MIMICS AMONG BIRDS 219 



stillness, his cheerful tones ring through the silent 

 forest. One hears the notes, and then there is a 

 minute's pause; again, the bell-like sound, then an- 

 other interval of silence; a third time this takes 

 place, when after a pause of six or eight minutes, 

 the song bursts out afresh. Acteon would turn 

 from the wildest chase, Marie cease her evening 

 hymn, — ay! Orpheus, himself, would forego his 

 lute to hear this bird — so full, so fresh, and so ro- 

 mantic is the ring of his melodius song." 



The bell-birds of Guiana and Brazil have not 

 only the gift of speech, but marvellously developed 

 ventriloquistic powers as well. They are rarely seen 

 in the wild state because they frequent the tops of 

 the highest trees, and at this giddy height their 

 snow-white plumage and transparent wings render 

 them almost invisible. One may stand beneath the 

 tree on which the ventriloquist is located without 

 even suspecting that the distant bell-like tinkles, so 

 modulated with regard to the intervals as to pro- 

 duce the most wonderful melody, are being pro- 

 duced right overhead. 



The sandpipers practise most interesting protec- 

 tive acts of deception. Startle a sandpiper from 

 her nest and she reels and stumbles before you, 

 while her mate in the distance encourages her acting. 



