A NATURALIST IN THE GUIANAS 



CHAPTER XVI 



Colonies of hang-nests — We push on to Am^ha — The tapir — Accident to 

 the large boat — First sight of Amdha —Insects and a bright light — We 

 kill another tapir — Iguanas — Amdha. 



When we awoke in the morning the same sort of 

 weather prevailed. Arawa was completely hidden by 

 clouds, so that nothing could be done by Jacobson in the 

 way of taking photographs. With the exception of one 

 stretch where the current is strong, we found the river 

 easy for navigation. Whole flocks of penelopes were on 

 the open rocks, but in such places it was difficult to get 

 within range. On landing on some of these rocks I saw 

 a good many small slugs in the crevices and under the 

 loose stones scattered about. Perhaps the penelopes feed 

 on these slugs, and that would account for their visits to 

 places which would otherwise appear to offer no attraction 

 for such birds. The trees on the islands were in many 

 instances used by colonies of hang-nests, who were rearing 

 their yoimg at the time of om' visit. In fact, some of 

 the trees were literally covered with nests placed so close 

 together that it would be impossible to find room for an 

 additional one. The biggest colonies were those of the 

 yellow cassique {Gassicus alhirostris) and the scarlet- 

 backed cassique (Gassicus hcemorrJious) . It is a curious 

 fact that these birds almost always hang their nests in 

 close proximity to the hives of the marabunta. There 

 must be some understanding between the birds and these 



