THE SCAVENGERS OF THE SHORE 



baras, the long-haired "water-pigs" of Brazil (Fig. 33), had 

 trodden a path. Now the scaffolding of the mangrove-roots closed 

 in on either side, and it grew darker on the water. From time to 

 time a flight of bats flew by, of a species which has taken to catching 

 fish for its livelihood ; flitting with a soundless flutter of wings over 

 the stream, and settling on a tree-trunk that slanted over the water. 

 Along the shore two or three "Martin-fishers" accompanied us, flying 

 up when the canoe approached them, with a flashing of blue-grey 

 plumage, and alighting again ahead of us, with their long beaks 

 pointing towards the water. Once, too, I caught sight of the Great 

 Kingfisher, in his light-grey plumage and white collar, the head- 

 feathers ruffling in the breeze. 



Bemtevis flew along the shore, perched on a projecting twig, 

 and looked at us inquisitively from eyes that were set in a black 

 stripe, which gave brilliance to the white band above them. From 

 a bough outstretching far over the water the long, woven, pouch-like 

 nest of the Checheou hung suspended. And now the call of the 

 bird itself was heard : a call of beautiful, flute-like notes, which 

 suddenly gave way to hoarse, guttural tones. Now the bird was 

 silent, and the Crested Oriole, almost as large as a jackdaw, flew 

 over the water, the yellow rump gleaming golden. Slowly a Morpho 

 butterfly came floating through the forest on its silken-blue, black- 

 bordered wings. Suddenly one of the mulattoes pointed to the top 

 of a tree, and there, sure enough, stiff and motionless as though 

 hewn out of stone, was a grey beast as big as a cat, its long, black- 

 banded tail wound half-way round the bough on which it lay. 

 A serrated crest ran along its back, and a long pouch hung from 

 its throat. It was the great Brazilian tree-lizard, the Leguan, which 

 the Brazilians call the Chameleao. Unfortunately I could not 

 prevent the men with me from firing at it. After the shot all was 

 at first still; then, gradually, the hind feet loosened their hold, 

 the long tail dropped, the forefeet relaxed their grip, and with a 

 thud and a splash the creature fell heavily to the wet ground. 



It was not long before another great tropical reptile showed 

 itself. I saw it in the distance, lying on a sandbank like a weathered 

 tree-trunk; then suddenly the creature slid into the water. It was 

 a caiman, a crocodile, which the Brazilians call the Jacare. And 

 quick as lightning another caiman shot into the stream from the 

 opposite side. We noted the position of one of these creatures, a 

 splendid specimen, twelve or fourteen feet in length, which is large 

 for a Brazilian crocodile, and sure enough, on the way back, as we 



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