106 VOYAGE UP THE TAPAJOS. Chap. II. 



of the year I had noticed, in other parts of the country, 

 that mammals and birds resorted to the more humid 

 areas of forest, we therefore proceeded to explore care- 

 fully the low and partly swampy tract along the coast 

 to the north of Santa Cruz. We spent two days in this 

 way, landing at many places, and penetrating a good 

 distance in the interior. Although unsuccessful with 

 regard to the White Cebus, the time was not wholly 

 lost, as I added several small birds of species new to my 

 collection. On the second evening we surprised a large 

 flock, composed of about 50 individuals, of a curious 

 eagle with a very long and slender hooked beak, the 

 Rostrhamus hamatus. They were perched on the 

 bushes which surrounded a shallow lagoon separated 

 from the river by a belt of floating grass : my men 

 said they fed on toads and lizards found at the margins 

 of pools. They formed a beautiful sight as they flew up 

 and wheeled about at a great height in the air. We 

 obtained only one specimen. 



Before returning to Aveyros, we paid another visit 

 to the Jacare inlet leading to Captain Antonio's cattle 

 farm, for the sake of securing further specimens of the 

 many rare and handsome insects found there ; landing 

 at the port of one of the settlers. The owner of the 

 house was not at home, and the wife, a buxom young 

 woman, a dark mameluca, with clear though dark com- 

 plexion and fine rosy cheeks, was preparing, in company 

 with another stout-built Amazon, her rod and lines to 

 go out fishing for the day's dinner. It was now the 

 season for Tucunare's, and Senhora Joaquina showed us 

 the fly baits used to take this kind of fish, which she 



