96 TROPICAL WILD LIFE IN BRITISH GUIANA 



The phenomena was more comphcated than at first ap- 

 peared, for it was not always a mere gradual assembling of 

 birds at some favorite roost, where one b}^ one they arrived, 

 selected a percli and put tlieir heads under their wings. This 

 is the habit of the English sparrow, in New York City, 

 where some maple tree may become the nightly roosting 

 place of manj^ hundreds. After the breeding season is past 

 the giant caciques approached most closely to some such 

 method. They fed singly during the day, but even toward 

 afternoon the individual showed no gradual sign of ceasing 

 to feed, or thouglit of roost, until, without warning, the bird 

 suddenly took to flight and, following a direct line, set out 

 for the distant mango tree or clump of bamboo. As he flew, 

 another and even a third bird would probably come in sight, 

 headed for the same point, but there was never any recogni- 

 tion or efl'ort to turn aside to join the fellow species. Singly 

 the great black and green birds came in, and singly they 

 settled to roost on the swaying bamboos, whose smooth stems 

 precluded attack from any terrestrial creature, and whose 

 proximity to the clearing and human habitation eliminated 

 the other dangers to which they would be exposed in a jungle 

 tree. An interesting detail was the wariness of these giant 

 orioles in the day time. Kxcept during their nesting season 

 it was very difficult to approacli witliin gunshot. But as 

 dusk settled do^\ii, other emotions — the anxiety for a safe 

 roost, the tempered desire for the companionship of their 

 own fellows during the long tropical nights — these increased, 

 and gradually inhi])ited the fear of man to such an extent 

 that the birds choose a roost at his very doors. 



Another point of interest in the evening gathering of 

 the clan of giant caciques was the derivation of the various 

 members. As well as I coidd determine, about a score of 

 birds gathered every night. It was an easy matter to watch 

 them come in, as they were visible a considerable distance 

 away, and from their size and flight not to be confused with 

 any other species. Most came from up the shore, three or 



