378 TIUNIDAD. 



consequence of a certain cockroachy flavour, which is the reverse 

 of tempting, I have, for a long time, discarded that dish. 



There is, however, in this island a bird which verifies the 

 proverb, u All is good that is rare "^this is the yacou, or pajui. 

 With all the good qualities of the pheasant, it possesses besides 

 the advantage of being far more juicy ; and any one who has 

 once been treated to this truly recherche gallinacean, only regrets 

 that it is not more plentiful. Thus, some species cause us to 

 unmindful of that in which they are all deficient, viz., flavour 

 Whatever be their defects, however, the main deficiency is ths 

 they are not prepared by some Vatel ; for, when in Europe th( 

 praise the snipe, they really mean that they have good cooks. 



Note and Song. 



It is well known that song is the heritage of the birds of the 

 north ; whilst under our brazen sky, the beauty and richness of 

 plumage replace the melodious notes of the nightingale. True, 

 the ear is not greeted by notes warbled in simple trills, or in f ul 

 toned cadences : but the eye cannot be satiated with admiri 

 those colours, the variety of which can alone vie with their vivi 

 ness. The form itself seems to have been sacrificed, and Nature 

 efforts concentrated in painting the plumage of our birds with 

 the prism's hues. None of them possess the slimness of the 

 wagtail, the fairiness of the titmouse, or the grace of the f auvette ; 

 there is no charm in their movement, none in their flight : and 

 nothing in them recalls to the mind the skylark hovering on 

 high above its nest. Every gift has been lavished on the 

 gorgeous attire, the brilliant plumes of which often add som 

 what more of distinctiveness to our birds. The tufted hummin 

 bird, besides the tuft, wears on each side of the head slende 

 feathers, maculated at their extremity with spangles of the 

 brightest emerald. The heron-agami can, at pleasure, erect its 

 long neck so as to display those fine, long, and narrow blue 

 feathers which, in their crescent-like layers, present an admirable 

 ensemble. Even when we direct our attention to the bin 

 inhabiting Asia, Africa, or Australia, and which unite singulari 

 to their richness of plumage, we find that ours have somethi 

 markedly distinctive, whenever a comparison is instituted betw 

 them and birds of metallic hue. Everywhere else there is so 

 really metallic reflection of the plumage, whilst here there is 



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