani (_Crotophaga ani_). * Cinnamon Spine-tail (_Synallaxis cinnamomea_). * Pied Ground Flycatcher (_Fluvicola pica_). * White-headed Flycatcher (_Arundicola leucocephala_). * Cinereus Tody-flycatcher (_Todirostrum cinereum_). * Guiana Kiskadee Tyrant (_Pitangus sulphuratus_). * Lesser Kiskadee Tyrant (_Pitangus lictor_). * Large-billed Kiskadee Tyrant (_Megarhynchus pitangua_). * White-throated Kingbird (_Tyrannus melancholicus_). Tree Swallow (_Tachycineta bicolor_). Variegated Swallow (_Tachycineta albiventris_). Barn Swallow (_Hirundo erythrogaster_). * Gray-breasted Martin (_Progne chalybea_). Red-breasted Swallow (_Stelgidopteryx ruficollis_). * Guiana House Wren (_Troglodytes musculus clarus_). * Black-capped Mocking-thrush (_Donacobius atricapillus_). * Pygmy Seedeater (_Sporophila minuta_). Little Yellow-headed Blackbird (_Agelaius icterocephalus_). Red-breasted Blackbird (_Leistes militaris_). Meadow Lark (_Sturnella magna meridionalis_). * Yellow Oriole (_Icterus xanthornus_). Little Boat-tailed (_Guiana_) Grackle (_Quiscalus lugubris_).

The most interesting of all were the Hoatzins,[11] whose raucous squawks brought vividly to our minds the mangrove swamps of Venezuela where we had studied them last year.

[Illustration: FIG. 150. NEST OF A HOATZIN IN THE MUCKA-MUCKA ON WHICH THESE BIRDS FEED.]

As I have said the east bank of the river is for the most part clear of growth, save for the reeds and grasses of the savanna. Along the western bank is a dense shrubby or bushy line of vegetation; occasionally rising to a height of twenty or thirty feet or again appearing only two or three yards above the reeds beyond. The brush grows altogether in the water and consists chiefly of a species of tall Arum, or mucka-mucka, as the natives call it, frequently bound together by a tangle of delicate vines. Here and there is a low, light-barked tree-like growth. This narrow ribbon of aquatic growth was the home of the Hoatzins, and from one year’s end to another they may be found along the same reaches of the river. In general, their habits did not differ from those of the birds which we observed in Venezuela. Throughout the heat of midday no sight or sound revealed the presence of the birds, but as the afternoon wore on a single raucous squawk would be heard in the distance, and we knew the Hoatzins were astir.

[Illustration: FIG. 151. THE AUTHOR PHOTOGRAPHING HOATZINS.]

Directly in front, between the bungalow and the river, as may be seen from my diagram (Fig. 147), the brush had been cut away on either hand for a distance of about sixty yards. Every evening from 4.30 to 5.30 P.M., the Hoatzins gathered on the extreme northern end of this wide break in their line of thickets, until sometimes twenty-five or thirty birds were in sight at once. Some would fly down to the low branches and begin to tear off pieces of the young tender shoots of the mucka-mucka. With much noise and flapping of wings, several made their way to a single bare branch which projected out over the cleared marsh. The first bird would make many false starts, crouching and then losing heart, but the next on the branch, getting impatient, at last nudged him a bit, and at last he launched out into the air. With rather slow wing beats, but working apparently with all his power, he spanned the wide extent of cleared brush, then the ten feet of water, then fifteen yards more of stumps, and with a final effort he clutched a branch—and his goal was reached! After several minutes of breathlessness he continued on his way out of sight into the depth of the brush. The second Hoatzin would then essay the feat, but fail ignominiously and fall midway, coming down all of a heap among the stumps. Here a rest was taken, and for five or ten minutes the bird would feed quietly. Then a second flight carried it back to the starting point or to the end of the open space.

Sometimes when the birds alighted and clutched a twig, they would be so exhausted that they toppled over and hung upside down for a moment.

Watching the Hoatzins carefully with stereos for several evenings in succession we came to know and distinguish individual birds. Two, one of which had a broken feather in the right wing, and the other a two-inch short central tail feather, were excellent flyers and, taking their leaping start from the high branch, never failed to make their goal, going the whole distance and alighting easily. All of the others had to rest and one which was moulting a feather in each wing could achieve only about ten yards. This one fell one evening into the water at the second relay flight, and half flopped, half swam ashore.

One evening a Hoatzin flew toward us and alighted near some hens on the ground, but took wing almost instantly back to his brush-wood. A day or two before we came one of the birds had used a beam of the porch as a perch.

This general movement occurred at both sunrise and sunset and was always as thorough and noisy as we found it the first evening of our stay. For months, we were told, it had been kept up as regularly as clockwork.

[Illustration: FIG. 152. (A) FEMALE HOATZIN FLUSHED FROM HER NEST; THE MALE BIRD APPROACHING.]

In the morning as the sun grew hotter the birds became quiet and finally disappeared, not to be heard or seen again until afternoon. They spend the heat of the day sitting on their nests or perched on branches in the cooler, deeper recesses of their linear jungle.

[Illustration: FIG. 153. (B) FEMALE HOATZIN IN THE SAME POSITION, THE MALE HAVING FLOWN NEARER.]

The last view of them in the morning, as the heat became intense, or late in the evening, usually revealed them squatted on the branches in pairs close together. On moonlight nights however they were active and noisy, and came into the open to feed. The habit of crouching or settling down on the perch is very common with the Hoatzins, and it may be due to the weakness of the feet and toes. I am inclined however to consider it in connection with the general awkwardness in alighting and climbing, as a hint of the unadaptability of the large feet to the small size of the twigs and branches among which they live. Inexplicable though it may appear, the Hoatzin—although evidently unchanged in many respects through long epochs—yet is far from being perfectly adapted to its present environment. It has a severe struggle for existence, and the least increase of any foe or obstacle would result in its extinction.

At the time of our arrival the Hoatzins had just begun to nest. They were utilizing old nests which, although so apparently flimsy in construction, yet were remarkably cohesive. The nests are almost indistinguishable from those of the “Chows” or Guiana Green Herons which were built in the same situations. The latter were usually low over the water, while the Hoatzins’ were higher, from five to twelve feet above the surface of the marsh. The twigs were longer and more tightly interlaced in the Hoatzin’s nest, and while the nests of the Heron crumbled when lifted from the crotch, the others remained intact. The Hoatzins placed their nests in crotches of the tree-like growths, or more rarely supported by several branched mucka-mucka stems. Both sexes aided in the building as we observed two birds collecting and weaving the twigs. Three sets of eggs which came under our observation numbered respectively 2, 3, and 4. From what information I could gather, two seems to be the usual number.

The eggs are rather variable in shape. One which I have, from the Orinoco, is elliptical, while my Abary specimens are oval. The ground color is creamy white. The entire surface is marked with small irregularly shaped dots and spots of reddish brown, inclining to be more abundant at the large end. The brown pigment deposited early in the oviduct is covered by a thin layer of lime and thereby given a lavender hue. The size averages 1.8 by 1.3 inches.

Hoatzins seem to be very free from enemies, although from year to year their numbers remain about the same. The waters beneath them are inhabited by numbers of otters, crocodiles, anacondas and voracious fish, so that death lies that way. They seem also to fear some predatory bird, for whenever a harmless Caracara Hawk[53] skimmed low over the branches on the lookout for lizards, the Hoatzins always tumbled pell mell into the shelter of the thick foliage below.

[Illustration: FIG. 154. (C) MALE HOATZIN ALARMED AND ABOUT TO TAKE FLIGHT.]

We found that the best time to approach and photograph the birds was during their siesta. As we paddled along the bank they scrambled from their perches or nests up to the bare branches overhead, calling hoarsely to one another. Pushing aside the dense growth of Arums and vines, we worked our canoe as far as possible into the heart of the bush, to the foot of some good-sized tree perhaps a foot in diameter. Stepping from the boat to the lowest limb, Milady would hand me the big Graflex with the unwieldy but necessary 27-inch lens, and I began my painful ascent. At first all was easy going, but as I ascended I broke off numerous dead twigs and from the broken stub of each issued a horde of black stinging ants. These hastened my ascent and at last I made my way out on the swaying upper branches. (Fig. 151.) From here I had a fairly clear view of the surrounding bush and if I worked rapidly I could secure three or four pictures before the Hoatzins took flight and hid amid the foliage.

[Illustration: FIG. 155. (D) FEMALE HOATZIN CROUCHING TO AVOID OBSERVATION.]

Of all my pictures that of Fig. 157 is the prize. We came upon a flock of Hoatzins late in the afternoon and were fortunate enough to get into a clear space and to photograph eleven on the same plate; the confused mass near the centre of the picture containing four individuals. Fig. 148 shows the character of the country where we found the Hoatzins on Abary River, with the line of dense growth on one side and the level savanna on the other.

A study of an individual pair of birds is given in Figs. 152 to 156, and the actions of these two birds were so typical of Hoatzins that an account of them will apply to the species in general. I made these photographs from a boat, standing on the thwarts while Milady guided it through the brush.

We flushed the female from her nest (marked by a circle in Fig. 150) and she flew to a branch some eight feet higher (Fig. 152). The male then appeared from a tree beyond (centre of Fig. 152). We remained perfectly quiet, and the next photograph shows her tail-on, looking about, while the male, who has flown nearer, is watching us suspiciously. Fig. 154 shows the male on another perch, still more alarmed, and a moment later he thrashed his way out of sight. Meanwhile the female had rediscovered us and crouched down (Fig. 155) hoping to avoid observation, but as we pushed closer to the nest, she rose on her perch, spread tail and wings to the widest (Fig. 156), her scarlet eyes flashing, and uttering a last despairing hiss, launched out for a few yards. At this moment, as may be seen in the same picture, a second pair of birds left their nest in the next clump of undergrowth and raised their discordant notes in protest at our intrusion.

The assertion which we made last year—Milady having been the first to observe it—that Hoatzins use their primaries as fingers, in the same way that the chicks and partly grown young use their wing claws, has been received with some doubt, and I am glad to offer a photograph (Fig. 156) as evidence. In the right wing of the Hoatzin, the thumb feathers are plainly visible, with their inner edges fretted away, while the first six primaries also show signs of severe wear, such as would be expected from the rough usage to which they are put.

Attention is called to the apparent immobility of the crest, which is as fully erect in the crouching Hoatzin (Fig. 155) as in the same bird a minute or two later, alert and about to fly (Fig. 156).

Thus it was that we took the first photographs ever made of these most interesting birds.

[Illustration: FIG. 156. (E) FEMALE HOATZIN TAKING FLIGHT, WITH WINGS FULLY SPREAD; A SECOND PAIR OF BIRDS LEAVING THEIR NEST, IN THE BACKGROUND.]

Insects were abundant on the island and if we had taken time we could have made an interesting collection. Three species of bright Orange butterflies were numerous (_Euptoieta hegesia_, _Colaenis phaerusa_ and the familiar Red Silver-wing, _Agraulis vanillae_, of our northern fields), and with these were also a White (_Pieris monuste_) and a Yellow (_Callidryas statira_). The three commonest dragon-flies were _Diastatops tincta_, _Erythrodiplax umbrata_ and _E. peruviana_.

There were two pairs of Black-capped Mocking-thrushes[126] on the island and they afforded us much amusement. They are true cousins of the Catbird and Mockingbird, and from their actions would almost seem to have a strain of Chat blood! A pair lived in each of the brush clumps _a_ and _b_ (Fig. 147) and hour after hour would sit calling and answering each other. One pair (the two birds sitting close to each other) would shout in unison _powie! powie! powie!_ rapidly a dozen times in succession. The other pair responded _week! week! week! week!_ as often and as rapidly. At each enunciation the half-spread tails of the respective pair of birds wagged violently from side to side, exactly as if pulled with a string. As the utterances of each of the two birds were synchronous, the wagging was always in perfect time, but sometimes the “strings” got crossed with this effect (a); or this (b); but almost every time the movement was in unison thus (c); or thus (d). These active, interesting birds have in addition an elaborate song, uttered singly, which these individuals were practising but which we had heard fully developed at La Brea in Venezuela.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: FIG. 157. FLOCK OF ELEVEN HOATZINS.]

Purple Gallinules[13] and Cayenne Wood Rails[12] were seen every day but were not abundant. A pair of the latter were nesting near the island and well merited their native name of Killicow, screaming a confused chorus of syllables resembling these for five minutes at a stretch every morning.

Among the smaller marsh birds, Jacanas[23] easily held first place, both in numbers and in action and voice, day and night. About every half hour through the day a group of these birds would set up a wild and frantic clacking, sounding as if a dozen hens were being pursued and had about given up all hope of escape. This was usually caused by the appearance of a crocodile, large or small, from beneath the lily pads. All the Jacanas within sight would gather at once and dance excitedly about on the surrounding pads until the pestered reptile sank again into the muddy waters. Several times we saw trios of these birds in play or combat, each holding the wings spread low and in front, ready to strike with the sharp spurs or to protect their own body by the buttress of feathers. They are very graceful in all their motions, holding the wings straight upward for a few seconds after alighting.

This being practically a treeless region, the birds were of necessity either terrestrial, aquatic or aërial, and the latter formed a not inconsiderable percentage. Terns were one of the most picturesque features of the savanna, flying over and around the island in small flocks, the large Great-billed fellows[14] with black caps and wings, and the tiny Eye-browed species[15] reminding one of our Least Tern. Both beat back and forth, or hung fluttering over the lagoon, and now and then dropped plummet-like after a small fish.

The Swallows were legion—six species in all, forever swooping over the marsh or snatching sips of river water as they flew. The Variegated[119] were the most beautiful, and we welcomed as old friends Barn[121] and Tree Swallows,[120] whose twittering forms brought our northern autumn marshes vividly to mind. Many Flycatchers and Seed-eaters were nesting close by, while the beautiful Orioles[159] clung to their pendent nests over the water, and a House Wren[124] divided his time between inspecting his brood in a hollow stub at the foot of the bungalow steps, and singing his heart out, from the roof. The little “Rooties” or Cinnamon Spine-tails[94]—absurdly Wren-like but in reality Woodhewers which have deserted tree-trunks for reeds—showed us their homes, concealed in great untidy balls of twigs. As they flit here and there through the bushes and grasses, they let off a sound like a miniature rattle.

The mornings and evenings, here as elsewhere in the tropics, are the periods of greatest activity among birds and other creatures. In the afternoon, before the Hoatzins began to gather, great tarpon would play in the river, the shower of drops scattered by their leaps sparkling like silver in the slanting rays of the sun. The few in the lagoon are of small size, but tarpon in the Abary reach a weight of 185 pounds. A swirling in the shallows near the landing shows where an anaconda (_Eunectes murinus_) is stirring after his day’s rest. His mate, ten feet long, has just been shot after having helped herself to the bungalow chickens—one each night for a week, and serpent number two (whose size our Arrawak Indian squaw cook places at a fabulous thirty feet or more!) must soon pay the same penalty unless he changes his diet.

[Illustration: FIG. 158. CROCODILES ON A SOUTH AMERICAN RIVER BANK. (Photo by Bingham.)]

Toward dusk all the Swallows of the world—or so it appears—fly past in loose bands or singly, northward toward the eta bush to roost, hundreds and thousands of them—Red-breasted,[123] Banded,[118] Barn,[121] Variegated[119] and Tree[120] Swallows with scores of the Gray-breasted Martins.[122] Then the fishers of the savanna appear, looking whiter and more ghostly than ever, against the dark clouds; flock after flock flapping silently over: a score of Egrets[32] in an irregular line, then a dozen more smaller troops; Wood Ibises[28] higher up and beating heavily, then—and our pulses quicken—a half dozen great Jabirus[30]—slowly throbbing toward the sunset. The Ducks prefer the river, and above the fluid tide a living river of birds sets upstream, hosts passing until long after dark. We paddle in the early dusk to mid-stream and the whistling stream of Ducks curves gracefully upward, descending again when beyond us. As we go up or down river, we find the bend always overhead; when we leave the river, the host resumes its horizontal flow again. Faintly from behind the house, from the edge of the distant eta bush itself, comes in the evenings a low sound, gaining in volume until the syllables may be framed to human speech—_Mo-hóo-ca! Mo-hóo-ca!_ and we are listening to the evening call of the Horned Screamer,[41] a bird known to us only from books.

The night sounds from the lagoon are full of mystery. Sea-cows souse and roll in the river and apparently at the very landing. Otters play and cough and utter gasping sighs which make one’s flesh creep until we learn what they are. The legend of the Warracabra Tigers, which Waterton and all after him recount, may well have had its origin in these great river mammals, who are noisy, fearless and sometimes reach a length of six feet. A beautiful skin which I brought home measures five and a half feet from nose to tip of tail. Water-haas, or capybaras, probably add their share to the confusion, but the major part of the medley is due to crocodiles, who wait until night before beginning their active, noisy business of life, which, be it concerned with food, mate or play, requires a vast deal of splashing and bellowing. This latter is a deep abrupt roaring like the final roars of a lion’s cadence. An eight-foot crocodile was shot in the lagoon a few days before, or rather shot at, as the beast seemed to be none the worse.

[Illustration: FIG. 159. LAGOON BETWEEN ABARY ISLAND AND RIVER.]

Small wonder that, when we consider snakes, crocodiles, otters and voracious fishes, that the gentle Vicissi Ducks prefer the safer vegetation of the marsh itself! The real birds of night were few—but with voices weird and awesome, in perfect harmony with this unpeopled waste. A pair of Parauque-like beings who in uttering liquid accents reiterated their names, mingled with the ever tragic toned questioning of another Goatsucker, pleading with us to end his agonized uncertainty—_Whó-are-yoú? Whó-are-yoú?_

Early on the morning of our last day, April 15th, I awoke and peered out through the dimness of my muslin hammock net to catch the first hint of dawn. The east soon became lighter and the warp and woof of the cloth softened and disguised the scene which stretched before me from the edge of the veranda. As I lay there half awake, I seemed to see great towering moras, with their masses of dependent parasites, stretching high into the air. This passed, and the savanna became more distinct—the whistle of Ducks’ wings overhead was almost incessant, with now and then the note of a Hoatzin. Dull thuds indicating some one at labor behind the bungalow and the sound of low negro voices added to the imagery and I seemed to be with the black men three score years before, laboring at their island, fighting disease and starvation—harassed by heat, insects and reptiles; ever on the watch for their pursuing masters while the orange headed Vultures soared overhead, waiting for their turn which sooner or later would come.

A bit of comedy broke in upon my dream—the voices of the negroes from their hammocks at the other end of the porch became audible for a moment.

“Wont you tak’ a drink of sompfin to interact de cold?”

“No tanks, ah doesn’t stimulate.”

[Illustration: FIG. 160. YOUNG SPUR-WINGED JACANA.]

Parting my hammock net, I found my vision of jungle growth had been prompted by a great bank of black cloud, out of which the sun leaped at that instant and lighted up the beautiful green and blue of savanna and river. Little Green Herons[38] were fishing at the water’s edge and a Jacana[23] was leading her brood of three small chicks within a few feet of my hammock, down to a causeway of trembling lily pads. The youngsters were very tiny, clad in gray with a large black mark on the nape. Even in comparison with their mother their toes were of enormous length. They kept at her very heels and when she stopped for a moment crept beneath her wings. But at this concentration of weight the water would begin to trickle over the rim of the fragile pads and the mother would hurry on, flashing out the yellow of her wings every few steps, perhaps as a signal to her brood.

Why every chick is not snapped up by hungry crocodiles or other aquatic ogres is a mystery. Every morning this and several other bands, all of three, would thread their way across the lagoon to the reeds beyond.

After breakfast about 8 o’clock, while I was reconnoitering for the best place to begin trapping the Hoatzins, as we wished to take some home alive, tragedy came, sudden and unexpected. A single pitiful cry brought me back to the house in an instant, and there was Milady, who but a moment before had been happily planning with Crandall about preparations for trapping, lying with a broken wrist. A hammock in which she had seated herself for an instant had come untied and given way and it was a miracle that the seven foot drop backward to the ground had resulted in only one broken bone. Game little lady, her first words were, “Oh! we can’t get the Hoatzins”!

The remainder of that 15th of April will ever be a misty dream in my mind. We bandied no words as to the value of Hoatzins in particular, or the whole world of science in general, versus Milady’s hurt, but without confusion quickly organized our plan of action. I had the best corps of helpers one could want; Mr. and Mrs. Vinton, Crandall and Harry. One of us constantly dropped cold water on the injury, another threw together all our belongings; others worked like Trojans to assemble the launch engines, which had been taken apart for cleaning. In two hours we were on the throbbing little boat, passing the Hoatzins and hosts of Ducks with unseeing eyes.

Then two hours later at the railroad bridge came a quick run to the nearest telegraph office, where a sympathetic, 300 pound negro “mammy” presided over the instrument and wept copiously for the “po’ lil’ lady,” while she clicked out an urgent message for a special train. She said “Ah am too sorry for to heah dat bad news,” and when our procession drew up at her little house to wait for the train she called out to Milady the comforting information that “In der midst of life we are in death!” This greatly amused the sufferer, and we settled ourselves for the long wait. As long as one has something to do, any helpful work, to keep one’s hands or mind busy, it is an easy matter to control one’s feelings in a critical emergency. But when one must wait quietly for hours, the long period of inaction is maddening. We tramped up and down the track, telephoning every few minutes to locate the progress of the special along the line. Then Crandall spied a big yellow-tailed snake (_Herpetodryas carinatus_) crossing the track. Here was an excuse for working off surplus steam, and we both made a dash for it. Crandall caught it by the tail as it was disappearing into the brush and we had an exciting ten minutes getting it unharmed into a snake bag, the active creature succeeding in biting us twice before we muffled it. Visitors to the Reptile House of our Zoölogical Park little imagine, when gazing at this handsome creature, what a relief to our tense nerves its capture meant.

At last the special came in sight and we set out on the wildest of rides to Georgetown. Having seen Milady in a doze on a sofa in the train, Crandall and I climbed up to the railed-in roof of the car and, with the wind beating down our very eyelids, watched the narrow escapes of dogs, cows, donkeys and coolies, from the track at the approach of this unlooked for train. The yellow and scarlet Blackbirds blew up like chaff on either hand. Egrets, Ibises and Jabirus watched in amazement from afar, or flew hurriedly off at the long drawn-out siren whistle, which hardly ceased across the whole country.

We met the single afternoon train, side-tracked to let us pass, and then had an open road to Georgetown. Slowing down, we passed through the station, on through the streets, to within a half block of Mr. Vinton’s house.

Here good Dr. Law took charge and, ten hours after the accident, fitted the shattered bone so skilfully that hardly a trace remains of the bad colleus fracture. The patient had no temperature at the time of the operation, the only ill effect being a short, sharp attack of malaria. I cite all these details chiefly to show the falsity of most of the universal slanders on a tropical climate.

Nine days afterward on April 24th, we sailed from Georgetown, homesick with desire to remain longer in this wonderland. The three short expeditions we had made, served only to whet our eagerness to search deeper beneath the surface, and glean some of the more fundamental secrets which Nature still hides from us. But we had fulfilled the bush-proverb; we had “eaten of labba meat and drunk of river water” and we know in our hearts that some day we shall return.

Meanwhile the thought of that vast continent, as yet almost untouched by real scientific research; the supreme joy of learning, of discovering, of adding our tiny facts to the foundation of the everlasting _why_ of the universe; all this makes life for us—Milady and me—one never-ending delight.

FOOTNOTES

[A] The superior figures following the names of birds throughout the volume refer to a list of their scientific names given for identification in Appendix A.

[B] Actual temperatures (Fahrenheit) taken in the mangrove forest on board the sloop are as follows:

March 30th—

5.30 A.M. 66° 9.30 86° 11.30 86° 1.30 P.M. 86° 7.00 78°

March 31st—

5.30 A.M. 71° 6.30 72°

April 1st—

6.00 A.M. 73° 10.00 80° 2.00 P.M. 85° 6.00 80°

April 2nd—

5.30 A.M. 69° 7.30 77°

[C] In looking over the laws of the colony I found the following Wild Birds’ Protection Ordinance. I have added the explanatory names in parentheses. (C. W. B.)

List of Wild Birds absolutely protected.

Black Witch (Ani) Campanero (Bell Bird) Carrion Crow (Vulture) Cassique Cock-of-the-Rock Cotinga Crane (Heron) Creeper (Woodhewer) Egret Flycatcher Gauldin (Heron) Goatsucker Grass Bird Ground Dove Jacamar Hawk Heron Hummingbird Hutu (Motmot) Kingfisher Kite Macaw Manakin Martin Owl Parroquet Qu’est-ce qu’il dit (Kiskadee) Shrike Sun Bird (Sun Bittern) Sparrow Swallow Tanager Thrush Toucan Trogan Troupial Woodpecker Wren Vulture

List of Wild Birds protected from April 1st to Sept. 1st.

Bittern Curlew Curri-curri (Scarlet Ibis) Douraquara (Partridge) Dove (other than Ground Dove) Ibis Hanaqua (Chachalaca) Maam (Tinamou) Maroudi (Guan) Negro-cop (Jabiru) Parrot Pigeon Plover Powis (Curassow) Quail Snipe Spur-wing (Jacana) Trumpet-bird Wild Duck

[D] The average daily temperature during our stay was as follows:

6.30 A.M. 68° 7.30 71° 8.00 72° 10.00 76° 12.00 77° 2.00 P.M. 81° 5.00 74° 7.00 73° 9.30 71°

[E] Zoölogica, Vol. 1, No. 4, page 123.

[F] Both of these moths proved to be new to science, both as to species and genus and have been named respectively _Hositea gynaecia_ and _Zaevius calocore_. Zoölogica, Vol. 1, No. 4.

[G] Two Bird lovers in Mexico, pp. 239-241.

[H] Zoölogica, Vol. I, No. 4.

[I] The color of the back and sides was a light gold, shading into dark maroon or red on the head, tail and limbs. The skin of the face, ears, palms and scantily haired under parts was dark slate. The eyes were hazel brown. The total length was 50½ inches, 25 of which consisted of the tail. The bare prehensile portion along the lower side of the tail extended 11½ inches backward from the tip. The forearm and hand was 16 inches long; the hind leg 18 inches. The hair of the beard was 1¾ inches long. The Monkey had been feeding on leaves and some kind of fruit with stones like cherry pits.

[J] There were several intervening branches, and two or three links in the performance were not clear until I returned north.

Col. Anthony R. Kuser has most kindly put his splendid aviaries at Bernardsville, New Jersey, at my disposal for scientific investigation, and here, for a month or more after our return, a male Curassow would go through this whole performance for the benefit of anyone who would watch him. After the various “stunts” had been performed, he would fly at the feet of the observer and, wrapping his wings about one’s shoes, would peck savagely at the shoestrings. From this and other indications I decided that the performance is more in the nature of a challenge than a courtship display.

APPENDIX A.

CLASSIFIED LIST OF BIRDS MENTIONED IN THIS VOLUME.

TINAMIFORMES.

[1]. Great Blue Tinamou—_Tinamus tao_ Temm. [2]. Guiana Crested Tinamou—_Tinamus subcristatus_ (Cab.). [3]. Little Tinamou—_Crypturus variegatus_ (Gmel.).

GALLIFORMES.

[4]. Crested Curassow—_Crax alector_ Linn. [5]. Jacupeba Guan—_Penelope jacupeba_ Spix. [6]. Marail Guan—_Penelope marail_ (Gmel.). [7]. Red-tailed Chachalaca—_Ortalis ruficauda_ Jard. [8]. Guiana Quail—_Odontophorus guianensis_ (Gmel.).

COLUMBIFORMES.

[9]. Red-winged Ground Dove—_Columbigallina rufipennis_ (Bonap.). [10]. Red-underwing Dove—_Leptoptila rufaxilla_ (Rich.).

OPISTHOCOMIFORMES.

[11]. Hoatzin—_Opisthocomus hoazin_ (Müll.).

RALLIFORMES.

[12]. Cayenne Wood Rail—_Aramides cayanea_ (Müll.). [13]. Purple Gallinule—_Ionornis martinica_ (Linn.).

LARIFORMES.

[14]. Great-billed Tern—_Phaëthusa magnirostris_ (Licht.). [15]. Eye-browed Tern—_Sterna superciliaris_ Vieill. [16]. Laughing Gull—_Larus atricilla_ Linn. [17]. Black-tailed Skimmer—_Rhynchops nigra cinerascens_ Spix.

CHARADRIIFORMES.

[18]. Semipalmated Plover—_Aegialeus semipalmatus_ (Bonap.). [19]. South American Collared Plover—_Aegialitis collaris_ (Vieill.). [20]. Hudsonian Curlew—_Numenius hudsonicus_ Lath. [21]. Solitary Sandpiper—_Helodromas solitarius_ (Wils.). [22]. Spotted Sandpiper—_Tringoides macularia_ (Linn.). [23]. Spur-winged Jacana—_Jacana jacana_ (Linn.).

GRUIFORMES.

[24]. Sun-bittern—_Eurypyga helias_ (Pall.). [25]. Common Trumpeter—_Psophia crepitans_ Linn.

ARDEIFORMES.

[26]. Green River Ibis—_Phimosus infuscatus_ (Licht.). [27]. Scarlet Ibis—_Eudocimus ruber_ (Linn.). [28]. Wood Ibis—_Tantalus loculator_ Linn. [29]. Maguari Stork—_Euxenura maguari_ (Gmel.). [30]. Jabiru—_Mycteria americana_ Linn. [31]. Cocoi Heron—_Ardea cocoi_ Linn. [32]. American Egret—_Herodias egretta_ (Gmel.). [33]. Snowy Egret—_Egretta candidissima_ (Gmel.). [34]. Little Blue Heron—_Florida caerulea_ (Linn.). [35]. Louisiana Heron—_Hydranassa tricolor ruficollis_ (Gosse). [36]. Yellow-crowned Night Heron—_Nyctanassa violacea_ (Linn.). [37]. Boat-billed Heron—_Canchroma cochlearia_ (Linn.). [38]. Guiana Green Heron—_Butorides striata_ (Linn.). [39]. Agami Heron—_Agamia agami_ (Gmel.). [40]. Amazonian Tiger Bittern—_Tigrisoma lineatum_ (Bodd.).

PALAMEDEIFORMES.

[41]. Horned Screamer—_Palamedea cornuta_ Linn.

PHOENICOPTERIFORMES.

[42]. American Flamingo—_Phoenicopterus ruber_ Linn.

ANSERIFORMES.

[43]. Muscovy Duck—_Cairina moschata_ (Linn.). [44]. Rufous Tree Duck—_Dendrocygna fulva_ (Gmel.). [45]. Gray-necked Tree Duck—_Dendrocygna discolor_ Scl. and Sal. [46]. White-faced Tree Duck—_Dendrocygna viduata_ (Linn.).

PELECANIFORMES.

[47]. Guiana Cormorant—_Phalacrocorax vigua_ (Vieill.). [48]. Snake-bird—_Anhinga anhinga_ (Linn.). [49]. Frigate Bird—_Fregata aquila_ (Linn.).

CATHARTIDIFORMES.

[50]. King Vulture—_Gypagus papa_ (Linn.). [51]. Black Vulture—_Catharista urubu_ (Vieill.). [52]. Orange-headed Vulture—_Cathartes urubitinga_ Pelz.

ACCIPITRIFORMES.

[53]. Caracara—_Polyborus cheriway_ (Jacq.). [53a]. South American Blue Hawk—_Geranospizias caerulescens_ (Vieill.). [54]. Cream-headed Hawk—_Busarellus nigricollis_ (Lath.). [55]. South American Black Hawk—_Urubitinga urubitinga_ (Gmel.). [56]. White-headed Chimachima Hawk—_Leucopternis albicollis_ (Lath.). [57]. Guiana Crested Eagle—_Morphnus guiananensis_ (Daud.). [58]. Swallow-tailed Kite—_Elanoides forficatus_ (Linn.). [59]. American Osprey—_Pandion haliaetus carolinensis_ (Gmel.).

STRIGIFORMES.

[60]. Southern Pygmy Owl—_Glaucidium brazilianum phalaenoides_ (Daud.).

PSITTACIFORMES.

[61]. Blue and Yellow Macaw—_Ara ararauna_ (Linn.). [62]. Red and Blue Macaw—_Ara macao_ (Linn.). [63]. Mealy Amazon Parrot—_Amazona farinosa_ (Bodd.). [64]. Yellow-fronted Amazon Parrot—_Amazona ochrocephala_ (Gmel.). [65]. Blue-headed Parrot—_Pionus menstruus_ (Linn.). [66]. Dusky Parrot—_Pionus fuscus_ (Müll.).

CORACIIFORMES.

[67]. Great Rufous Kingfisher—_Ceryle torquata_ (Linn.). [68]. Red-bellied Kingfisher—_Ceryle americana_ (Gmel.). [69]. Pygmy Kingfisher—_Ceryle superciliosa_ (Linn.). [70]. White-necked Parauque—_Nyctidromus albicollis_ (Gmel.). [71]. Feather-toed Palm Swift—_Panyptila cayanensis_ (Gmel.). [72]. Guiana Gray-rumped Swift—_Chaetura spinicauda_ (Temm.). [73]. Eye-browed Hummingbird—_Phaëthornis guianensis_ Bouc. [74]. Guiana Rufous-breasted Hummingbird—_Phaëthornis episcopus_ (Gould). [75]. Guiana Long-tailed Hummingbird—_Topaza pella_ (Linn.).

TROGONIFORMES.

[76]. Greater Yellow-bellied Trogon—_Trogon viridis_ Linn.

CUCULIFORMES.

[77]. Great Rufous Cuckoo—_Piaya cayana_ (Linn.). [78]. Little Rufous Cuckoo—_Piaya rutila_ (Illig.). [79]. Greater Ani—_Crotophaga major_ Gmel. [80]. Smooth-billed Ani—_Crotophaga ani_ Linn.

SCANSORES.

[81]. Red-billed Toucan—_Rhamphastos erythrorhynchus_ Gmel. [82]. Sulphur and White-breasted Toucan—_Rhamphastos vitellinus_ Licht. [83]. Red-breasted Toucan—_Rhamphastos_ Sp. [84]. Black-banded Aracari Toucan—_Pteroglossus torquatus_ (Gmel.).

PICIFORMES.

[85]. Paradise Jacamar—_Urogalba paradisea_ (Linn.). [86]. Yellow-billed Jacamar—_Galbula albirostris_ Lath. [87]. Rufous-tailed Jacamar—_Galbula ruficauda_ Cuv. [88]. Great Red-crested Woodpecker—_Campephilus melanoleucus_ (Gmel.). [89]. Great Ivory-billed Woodpecker—_Ceophloeus lineatus_ (Linn.). [90]. Yellow Woodpecker—_Crocomorphus semicinnamomeus_ (Reichenb.).

PASSERIFORMES.

FORMICARIIDAE.

[91]. White-shouldered Pygmy Antbird—_Myrmotherula axillaris_ Viell. [92]. Scaly-backed Antbird—_Hypocnemis poecilonota_ (Pucher.). [93]. Woodcock Antbird—_Rhopoterpe torquata_ (Bodd.).

DENDROCOLAPTIDAE.

[94]. Cinnamon Spine-tail—_Synallaxis cinnamomea_ (Gmel.). [95]. Whistling Woodhewer—_Dendrornis susuranus susuranus_ (Jard.). [96]. Wedge-billed Woodhewer—_Glyphorhynchus cuneatus_ (Licht.).

TYRANNIDAE.

[97]. White-shouldered Ground Flycatcher—_Fluvicola pica_ (Bodd.). [98]. White-headed Marsh Flycatcher—_Arundinicoal leucocephala_ (Linn.). [99]. Gray Tody-flycatcher—_Todirostrum cinereum cinereum_ (Linn.). [100]. Yellow-breasted Elania Flycatcher—_Elaenea pagana_ (Licht.). [101]. Guiana Kiskadee Tyrant—_Pitangus sulphuratus sulphuratus_ (Linn.). [102]. Venezuela Kiskadee Tyrant—_Pitangus sulphuratus trinitatus_ Hellm. [103]. Lesser Kiskadee—_Pitangus lictor_ (Cab.). [104]. Great-billed Kiskadee Tyrant—_Megarhynchus pitangua pitangua_ (Linn.). [105]. Streaked Flycatcher—_Myiodynastes maculatus maculatus_ (Müll). [106]. White-throated Kingbird—_Tyrannus melancholicus_ (Vieill.). [107]. Buff-tailed Tyrantlet—_Terenotricus erythrurus erythrurus_ (Cab.).

PIPRIDAE.

[108]. Golden-headed Manakin—_Pipra erythrocephala_ (Linn.). [109]. White capped Manakin—_Pipra leucocilla_ Linn. [110]. Golden crowned Pygmy Manakin—_Pipra brachyura_ (Scl. and Sal.). [111]. White-breasted Manakin—_Manacus manacus manacus_ (Linn.). [112]. Wallace’s Olive Manakin—_Scotothorus wallacii_ (Scl. and Sal.).

COTINGIDAE.

[113]. Black-tailed Tityra—_Tityra cayana_ (Linn.). [114]. Cinereus Becard—_Pachyrhamphus atricapillus_ (Gmel.). [115]. Goldbird—_Lathria cinerea_ (Vieill.). [116]. Pompadour Cotinga—_Xipholena pompadora_ (Linn.). [117]. Bare-headed Cotinga—_Calvifrons calvus_ (Gmel.).

HIRUNDINIDAE.

[118]. Banded Swallow—_Atticora fasciata_ (Gmel.). [119]. Variegated Swallow—_Tachycineta albiventris_ (Bodd.). [120]. Tree Swallow—_Tachycineta bicolor_ (Vieill.). [121]. Barn Swallow—_Hirundo erythrogaster_ Bodd. [122]. Gray-breasted Martin—_Progne chalybea chalybea_ (Gmel.). [123]. Red-breasted Swallow—_Stelgidopteryx ruficollis_ Baird.

TROGLODYTIDAE.

[124]. Guiana House Wren—_Troglodytes musculus clarus_ Berlp. and Hart. [125]. Necklaced Jungle Wren—_Leucolepia musica_ (Bodd.).

MIMIDAE.

[126]. Black-capped Mocking-thrush—_Donacobius atricapillus_ (Linn.).

TURDIDAE.

[127]. White-throated Robin—_Planesticus phaeopygus_ (Cab.). [128]. White-breasted Robin—_Planesticus albiventer_ Spix.

VIREONIDAE.

[128a]. Brown-fronted Jungle Vireo—_Pachysylvia ferrugineifrons_ Scl.

MNIOTILTIDAE

[128b]. American Redstart—_Setophaga ruticilla_ (Linn.).

FRINGILLIDAE.

[129]. Brown-breasted Pygmy Grosbeak—_Oryzoborus torridus_ (Gmel.). [130]. Thick-billed Pygmy Grosbeak—_Oryzoborus crassirostris_ (Gmel.). [131]. Blue-backed Seedeater—_Sporophila castaneiventris_ (Cab.). [132]. Pygmy Seedeater—_Sporophila minuta minuta_ (Linn.). [133]. Yellow-bellied Seedeater—_Sporophila gutturalis_ (Licht.). [134]. Black-headed Scarlet Grosbeak—_Pitylus erythromelas_ (Gmel.). [135]. Black-faced Green Grosbeak—_Pitylus viridis_ (Vieill.).

COEREBIDAE.

[136]. Yellow-winged Honey-creeper—_Cyanerpes cyancus_ (Linn.). [136a]. Blue Honey-creeper—_Cyanerpes caeruleus_ (Linn.). [137]. Venezuela Bananaquit—_Coereba luteola_ Cab.

TANGARIDAE.

[138]. Purple-throated Euphonia—_Euphonia chlorotica_ (Linn.). [139]. Black-tailed Euphonia—_Euphonia melanura_ Scl. [140]. Violet Euphonia—_Euphonia violacea_ (Linn.). [141]. Black-faced Calliste—_Calospiza cayana_ (Linn.). [142]. Yellow-bellied Calliste—_Calospiza mexicana mexicana_ Linn. [143]. White-shouldered Blue Tanager—_Tangara episcopus episcopus_ Linn. [144]. Northern Palm Tanager—_Tangara palmarum melanoptera_ Scl. [145]. Northern Silver-beak Tanager—_Ramphocelus jacapa magnirostris_ (Lafr.). [146]. Southern Silver-beak Tanager—_Ramphocelus jacapa japaca_ (Linn.). [147]. Magpie Tanager—_Cissopis leveriana_ (Gmel.).

ICTERIDAE.

[148]. Black Parasitic Cassique—_Cassidix oryzivora oryzivora_ (Gmel.). [149]. Great Black Cassique—_Ostinops decumanus_ (Pall.). [150]. Green Cassique—_Ostinops viridis_ (Müll.). [151]. Yellow-backed Cassique—_Cacicus persicus_ (Linn.). [152]. Red-backed Cassique—_Cacicus affinis_ Swains. [153]. Guiana Cowbird—_Molothrus atronitens_ (Cab.). [154]. Little Yellow-headed Blackbird—_Agelaius icterocephalus_ (Linn.). [155]. Red-breasted Blackbird—_Leistes militaris_ (Linn.). [156]. Meadowlark—_Sturnella magna_ (Linn.). [157]. Guiana Meadowlark—_Sturnella magna meridionalis_ (Scl.). [158]. Moriche Oriole—_Icterus chrysocephalus_ (Linn.). [159]. Yellow Oriole—_Icterus xanthornus xanthornus_ (Gmel.). [160]. Little Boat-tailed Grackle—_Quiscalus lugubris_ Swains.

CORVIDAE.

[161]. Lavender Jay—_Cyanocorax cayanus_ (Linn.).

APPENDIX B.

NATIVE GUIANAN NAMES OF BIRDS.

Great Blue Tinamou—Maam. Little Tinamou—Little Maam. Curassow—Powis. Guan—Maroodi. Guiana Quail—Duraquara. Chachalaca—Hanaqua. Hoatzin—Canje Pheasant. Purple Gallinule—Coot. Guiana Wood Rail—Killicow. Spur-winged Jacana—Spur-wing. Skimmer—Scissor-bill. Sun Bittern—Sun-bird. Trumpeter—Warracabra. Scarlet Ibis—Curri-curri. Jabiru—Negrocop. Wood Ibis—Nigger Head. Tiger Bittern—Tiger-bird. Herons—Chow or Shypook. Cocoi Heron—Crane. Horned Screamer—Mohuca. Gray-necked Tree-duck—Vicissi. Snake-bird—Ducklar. Black Vulture—Carrion Crow. Orange-headed Vulture—Governor Carrion Crow. Caracara—Hen Hawk. Owls—Night Owl. Spectrum Parrakeet—Kissi-kissi. Motmot—Hutu. Hummingbirds—Doctor-birds. Four-winged Cuckoo—Wife-sick. Great Ani—Jumby-bird. Smooth-billed Ani—Old Witch. Toucan—Bill-bird. Checked Ant-thrush—Dominique or Check-bird. Cinnamon Spinetail—Rootie. Bell-bird—Campanero. Gold-bird—Greenheart-bird—Pĭ-pī-yŏ. Cinereus Becard—Woodpecker. White-shouldered Ground Flycatcher—Cotton-bird. Southern Scissor-tailed Flycatcher—Scissor-tail. Guiana Kiskadee Tyrant—Kiskadee. White-throated King-bird—Madeira or Gray Kiskadee. White-headed Marsh Flycatcher—Parson-bird. Cinereus Tody-flycatcher—Pipitoorie. Yellow-breasted Elanea Flycatcher—Muff-bird or Muffin. Guiana House Wren—God- or Guard-bird. Necklaced Jungle Wren—Quadrille Bird. White-throated Robin—Thrush. Yellow Warbler—Bastard Canary. Brown-breasted Pygmy Grosbeak—Toua-toua. Thick-billed Pygmy Grosbeak—Twa-twa. Blue-backed Seedeater—Blue-back. Pygmy Seedeater—Fire-red. Crown-headed Seedeater—Crown-head. Plain-headed Seedeater—Plain-head. Lineated Seedeater—Ring-neck. Pee-zing Grassquit—Pee-zing. Honey Creepers—Hummingbirds. Yellow-bellied Calliste—Goldfinch. Black-faced Calliste—Bucktown Sackie. Violet Euphonia—Bucktown Canary. Blue Tanager—Blue Sackie. Palm Tanager—Cocoanut Sackie. Silver-beak Tanager—Cashew Sackie. White-lined Tanager—Black-sage Sackie. Olive Saltator—Tom-pitcher. Little Boat-tail Grackle—Black-bird. Guiana Cowbird—Corn-bird. Black Parasitic Cassique—Rice-bird. Yellow-backed Cassique—Yellow Bunyah or Mockingbird. Red-backed Cassique—Red Bunyah. Red-breasted Blackbird—Robin Red-breast. Little Yellow-headed Blackbird—Yellow-head. Moriche Oriole—Cadoorie. Yellow Oriole—Yellow Plantain Bird. Guiana Meadowlark—Savannah Starling.

APPENDIX C.

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF HOORIE ORTHOPTERA.

Acontista perspicua Anaulecomara furcata Colpolopha obsoluta Creoxylus spinosus Enopterna surinamensis Gryllotalpa hexadactyla Moncheca nigricauda Posidippus degeeri Prisopus flabelliformis Pseudophasma phthisicus Pterochroza ocellata Schistocerca flavofasciata Vates lobata

NEW SPECIES OF MANTIS.

Stagmomantis hoorie Caudell

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF HOORIE MOTHS.

Anacraga citrina Anthocroca cuneifera Apatelodes pandarioides Apela divisa Argeus labruscae Argyrostoma nitidisquama Attacus erycina Automeris cinctistriga Automolis semirosea Azelina gammaria Ballantiophona gibbiferata Baeotarcha coemaroalis Berberodes simplex Capnodes subrutilans Carthara ennomoides Chrysocestis fimbriaria Claphe braganza Claphe mediana Claphe morens Claphe namora Coenipeta bibitrix Colla gaudialis Dasygnia meterythra Desmia funeralis Dichromapteryx dimidiata Dirphia tarquinia Drepanodes agrionaria Dyasia viviana Eudioptis hyalinata Epicepsis gnoma Euagra collestina Euclea cippus Gonodonta pyrgo Gonopinea albilunalis Hadena regressa Hylesia inficita Hyperchiria liberia Hyperchiria nausica Ingura circularia Iza rufigrisea Lepasta conspicua Letis occidua Leucinodes elegantalis Lysana plexa Maerodes columbalis Malocanpa Eugenia Melese castrena Neritos coccinea Neritos phaeoplaza Olceclostera mira Olceclostera satellitia Orthogramma rufotibia Pamea notata Peosina helima Phyllodonta cajanuma Prepiella radicans Pronola fraterna Prumala ilus Racheolopha confluaria Racheolopha nivetacta Racheolopha pallida Racheolopha sarptaria Racheospila intensa Rifargia apella Rolepa cuprea Rosema zelica Samea ebulealis Samea gealis Scolecocampa liburna Stericta abrupta Stericta multicolor Stictoptera Tachyphyle acuta Tanasphysa adornatalis Thysania agrippina Tosale velutina Trosea ignicornis Urga parallela Vipsophobetron marinna

NEW SPECIES OF HOORIE MOTHS.

Acropteryx opulenta Dyar Capnodes albicosta ” Claphe laudissima ” Emarginea empyra ” Eois costalis ” Hadena niphetodes ” Hemipecten cleptes ” Hylesia indurata ” Illice biota ” Ischnurges bicoloralis ” Macalla pallidomedia ” Neophaenis aedemon ” Paracraga amianta ” Rifargia phanerostigma ” Saccopleura lycealis ” Thermesia dorsilinea ” Trosia nigripes ” Zatrephes cardytera ”

NEW GENERA AND NEW SPECIES OF HOORIE MOTHS.

_Dichocrocopsis_—Dichocrocopsis maculiferalis Dyar _Hositea_—Hositea gynaecia Dyar _Incarcha_—Incarcha aporalis Dyar _Minacragides_—Minacragides arnacis Dyar _Thyonoea_—Thyonaea dremma Dyar _Zaevius_—Zaevius calocore Dyar

The Photographs and descriptions of these new genera and species have been published in Zoölogica, Vol. 1, No. 4.

INDEX.

Illustrations are indicated by page numbers in Italic.

A.

Abary, Birds of, 364, 365. Bungalow, _358_. Island, _358_, 359. River, 350, 360, _362_.

_Admetus pumilio_, 189, _190_.

_Aequidens_, 68, _69_.

Agouti, 160, _312_, 315, 318.

_Agraulis vanillae_, 375.

Amazon Parrot. _See_ Parrots.

American Redstarts, accompanying army of hunting ants, 50.

_Anableps anableps._ _See_ Four-eyed Fish.

Anaconda, 26, _27_, 240, 379.

André, Eugene, x, 86, 89.

Anis, 121, 131, 133, 358. Accompanying army of hunting ants, 49, 50. Greater, flock of, 156, 157. Smooth-billed, 254.

Anna Regina, 242, 243.

_Anopheles_, 76.

Antbirds, 194, 302, 303, 304. Accompanying army of hunting ants, 49. Scaly-backed, 324. White-shouldered Pigmy, 194.

Anteater, 170. Great, 256, _257_. Lesser, 305, _306_.

Ants, Black, (_Neoponera commutata_), 49. Battle with hunting ants, 52. Houses of, 48, 49, 138. Hunting Ants (_Eciton_), 49-54. Battle with Black Ants, 52, 53. Warfare in nests of other species, 54. Parasol, 49, 217, 218, 345. Fungi gardens of, 49.

Aremu, Camp on, _274_, 275. Gold Mine, 285-288, _287_, _289_. Landing, 268. Little, 244-284, _276_, 297. River, Big, 244, 268.

_Argeus labruscae_, 211.

Armadillo, 170, 324.

_Atta cephalotes_, 138.

_Attacus (Hesperia) erycina_, 211.

_Automeria cinctistriga_, 213.

B.

Baboons. _See_ Monkey, Red Howling.

Bananaquits, 40.

Barama River, 158, _216_. Entrance of, 160, 161. Our tent boat on the, _159_.

Barima River, 137.

Barrabarra River, _219_, 222-225.

Barrimani Police Station, 158, 160.

Bartica, 244, 245, 246.

Bashew, 165.

Bats, Fruit-eating, 121, 122. Manner of alighting, 43. Number of species of, 122. Scarab, 270. Vampires. _See_ Vampires.

Bee, Giant, 343, 344.

Beetles, Bark, 201. Brazilian, 268. Buprestid, 291, 348. Elater, Brown, 54, 55, 192. Larva of small species of, 55. Longicorn, 288. Tiger, 291.

Bête rouge, 144, 146.

Biara River, 220-222, _226_.

Bingham, Dr. Hiram, xi, 255, 354.

Birds brought alive from British Guiana to New York Zoölogical Park, 116.

Bird Protection Ordinance of British Guiana, 115.

_Blaberus trapezoideus._ _See_ Cockroach.

Blackbird, Red-breasted, 351, 353. Yellow-headed, 125, 351, 353.

Blacks. _See_ Negro.

Bois Immortelle trees, 42.

Botanical Gardens, experimental botanical work, 131. Fauna of, 129-131, 133.

_Brassias_, 218.

British Guiana, climatic condition of coast of, 131.

_Bufo agua_, 122, _123_.

Buffalo, Water, 129.

Bunyahs. _See_ Cassique, Red-backed _and_ Yellow-backed.

Bushmaster, _182_, _183_, 184, 277.

Bush-rope, aërial roots of, _296_.

Butterflies, black and white, 193. Ghost, 343. Heliconias, 40, 343. Milkweed, 58. Morphos, 14, 187, 193, 250, 343. Orange shaded, 313, 314. Two species of, 163, 271. Orchid, 250, _251_. Orange, 163, 187, 375. Owl, 40, 41, _42_. Papilio, 193. Red Silver-wing, 375. Swallow-tailed, 132. Transparent, _196_. Yellow, 163.

C.

Calf-bird. _See_ Cotinga, Bare-headed.

_Caligo ilioneus_, 40.

Calliste, Black-faced, 127. Yellow-bellied, 127, 135, 243.

_Callidryas statira_, 375.

_Calomesus psittacus_, 14.

Camaria Landing, 248, 250. Falls at Lower, _249_. Upper, 250, 251.

Caño San Juan, 75.

Caños, exploring in dug-out, _21_.

_Canthon semiopacus_, 270.

_Capnodes albicosta_, 288, 289.

Captain Truxillo, 22, 30, 74, 75, _78_, 82, 83, 90, 91, 104, 108.

Capuchin Monkey, 6, 20, 24.

Capybara, 22, _233_, 254, _255_, 282, 381.

Caracara, 131.

Carey-Elwis, Father, Mission of, 163.

Carib, Fish. _See_ Perai. Indian hunter and children, _178_. Indian huts at Hoorie, 179, 181. Indians, three generations of, _180_.

_Carnegiella strigatus_, 252.

Cassiques, 125, 129. Big Green, Courtship of, 202. Flocking of, 214. Nests of, 36, 37, _236_. Notes of, 37, 56, 201, 338. Red-backed, 137, 139, 142, 174, 215. Colony of at Hoorie, 202-209. Eggs of, 205. Embryo, 205. Food of, 206, 207, 208. Nests of, _204_, 205, 206, 208. Young birds, 205, 206, 207, 208. Yellow-backed, 32, 137, 139, 142. Nesting of, _33_, _34_, 35, 36, 251, 253.

_Castina licus_, 250, _251_.

_Castus_ sp., 192, _193_.

Caterpillar, black, 328, _329_, 347.

Catfish, Crucifix, _13_, 14. Armored, 68. Of Guiana, 164.

_Centis americana_, 344.

_Centrurus margaritatus_, 39.

_Cercoleptes caudivolvulus_, 37.

Chachalaca, Abundance near Guanoco, _38_. Voice of, 23, 24.

Chameleon caterpillar, 191, 192.

_Chrysocestis fimbriaria_, 212.

_Choloepus_, 279.

Cicadas, Chant of, 24. Chinese music of giant species, 25. _Cicada grossa_, 301, 302. Six-o’clock bee, 235, 338.

Cinereus Becard, 131.

_Clavillina_, 219.

Cockroach, 45.

_Coelogenys paca_, 305.

_Colaenis phaerusa_, 375.

Congo Pump, 191, 273.

Coolie, of British Guiana, _117_, 118, 150. Indenture system, 148-149.

Coolies and their wives fishing in Essequibo, _247_.

Cormorant, Guiana, 218, 275, 354.

Cotinga, 304. Bare-headed, 332. Pompadour, 176, 179.

Cotton Bird. _See_ Flycatcher, White-shouldered Ground.

Couchi-couchi. _See_ Kinkajou.

Cowbird, Guiana, 125, 202.

Crab Oil. _See_ Bête rouge.

Crabs, 144. Dancing, 16, 17. Enemies of, 19. Inhabiting roots of mangroves, 17. Inhabiting trunks and branches of mangroves, 17, 18. Method of catching, 19. Mimicry among, 17, 18.

Crab wood, 191.

Crandall, Lee S., ix, 125, 160, 171, _182_, 207, 209, 215, 385.

Creepers, Blue Honey, 201, 298. Honey, 135, 160. Yellow-winged Honey, 158, 340.

Crew. _See_ Sloop.

Crocodiles, 14, 15, 57. Canal of, _130_, _380_, 381, 382. Of the Aremu, 271.

Cuckoos, Chestnut, 131.

Cumaca trees, 269.

Curassow, 255, 282. Crested, courtship of, 332, _333_, 334, 335, 336, _337_, 338.

Curlews, 8.

Cuyuni River, 244, 248, _254_, _259_, 269. Flowers of, 263. Rapids of, 258, _260_, _261_, _262_, 263, _264_, _266_, 267, _270_.

D.

Deer, 160, 170, 246, 310, 311, 319. Savanna, 320.

_Dendrobates trivittatus_, 293, 294.

_Desmodus rufus._ _See_ Vampire.

_Dicotyles labiatus._ _See_ Peccary, White-lipped.

_Dicotyles tajacu._ _See_ Peccary, Common.

_Dirphia tarquinia_, 211.

Dolphins, 30.

Douraquara. _See_ Quail, Guiana.

Dove, Red-winged Ground, 131, 139.

Dragon Fly, 270, 271. _Diastatops tincta_, 376. _Erythrodiplax umbrata_, 376. _Erythrodiplax peruviana_, 376.

Dress suitable for woman on jungle trips, 195, 196.

Drowned Forest of Hoorie, 198-202.

Ducks, Gray-necked Tree, 355, _356_, 357. Muscovy, 30, 135, 357, 359. Rufous Tree, 355. Vicissi, 383.

E.

Eagle, Guiana Crested, 137.

_Eciton_, 49, 50.

Egrets, American, 137, 234, _352_, 353, 381. Snowy, 8, 64, 154, 158.

_Elainia._ _See_ Flycatchers.

Electric eels, 170.

Encounter with curiara in the Guarapiche, 22.

_Epidendrum fragrans_, 22, 23.

_Epidendrum nocturnum_, 241.

_Epidendrum odoratum_, 269.

Essequibo River, 134, 244, 245.

_Euchroma goliath_, 291.

_Eudioptis hyalinata_, 212.

_Eunectes murinus._ _See_ Anaconda.

Euphonia, 139. Black-tailed, 40. Purple-throated, 319. Violet, 240.

_Euptoieta hegesia_, 375.

F.

Farnum’s, 158, 214, 215.

_Felis concolor_, 60, 61.

Ferns, tree, on Little Aremu, _278_.

Filo, 77, 84.

Flamingo, 234.

Flycatchers, Elania, 131, _132_. Gray Tody, 131. Kiskadee, 37, 112, _114_, 120, 121, 131, 135, 142, 148, 239, 247, 357. Streaked, accompanying army of hunting ants, 50, _51_. Tyrant, 116, accompanying army of hunting ants, 50. White-shouldered Ground, 65, 66, 131. White-headed Marsh, 65.

Flying Fish, Fresh Water, _252_, 265, 269. Salt Water, _253_.

Forest, drowned, _199_.

Four-eyed Fish, 14, _16_, 19, 57, 237, 239. Devoured by Crocodile, 15. Eyes of, 19.

Fowler, Mr., 275, 277.

Francis, Jungle craft of, 316, 317, 318, 320, 321, 322, 326, 332, 333, 338.

Frederick, 147-148, 151, _152_.

French, Mr., 248.

Frigate-bird, 234.

Frog, Bleating Calf, 277. Castanet, 242. Freight engine, 214, 277. Roaring, 277. Wing-beat, 238, 277.

G.

_Galictis barbara_, 321.

Gallinules, 129. Purple, 378.

Georgetown, 112. Beauty of, 116. Botanical Gardens of, 123. Chief points of attraction of, 121. Inhabitants of, 112, 114. Museum of, 123. Sea Wall of, _119_. Street life of, 116-118. Street of, _113_. Typical day of, 120, 121.

Gillett, Father, 226, 227, _228_, 230.

Gold Bird, 187, 188, 189, 193, 220, 246, 275, 307, 315, 342.

Gold, Long Tom process, 185, 186, 187. Mines. _See_ Aremu, Hoorie. Panning, 185, _186_.

Golden Shower Orchid, 220.

_Gonodonta pyrgo_, 342.

Grackle, Little Boat-tailed, 128.

Grassfinches, 48.

Grell, Ellis, x, 86, 87, 90.

Greenheart Bird. _See_ Gold Bird.

Green River Ibis, 253.

Grosbeaks, Black-faced Green, 176. Black-headed Scarlet, 315. Brown-breasted Pigmy, 121, 127. Thick-billed Pigmy, 142.

_Gryllus argentinus_, 348.

Guanoco, Children of, _100_, 104. Dances at, 97-103, 104. Fever at, 106. First night at, 90-93. “Headquarters” at, 87, 88, 97. Inhabitants of, _97_. Priestless chapel at, _105_. Quarrel with United States of America, 98, 99. Revolutionary reports at, 98, 99. River of, 86. Suffering that came to, 106, 107. Village of, 32, 86. Women of, 106.

Guan, 144, 235, 255, 313. Jacupeba, 321. Marail, 179.

Guarapiche River, 20, 80, 81, 82.

Guarauno Indians, 29. At Caño Colorado, _83_. Papoose, _107_. Squaws, _85_. Wandering tribes of, 103.

Guard Ship, 75, 76. Venezuelan soldiers on board of, _76_.

Guava, Water, 263.

Gulls, Laughing, 134.

H.

Haasnoot, Captain, 111.

_Haetera piera._ _See_ Butterfly, Transparent.

Harrison, Prof. J. B., 123, 125.

Harry, Mr., 385.

Hawk, Caracara, 371, 372. Chimachima, White-breasted, _62_, 64. Cream-headed, 354, 355. South American Black, 164.

Heliconia butterfly. _See_ Butterflies.

Heliconias, Scarlet, 58, 60.

_Hemiptycha (Umbonia) spinosa_, 213.

Herons, Agami, 219. Boat-billed, 234. Cocoi, 8, 234, 245, 268, 355. Guiana Green, 129, 355, 371. Immature Blue, 64. Little Blue, 15, 154, 158. Louisiana, 154. Yellow-crowned Night, 154.

_Herpetodryas carinatus_, 386.

Hoatzins, Eggs of, 371. Enemies of, 371, 372. Flight of, 28, 29. Flock of, _377_. Food of, 29, 219. Habits of, at Abary, 366, 367, 368, _369_, _370_, _372_, _373_, _375_. Nesting of, 29, _366_, 371. Number at Abary, 350. On the Guarapiche, _28_. Photographing, _367_, 372, 373, 374. Sedentary life of, _28_, 29. Use of wings, 374. Voice of, 26, 28, 365. Young of, 28.

Hodgson, Sir Frederick, x, 125.

_Homalocranium melanocephalum_, 45, 46.

Hoorie mine, Average daily temperature at, 170. Bungalow, 170, 209. Creek, 164. Crossing stream on road to, _167_. Drowned forest of, 198-202. Fauna around, 170, 171, 209. Flora of, 192, 194, 195. Indian life near, 179-184, 189, 190, 191. Insects of, 209-213. “Little Giant” at, _175_. Mine, 167-169, _172_. Wilderness trail to, 165-167, _168_.

_Hoplias malabaricus_, 68, _69_.

Hornaday, Dr. William T., xi.

_Hositea gynaecia_, 212.

Hummingbird, Long-tailed, 325. Rufous breasted, 307. White eye-browed, 307.

_Hydrochoerus capybara._ _See_ Capybara.

_Hyperchiria Liberia_, 213.

_Hyperchiria nausica_, 213.

I.

Ibis. _See_ Green River. _See_ Scarlet.

im Thurn, Sir Everard, house of, 142, _143_.

Indian and the Law, 151, 152, 153. Boys in dug-out, _162_. Three-year-olds at home in wood-skin, _138_.

Insects. _See_ Hoorie. Mounting of, 211, 212.

J.

Jabiru, 353, _354_, 381.

Jacamar, home of, 26. Paradise, 171, 173.

Jacana, Spur-wing, 63, 64, 129, 354, 378, _384_, 385.

“Josefa Jacinta.” _See_ Sloop.

Jaguar, 63, 160, 293.

Jays, Lavender, 173, 174, 345.

Jelly-fish, 4.

Jones, Mr. B. Howell, x.

Jumbie Birds. _See_ Anis.

K.

Killicow. _See_ Rail, Cayenne Wood.

King, Howie, 129, 148. As magistrate of Morawhanna, 149-151. Garden of, 146. House of, 142.

Kingbirds, White-throated, 137.

Kingfishers, Feeding on insects, 16. Red-breasted, 163. Rufous, 199, 282.

Kinkajou, 37.

Kiskadee. _See_ Flycatchers.

Kites, Swallow-tailed, 154, 250.

L.

Labba. _See_ Paca.

La Brea, x, 30, _59_. _See_ also Pitch Lake.

La Ceiba, 20. Our floating home at, _18_.

Lilies, Spider, _57_, 58, 225, _363_.

Lizards, At Morawhanna, 146. Protective coloration of, 43, _44_, _45_. Tegu, 24, 146.

Loricates. _See_ Catfish, Armored.

Lotus, _126_.

M.

Macaws, 8. Blue and Yellow, 137, 338.

Maestro, 14, 77, 80, 84, 85, 87.

Manakin, Golden-crowned, 342, _343_, 348. Gold-headed, 44. Wallace Olive, 322. White-breasted, 44, 45. White-capped, 311.

Manatee, 125, 170, _221_, _222_, _224_, 381.

Mangrove, Flowers of, 15. Jungle, description of, 9-12. Manner of preparation of, 10. Map of trip through, 2. Red, 135, 153. Sunset in Mangrove wilderness, _80_. White, 135, 153. Wilderness, _95_. Young plants, _11_, 58.

Mantis, 213, 289. _Stagmomantis hoorie_, 210.

Map, of Abary Island, _361_. Of three expeditions into British Guiana, _110_. Of trip through Mangrove Wilderness, _2_.

Marciano, 215, 222, 223, 234, 237, 238, 240, 242, 243.

Marlborough Police Station, 237.

Maroodie. _See_ Guan.

Martins, Gray Breasted, 112, 244, _245_, 247, 379.

Matope, 253, 256, 258.

Mazaruni River, 244, 246, 248. Steamer, 134, 141, 142.

Maximiliano Romero, 101-102, 106.

_Mecistogaster_ sp., 270, 271.

_Mesomphalia discors_, 268.

Mission, on Morooka River, 225. Warramuri, 231, 233.

Monkeys, Capuchin, 6, 20. Marmoset, 300. No fear of railroad, 56, 57. Red Howling, Description of, 325-326. As food, 329. Voice of, 20, 56, 142, 170, 197, 277, 293, 325.

_Monstera_, 279.

Mora Passage, 135, 146, 153, 174, 175, 301.

Mora Tree, 135, 137, 138, 269, _296_.

Morawhanna, 135. Typical Indian House of, _136_. Home of Mr. Howie King at, 142.

Morooka River, 225, 231. Agriculture on, 233.

Morpho butterfly. _See_ Butterflies.

_Morpho metellus_, 314.

Mosquitoes, 12, 30, 39, 76, 86, 112-114, 120, 141, 144, 214, 235, 362, 364.

Moths, Hawk, 210. Moon, 210. Owl, 213. Waltzing, 46, 47.

Mountains of Venezuela, 30, _31_.

Mount Everard, 135, 137, 139, _140_, 141. Bête rouge of, 144-146.

Mucka-mucka, 219, 238, 251, 366.

Muricot, 198.

_Mycetes seniculus._ _See_ Monkey, Red Howling.

_Myrmecophaga jubata_, 256, 257.

N.

Negro of British Guiana, _117_, 119.

_Neoponera commutata_, 49.

Nicholson, Mr., 253, 254, 256, 332.

_Notogonia_ sp. _See_ Wasps.

_Nyctobates giganteus._ _See_ Beetles, Bark.

O.

_Odocoileus savannarum._ _See_ Deer, Savanna.

_Odontochila cayennensis._ _See_ Beetles, Tiger.

_Odontochila confusa._ _See_ Beetles, Tiger.

_Odontochila lacordairei._ _See_ Beetles, Tiger.

Opossum, 144, 308, 309.

Orchids, fragrant white, 22, _23_.

Orinoco River, 4.

Orioles, Moriche, 142. Yellow, 121, 127, 129.

Ospreys, 156.

Otter, 163, 281.

P.

Paca, 160, 305.

Paddle-wood, 191, 301, _325_.

Palm sheath, rocking toy, _100_. Covering flower of palm, _102_.

_Papilio polydamus_, 132.

Parauque, 148, 263.

Paria, Gulf of, 5, 75.

Parrakeets, 30.

Parrots, Amazon, Mealy, 174, 201, 233, 234, 235. Blue-headed, flocking of, 157-158. Dusky, 344. Young of, _344_, 345. Yellow fronted, _66_, 135, 146. Eggs of, _67_, 68. Home of, _64_. Island of in Pitch Lake, 62, _63_. Nest of, _65_, 66. Young of, _67_, 68.

_Passiflora laurifolia._ _See_ Passion Flower.

Passion Flower, _272_, 273.

_Paxillus leachii_, 201.

Peccary, common, 160, 170, 233, 255, 256, _347_. White-lipped, 256.

Pe-pe-yo. _See_ Gold Bird.

Perai, 160, 170, 198.

_Peridromia feronia_, 43.

Peripatus, discovery of and description of, 46.

Perseverance Landing, 258.

_Petræa arborea_, 187.

Phosphorescence off coast of British Guiana, 111.

Pickersgill Police Station, 239, 240.

_Pieris monuste_, 375.

Pigmy Owl, 40.

Pipe-fish, 160.

Pipitoori. _See_ Flycatcher, Gray Tody.

_Pistia stratiodes._ _See_ Shell Flower.

Pitch Lake, of Venezuela, 30, _59_, _88_. Daily life at, 94-96. Digging pitch, _90_. Early morning trips to, 55-61. Flora of, 63, 64. History of, 91-92. Jungle railroad to, 55, _56_, 57. Loading cars at, _93_. “Mother” of, _61_, 62, 63.

Plover, 8.

Poc-a-poo, 235.

_Poeciloptera phalaenoides_, 132, 133.

_Polybia_ sp., 299, 300.

Pomeroon River, 234-240.

Pontón. _See_ Guard Ship.

Porcupine Tree, _36_, 37.

Pork-knocker, 187, 188, 256, 258, 287, 288.

Port of Spain, 3, 4. Street life of, 119.

Protective resemblances, 41, 42, 43, 44.

_Pseudaucheniplerus nodosus_, 13.

_Psidium fluviatile_, 263.

_Pterochroya ocellata_, 213.

Puff-fishes, 14, _15_.

Puma, South America, 60, 61.

Purple heart trees, 163.

_Pyrophorus_ sp., 54, 55.

Q.

Quadrille-bird, 188, 309, 310, 321, 330.

Quail, Guiana, 340, 341.

R.

_Racheolopha nivetacta_, 211.

Rail, Cayenne Wood, 378.

Robins, White-breasted, 116. White-throated, 322, _323_, 324, 340.

_Rhyncophorus palmatum._ _See_ Weevil.

Rodway, James, 123, 132.

S.

Salapenta, 146.

Saman Trees, 132, 142.

Sandpipers, 8. Solitary, 263. Spotted, 58, 156.

Sapadillo, 121, 127.

Scarlet Ibis, 7, 8, 81, 153, 154, 155.

Scorpion, _39_, 46. Battle with Caterpillar, 291, _292_. Whip, 189, 190.

Screamer, Horned, 381.

Sea-cows. _See_ Manatee.

Seedeaters, 60, 142. Blue-backed, 171.

_Semiotus ligneus_, 192.

Serenades, by negroes from Pitch Lake, 100, 101.

_Serrasalmo scapularis_, 160.

Shell Flower, 218.

Shypook. _See_ Heron, Guiana Green.

Silk Cotton Trees, 163.

Sigh heard in the Mangrove forest and explanation of, 26.

Simitú, _272_, 273.

Skimmers, 8, 135, 148.

Sloop, Anchored in Guanoco River, _72_. At La Ceiba, _18_. Description of, 3, 71. Description of crew of, 77. Entering Mangroves, _5_. First night on board, 72-75. Loss of, 108. Saying good-by to, 93.

Sloths, 37, 61, 170, 246. Three-toed, 279, _280_, _281_.

Snake-birds, 30, 137, 251, 252, 354.

_Sphingurus prehensilis_, _36_, 37.

Spider lilies. _See_ Lilies.

Spider, Pedipalp. _See_ Scorpion.

Sproston, 248.

Squirrels, Orange and gray, 24.

_Stagmomantis hoorie._ _See_ Mantis.

_Stomolophus meleagris_, 4.

Stork, Maguari, 155, 156.

Sugarcane, experimented on in Botanical Gardens, 131.

Sun-bittern, _25_, 60, 86.

Suddie, _243_.

Swallows, Banded, 162, 175, 176, 200, 265, 379. Barn, 247, 379. Emerald and white, 24. Red-breasted, 379. Tree, 379. Variegated, 247, 265, 378, 379, 381.

Swift, Feather-toed, 144. Nest of, 143, 176. Gray-rumped, 289, 292. Palm, 56.

T.

Tacuba, 269, 279.

Taliput palm, 125, _128_.

_Tamandua tetradactyla._ _See_ Anteater, Lesser.

Tanager, Black-faced, 131. Blue, 127, 139, 142, 171. Magpie, 138, 139. Palm, 37, 116, 139, 142, 144, _147_, 171. Silver-beak, 116, 139, 171, 240, 292.

Tapakuma, Lake, 241. River, 240, 241.

Tarantulas, 100, 101, 199, 215, 218, 219, 265.

Tapir, 144, 255.

Tarpon, 379.

Tayras, 321.

Tegu Lizard, 24, 146.

_Teius nigropunctatus._ _See_ Tegu Lizard.

Temperature, of Hoorie, 170. Of Mangrove Forest of Venezuela, 12.

Tern, Great-billed, 154, 378. Least, 378. Yellow-billed, 8.

_Testudo tabulata._ _See_ Tortoise, South American.

Thrush, Black-capped Mocking, 40, 376.

_Thysania agrippina._ _See_ Moth, Moon.

Thurn, Everard F. im. _See_ im Thurn.

Tiger Bittern, 282.

Tiger, Warracabra, 381.

Tinamou, Great Blue, Description of, 48. Discovery of nest and eggs of, _47_, 48. Guiana Crested, 318, 319. Little, 330.

Tityra, Black-tailed, 177, 179.

Toads, of Georgetown, 122, _123_. Telegraph, 238. Tree, music of, 161.

Tortoise, South American, 297, 298.

Toua-toua. _See_ Grosbeak, Brown-breasted Pigmy.

Toucans, 30, 158. As food, 328. Black-banded Aracari, 174. Feeding of, 327, 328. Red-billed, 174, 268, 326, 327. Red-breasted, 175. Sulphur- and White-breasted, 174.

Trapping birds, 125-129.

Tree-hopper, 213.

Trinidad, 3, 4.

Trogon, Yellow-bellied, 250, 269.

Trumpeters, 60, _117_, 179, 255, 256, 330-332, 338.

Twa-twa. _See_ Grosbeak, Thick-billed Pigmy.

Tyrantlet, Buff-tailed, 313.

V.

Vampires, 227, 258, 263, 269, 277.

_Victoria regia_, 116, 123, _124_, 129.

Vinton, Mr. and Mrs. Lindley, 350, 385.

Vireo, Brown-throated, 322.

Vulture, Black, 112, 121. King, 137. Orange-headed, 292, 321, 383.

W.

Waini River, 153, 154, 158, 160.

Walking Sticks, 289, _290_.

Warracabra. _See_ Trumpeter.

Wasps, 24, 25, 40. Nests of, 131. _Notogonia_, 347. Protection of Cassiques by, 34, 35.

Water-haas. _See_ Capybara.

Water Hyacinth, 218.

Water Lemon. _See_ Simitú.

Weevils, Palm, 45.

Welcome of Wilderness, 88-90.

“Whó-are-yoú?”, 383.

Wilderness, early morning in, _346_.

Wilshire, Mr. Gaylord, x, 134, _182_, 227, 305. Mrs. Gaylord, x, 134, 215, 275.

Witch Birds. _See_ Anis.

Withers, Mr., house of at Bartica, 246-248.

Wood Ibis, 353, 381.

Woodhewers, 131, 194, 220, 246, 284, 303, 304, 322, 348. Accompanying hunting ants, 49. Cinnamon spine-tail, 304, 379. Clinging to trunk of tree, _50_. Music of, 161, 193. Wedge-billed Pigmy, 339, 340.

Woodpeckers, 30. Guiana Ivory-bill, 200, 201. Red-crested, 48, 292, 311, 312, 313. Yellow, 40, _41_.

Wren, Guiana House, 112, 120, 142, 247, 307, 308, 379. Jungle, 340. Marsh, 324. Necklaced Jungle. _See_ Quadrille-bird.

Z.

_Zaevius calocore_, 212.

Transcriber’s Note: The music files are the music transcriber’s interpretation of the printed notation and are placed in the public domain.