58 
birds, finding the danger impending, sought for safety in the higher 
regions of the atmosphere, and it was in their gyrations to obtam a 
suitable elevation that their gracefulness and beauty were particu- 
larly remarkable. I am not acquainted with any Hawk which soars 
to such a height as the Nauclerus. I have seen them over the river 
Pomeroon, at an elevation so great as to be scarcely visible. 
The whole of the next group, nine in number, with the exception 
of three, are birds which frequent the extensive abandoned fields near 
the sea and the courida trees (Avicenna nitida et tomentosa), which 
form a narrow belt of vegetation along the coast, between the sea and 
the high roads. These fields, which were for the most part formerly 
in cotton, are often inundated, either from imperfect drainage of bush- 
water, or the incursion of the sea, which, since the British people 
commenced to make us pay the penalty of having had slaves, is fast 
resuming its ancient dominion, from whence it was dammed out by 
our Dutch predecessors. Over these fields may be seen hunting with 
indefatigable industry the first two of the group; viz. 
The Brown-BACKED HaARRIER, and 
The Lone AND SLENDER-LEGGED BuzzaARD. 
They search every bush, destroying old and young alike, snatch 
up the little grass-finches, and in fact are a most dreadful scourge 
to the feathered inhabitants of these woe-begone and miserable look- 
ing swamps, remembrances of our former glory and shame. The 
next is 
The Curstnut HarrieEr. 
A very rare bird, which was shot while flying over the Mahaica 
creek. Nothing whatever is known of its habits, but from its struc- 
ture they must be similar to those of the two former. 
The Larce Sra-FrisH1nG Hawk. 
The coasts of Demerara, it may not be unnecessary to inform the 
English reader, are bound by vast mud-flats, which at high tide are 
covered by the sea. At dead low tide the water-mark is, at many 
parts of the coast, not visible. It is on the courida trees which bor- 
der the coast landward that the Large Sea-fisher may be seen waiting 
patiently for the influx of the tide, which brings with it his food. At 
about half-tide he begins to bestir himself, and as there is always an 
abundance of fish brought up by the water, he soon captures as much 
mullet and other such-like coast-fish as gratifies his hunger. The 
Sea-fisher fishes on the hover from a considerable height, pouncing 
down vertically on its prey. The next is 
The Birp Haws, 
With striated chestnut belly, which does not hunt on the wing, but 
sights its prey, small birds, from the perch, generally a courida tree. 
It builds a nest of dry sticks upon these trees. The next is 
