THE PURPLE-CEESTED HUMMING-BIRD. 83 



bird is to be seen in the West Indian 

 Islands, as well as in Guiana. 



The forests of Guiana swarm with birds 

 of every hue and tint. Crowds of little 

 creatures, some of them no bigger than a 

 Wren, but clad in brilliant colours, fly 

 about in troops, to seek for insects on the 

 leaves and branches of the trees. These 

 are the Manakins. They have a low 

 sweet note, uttered from time to time as 

 they hop about. 



Then there is a bird like the Mockinof- 

 Bird, dressed in black and yellow, that 

 makes all kinds of curious noises. What- 

 ever bird happens to be singing, it w^ill 

 mimic him, and sing almost as well, so 

 that there appears to be a succession of 

 birds. Now you hear the cry of the 

 Toucan, now the hammering of the Wood- 

 pecker. If even a dog bark, the sound 

 will be mimicked ! 



