NATURALIST IN BRAZIL 



brilliant tones. These colours are concealed by the sitting bird, 

 and only the back is visible when the bird is on the nest. 



If the animals are to be brought into prominence by recognition- 

 marks, these must contrast with the colour of the creature's natural 

 environment. Such colours are like the high-lights which the artist 

 puts in a picture, in order to give emphasis to the general tone. 

 Now, we have seen that tropical Nature is more brightly illuminated 

 than the European landscape; and the colours of the birds and 

 insects emphasize its brilliance. While in our twilit beechwoods the 

 Clouded Yellow butterfly may flit past, followed by the light yellow 

 Fritillary, we find in the glittering tropical forest a preference for 

 deep or even quite dark colours. I have already spoken of such 

 dignified hues seen against dark backgrounds. Some of the birds 

 of prey are black, like the Urubus or the handsome Caua Buzzard, 

 and so are the Muturus ; and the black of these forest fowl is 

 emphasized by the red or yellow beak. In like manner the red, 

 white or yellow heads of the Pipridae stand out in relief from the 

 satin-black body, as does the red shoulder of the Soldado or the 

 golden-yellow rump of the Checheou. This glossy black offers a 

 splendid and conspicuous contrast to the sunlit glitter of the forest 

 through which the birds fly. 



The butterflies of Brazil are the counterparts of the birds. They 

 too are children of the sun, and live their lives in the light of day. 

 They seek their food in the nectaries of scented blossoms, and in 

 amorous play the male and female flit through the flower-bedecked 

 landscape. 



There are few living creatures of such striking beauty as the 

 butterflies of Brazil. Even by reason of their size, which is often 

 many times that of our European species, they seem like children 

 of the sun, with glossy silk or satin pinions, and in the larger species 

 their flight is an exquisite libration. A blue Morpho shines in the 

 virgin forest as though it had come direct from the heavens. Other 

 forms of this species have black borders to their blue wings, as, for 

 example, the Bahia Morpho, which I used to admire in Pernam- 

 buco. In the Papilio group, to which the European Swallowtail 

 belongs, the ground hue, in Brazil as in India, is usually black. 

 The Sesostris has sheer satin-black wings with one emerald spot on 

 each fore-wing, while the female has fiery red marginal spots on the 

 hind-wings. The Agavus of Rio and the Hcctorides of South Brazil 

 216 



