RECOLLECTIONS O'F BRAZIL'. 303 



of the tree frogs, the monotonous chirp of the grasshoppers and 

 locusts. When the rising sun has dispelled the mists which pre- 

 ceded it, all creatures rejoice in the return of day : the wasps leave 

 their long nests, that hang dovtfn from the branches ; the ants issue 

 from their curious dwellings ; the gay butterflies, rivalling in splen- 

 dour the gorgeous rainbow, are seen fluttering from flower to flower ; 

 myriads of the most brilliant beetles buzz in the air, and sparkle like 

 jewels on the fresh green leaves. Meantime agile lizards, remark- 

 able for their form, size, and brilliant colours, dark-coloured ser- 

 pents, which excel in splendour the enamel of the flowers, glide out 

 of the hollows of trees, and creeping up the stems, bask in the 

 morning sun, and lie in wait for insects and birds. From this 

 moment all is life and activity ; squirrels, troops of monkeys, leap, 

 whistling and chattering, from tree to tree ; the green, blue, and red 

 parrots fill the air with their screams ; birds of the most gorgeous 

 plumage, flutter singly, or in companies, through the fragrant bushes, 

 and the beautiful toneau rattles with his hollow bill, and in loud 

 plaintive notes, calls for rain. 



But the sun has now attained its meredian height, and all the 

 denizens of the woods seek the balmy repose of the siesta ; an 

 appalling silence succeeds to the previous charivari undisturbed by 

 the sight or voice of living thing save one, which adds to the solemn 

 impression.- Among the highest trees, and in the deepest recesses of 

 the forests, a sound is heard that strikes you as something super- 

 natural the sound is metallic, sometimes resembling the distant 

 tolling of a convent bell. This extraordinary noise proceeds from 

 the arapunga (solitary bird), a small white bird, about the size of a 

 pigeon ; but which, though constantly heard, is seldom seen. About 

 two hours past noon, the busy orioles creep out of their long nests, 

 to visit the orange trees ; the fly-catchers, sitting aloof, watching for 

 insects, dart from the tree with rapid flight on their prey. Above all 

 these strange sounds, the joyous notes of the nightingale breaks 

 with sweet effect on the ear, while the woodpecker makes the distant 

 forests resound, while he pecks the bark from the tree. Thus every 

 living creature, by its action and voice, greets the splendour of the 

 day ; the delicate humming birds, rivalling in beauty and lustre the 

 diadems of monarchs, hover round the brightest flowers. But now 

 sinks the sun 



" Not as in northern climes, obscurely bright^ 



But in one blaze of living light. 



With dirk-like bottle, target red, 



He rushes to his ocean bed, 



Ploughs the broad wave with sudden light, 



Then sinks at once, and all is night !** 



No curfew, in the woods, tolls the hour of parting day ; but the 

 period is announced by a very simple and beautiful circumstance: 

 amid the solemn stillness, the soft repose that marks the decline of 

 day, the ave-maria beetle, with its silver wings, issues forth, and pro- 

 claims the hour of vespers, by winding his silver horn. The Brazilian 

 hunter looks upon this insect as the herald of the Virgin, sent to 



