ANIMAL KINGDOM. 93 



Ingas. Although gregarious, they are much attached indi- 

 vidually, and when one of a pair has been killed, the other will, 

 for several days, haunt the neighbourhood — perching on the 

 summit of some tree — and almost incessantly call for its departed 

 mate. Another kind, known as the seven-coloured Paroquet 

 (Psittacula Batavica), is met with everywhere in the island : it 

 lives upon insects and the fruits of the Clusia, generally builds 

 in the nests of the Termites, and lays from six to ten eggs. 

 This beautiful bird has never been tamed so as to live in a cage ; 

 when taken it refuses food, and consequently dies in a few days. 

 The Ara, though tough, and therefore discarded from the table, 

 is prized as a domestic favourite for its gorgeous plumage ; but 

 the Parrot and Paroquet, when young, are much esteemed for 

 the delicacy of their flesh. 



Gallinacece. — This order is remarkable for furnishing man, 

 here as in other countries, with an abundance of excellent game. 

 At their head is to be placed the Pauji or Yacou (Penelope), as 

 the largest gallinacean to be found in Trinidad ; it is of the size 

 of a large domestic fowl, and is very choice fare. It lives gene- 

 rally upon berries, and is very stupid; so much so that, if several 

 are met with together, they can be shot in succession, as they do 

 not fly, even after their companions have been killed. They are 

 easily tamed. 



Next to the Yacou come the Speckled Ramier (Columba 

 speciosa), and the Mangrove Ramier (Columba rufina), both of 

 the size of a pigeon. The latter generally seeks its food in the 

 fruits of shrubs, and often on the ground; the other on larger 

 trees, and seldom alights lower. Next to these may be men- 

 tioned eight kinds of doves, of which four only are known here 

 as such, whilst the others are designated by the names of par- 

 tridge and ortolans : the former are chiefly distinguished from 

 the latter by their superior size. In general they prefer cool 

 localities, such as the banks of rivers, particularly as they are 

 fond of bathing, and of drinking pure limpid water. The 

 ortolans are smaller, and their habits somewhat different. The 

 Blue Ortolan (Perhtera cinered) is a beautiful bird, of an ashy 

 blue colour, spotted with black : it is not so common as the 

 other, and prefers the high woods. The Red Ortolan, or Ground 

 Dove (Ckamapelia rufipennis), is of a reddish-brown colour, 

 barred with black ; another species is the smallest, and is found 



