A AATURALISTS AUTES OX A TRIP UP TILE ORINOCO 385 



the eggs can be seen from below 

 through the ineslies. The nest is always 

 buih over the wnlcr. usually within 

 lour or live feet of the surfaee. But in 

 spite of being so placed, it may never- 

 theless l)e ill the top ol' a tree on sub- 

 merged laud, and should the waters 

 subside, would be fifty or sixty feet from 

 the ground. Within twenty-four hours 

 after the eggs are hatched the young 

 leave the nest, dropping into the water 

 at the least alarm. Although they are 

 tiny birds, they swiiu and dive wonder- 

 fullv wclK continuing this semi-aquatic 

 life until they are about one third 

 grown and tlu'ir feathers begin to ap- 

 pear; just when they cease this practice 

 I do not know. If I sat quietly in my 

 canoe, after startling a young bird from 

 the nest, I would presently see it emerge 

 from the water and creep up the branch 

 on which the nest was placed ; if undis- 

 turbed it would go into the nest and 

 settle down, but if again alarmed, it 

 would swim under the water to the pro- 

 tection of thickly growing twigs or drift 

 where, thrusting only the head above 

 the surface, it might breathe and watch 

 the enemy. The adults never go into 

 the water. This may be on account of 

 their heavy plumage, which if wet 

 would make getting about very difficult. 

 In color they are reddish brown with a 

 yellowish crest, giving them somewhat 

 the appearance of a peafowl. The body 

 is as large as that of a crow. They have 

 a strong musky odor which may ac- 

 count for their common English name, 

 "stink pheasant." The carpal claw per- 

 sists in the adult bird, but it is so small 

 that it can hardly be said to be func- 

 tional. 



In the tree top islands we frequently 

 found wood rats and mice concealed in 

 natural cavities or occupying deserted 

 birds' nests. During the dry season 

 these animals are mainly terrestrial in 

 their habits. The fact of their living 

 in the tree tops during the rainy season 

 merely shows their power of adaptation 

 to a changed environment. A good 



many of the wood rats found in this 

 region have the hair on the upper parts 

 very stiff and harsh, in some cases de- 

 veloped into sharp spines. I believe 

 they feed entirely on vegetable matter 

 — fruits, buds, and leaves— and they 

 lack the disagreeable odor of the house 

 mice and rats. Consequently, we were 

 not surprised to find that many of the 

 natives consider their flesh, which is 

 white and tender, very good eating— an 

 opinion in which we concurred after a 

 trial. 



Another rodent esteemed for its flesh 

 is the capybara or "water-hog." As the 

 English name would indicate, it is al- 

 ways found near the water, making its 

 home amid the reeds or in the thickets 

 of marsh or swamp. During the day it 

 is usually wary and shy, but in the dusk 

 of the evening, or on moonlight nights, 

 numbers may be seen disporting them- 

 selves along the sandy beaches or play- 

 ing in the water. When hunted, the 

 capybara frequently attempts to escape 

 by swimming or making long dives. A 

 full-grown animal weighs from one 

 hundred and fifty to two hundred 

 pounds — it is the largest of living ro- 

 dents. Like the wood rat, its food is 

 exclusively vegetable. The flesh is fre- 

 quently cut into narrow strips by the 

 natives, salted, and sun-dried for fu- 

 ture use. 



During our journeying on the Ori- 

 noco, we found it always unwise to go 

 into the water for a swim on account of 

 the man-eating fish, the caribe. When 

 we were collecting, it often happened 

 that shore birds and other specimens 

 fell wounded into the water. These 

 were immediately attacked by the vora- 

 cious fishes, and in an incredibly short 

 space of time were completely torn to 

 bits. One of Mrs. Cherrie's chief pas- 

 times was to fish for these caribe. Tak- 

 ing a line Avith a bit of rag for bait, 

 she would throw it out as far as she 

 could and immediately draw it back. 

 Fimr times out of five there would be 

 a caribe on the hook. One does not dare 



