A HUNT FOR HOATZINS 115 



in language and ideas perhaps, but not, in one 

 case at least, at the expense of purity of facial 

 lineament of race. 



As I have said, success with the hoatzins came 

 swiftly and completely. We had discovered a 

 few nests with young birds of just the right age 

 and in positions which left nothing to be de- 

 sired. Yet when a jovial Scotch manager came 

 with news that one of his coolies knew of col- 

 onies of hundreds of breeding anaquas, we 

 decided to take the whole of the proverbial cake 

 instead of being satisfied with our generous 

 slice. So we made all preparations and left 

 Colony House early one morning. 



To be equal to the occasion we went in full 

 force, with two servants, an Indian and a black, 

 and an automobile full of duffle, guns, nets to 

 catch the young birds, glasses, notebooks, game- 

 bags, and ropes. As usual it poured in torrents 

 at daybreak but cleared somewhat as we started. 

 A reckless Creole driver hurled our tiny Ford 

 through deep puddles and around corners, and 

 we rocked and skidded and splashed, and were 

 forever just grazing coolies and their carts. 



A land of a thousand surprises! We stopped 

 a moment at the lunatic asylum to borrow an 



