Results of a Visit to South Guyana. 157 



the majestic mirity-palms on the opposite border. We saw 

 them breeding in holes in these high stems, the breeding 

 bird being readily detected from afar by its enormous tail, 

 for which the hole naturally does not offer sufficient room. A 

 large number of Parrots and Parraquets were also breeding 

 in similar places, the former, like the Araras, in the hollows 

 of tbe palm-stems, the latter mostly in burrows in the white- 

 ants' nests. Storks, Herons, Kingfishers, and Cormorants en- 

 livened the vegetation in a wonderful and surprising manner. 

 Besides these aquatic birds, there were an incredible number 

 of Hoatzins, Pigeons, and smaller birds of different kinds, 

 while the Howlers and Squirrel-monkeys looked atourcauoes 

 with astonishment. In less than an hour we had a famous 

 collection, and it was by no means easy to select what ought 

 to be saved for science, and what could be delivered up 

 to the cook. For the first purpose I chose, after some 

 reflection, five specimens of Agamia agami, a magnificent 

 Heron closely allied to our European Ardea 'purpurea, but 

 even more richly coloured, and especially remarkable for its 

 wonderful neck-feathers and its enormously long bill. We 

 had among the specimens of this species three adult males, one 

 female, and one young male— all shot in a quarter of an hour ! 

 I selected also two fine individuals of Plotus anhinga, which 

 showed interesting changes of plumage, some oi Phalacrocorax 

 brasilianus, and two or three of Galbula viridis, which I 

 found perched in confidence near the primitive cottage of a 

 pirarucu-fisherman. Several of the blue Araras and various 

 good aquatic birds had been stolen by the alligators, which 

 inhabited the idyllic lake in enormous numbers. Till very 

 late in the night all our people who were able to aid in the 

 taxidermic service were fully occupied. As a certain number 

 of skins remained unfinished, we made an experiment with 

 salicylic acid applied on the fleshy parts of wings and legs, 

 and it may be said with excellent results. All these skins 

 arrived perfectly sound the next day in Counany, and were 

 finished at leisure on the 19th and 20th October. 



Striking is the difference in the cry oi Rhamphastos erythro- 

 rhynchus compared with that of R. ariel and R. discolorus. 



