in North-eastern Brazil. 337 



the coast to Quipapa and Vista Alegre in the interior. The 

 adult males may often be seen singly, and they have a pecu- 

 liar habit of selecting some particular twig on a bush or small 

 tree as a pet perch. Here they sit for a long time, twittering 

 out a little song of a few notes, and then jumping vertically 

 up some little way in the air, and, turning a somersault, 

 alighting in the same place. I have watched them on several 

 occasions repeat this performance a number of times conse- 

 cutively, continuing, in fact, till they were disturbed. They 

 would then fly off to some other place, and go on with their 

 performance. The females and young birds are brown, and 

 these seem to be more sociable, going about in small flocks. 

 The Brazilians call the bird '' Saltado." 

 The eyes are brown. 



35. Paroaria larvata. 



The Red-headed Cardinal I found common at Parahyba, 

 and again saw it in the neighbourhood of Garanhuns, so that 

 it occurs all over the district I traversed. It is usually seen 

 singly or in pairs in the more or less cleared and open 

 ground near cultivation. Many dozens are brought into the 

 market at Recife to sell as cage-birds. 



The Brazilians call it " Gallo do campina.""^ 



^ 36. ZoNOTRICHTA PILEATA. 



This bird marks the approach of the traveller, as I have 

 already mentioned, to the Sertoes of the interior. I never 

 once saw it on the coast, or anywhere in the " matto " zone, 

 though on passing Canotinho and getting on to the sandy 

 soil of the interior, it almost at once becomes abundant. 

 Round Garanhuns it was very common, hopping about the 

 highroads, often two or three together, and very tame. 



The Brazilian name is '' Salta Caminho," or " Road- 

 Hopper." 



37. COTURNICULUS MANIMBE. 



I only got this bird at Caxanga, where it seemed rather 

 common, frequenting the heaps of rubbish left near the rail- 

 way station. 

 S~/ Eyes brown. 



