232 MR. SPRUCE’S EXCURSION ON THE AMAZON. 
do Mato, &e. The sandy summits of the hills are much burrowed by 
the Cutía. Of monkeys we heard and saw plenty, especially Coatás. 
Among the birds are the Gallo de Serra and the Mutún, the latter 
much resembling a turkey. In the forest, west of the cachoeiras, we 
had the satisfaction of listening for some time to a curious little bird 
called. Uyerapurá, respecting which marvellous tales had been told us 
as we ascended the Trombétas, and especially that “it played all 
manner of tunes, for all the world like a musical snuff-box!" Its 
notes are certainly exceedingly sweet and clear, and as accurately 
modulated as those of any musical instrument: to my ear they most 
resembled the tones of an instrument [ have seen in England, con- 
sisting of strips of glass suspended across two pieces of tape, and 
beaten by cork plectra ;—if I mistake not, it is called an harmonicon. 
They are also considerably varied; after singing one set of notes 
perhaps twenty times over, with intervals between the repetitions, the 
bird will suddenly change to another set, and continue them for an 
equal space of time. Supposing it to commence in the key of do, it 
frequently changes to that of sol, and nearly always ends on s. The 
following passage often occurred: Ete which, it 
sy 
will be observed, contains every note in the scale. The songster itself 
is said to be of most insignificant appearance, and not to exceed in size 
some of the humming-birds. We were not, however, favoured with 
a sight of it, and we were afraid to move towards it, lest our rustling 
among the bushes should dissolve the spell, for certainly the sound 
seemed to come from fairy-land rather than to belong to this earth. 
We were informed—whether truly, I know not—that the wyerapuri 
is unknown except at the cachoeiras of the Aripecurá. 
We found a beautiful frog among moist shady rocks and tree-roots. 
It had the belly and legs of the deepest indigo-blue, the back black, 
with a green band on each side, commencing at the nose, and running 
the whole length of the body, and the toes were papillate. 
(To be continued.) 
