Birds of British Guiana. 559 



appearance of the young being very marked. Mr. Jenman, 

 the Director of the Gardens^ is much interested iu wild 

 animals of all kinds. Tl e '' Scissors-tail '' {Milvulus tyrannus) 

 is sometimes found in the vicinity of Georgetown. 



The black-headed " Carrion- Crow ^' {Cathartes atratus) is 

 one of the commonest birds, both iu and around Georgetown, 

 and may be seen circling around in the blue sky high over- 

 head, or perched on the roofs of the houses and markets, and 

 even in the streets, where it will act the part of a scavenger. 

 For this reason these birds are protected by law, though at 

 the present time tlie sanitary arrangements of Georgetown 

 are so good that their occupation has to a great extent 

 disappeared; nevertheless the law with regard to their 

 preservation has not been repealed. The extensive pastures 

 (the word is used out here to denote the large tracts of more 

 or less marshy ground, in which herds of cattle feed) form a 

 happy hunting-ground for the ''Crows," which soon espy a 

 dead animal and immediately flock to the banquet. Having 

 gorged themselves, they rest either on the carcass or on the 

 ground beside it. I have seen as many as forty of them 

 round one animal, many squatting on the grass, like our 

 domestic Duck at home after he has had a good meal. To 

 dissect one of these birds is anything but a pleasant occupa- 

 tion, and the skins retain a most disagreeable smell for 

 months after they have been prepared. Another " Crow " 

 (^Cathartes urubitinga) , with a bare yellowish head, is also 

 found in the colony, and is generally seen singly or in 

 pairs, sweeping with graceful motions, at no great distance 

 from the ground. I have never noticed it in company, or 

 feeding with the other " Crow." 



The Herons and their allies are fairly well represented in 

 British Guiana, the Abary and Maharcony Creeks being 

 among their favourite haunts. The pastures are frequented 

 by Ardea ccerulea, both in the greyish -blue and white stages 

 of plumage. In the latter stage there is always more or less 

 of the greyish-blue colour present, generally at the tips of 

 the chief primaries. I noticed that the greyish-blue birds 

 were more difficult to approach than the rest. I saw one or 



