334 ANIMALS OF EGA. Chap. V. 



the country is tenanted by many hundred species, many 

 of which are, in reality, abundant, and some of them 

 conspicuous from their brilliant plumage. The cause 

 of their apparent rarity is to be sought in the sameness 

 and density of the thousand miles of forest which con- 

 stitute their dwelling-place. The birds of the country 

 are gregarious, at least during the season when they are 

 most readily found ; but the frugivorous kinds are to be 

 met with only when certain wild fruits are ripe, and to 

 know the exact localities of the trees requires months 

 of experience. It would not be supposed that the in- 

 sectivorous birds are also gregarious ; but they are so, 

 numbers of distinct species, belonging to many different 

 families, joining together in the chase or search of food. 

 The proceedings of these associated bands of insect- 

 hunters are not a little curious, and merit a few re- 

 marks. 



Whilst hunting along the narrow pathways that are 

 made through the forest in the neighbourhood of houses 

 and villages, one may pass several days without seeing 

 many birds ; but now and then the surrounding bushes 

 and trees appear suddenly to swarm with them. There 

 are scores, probably hundreds of birds, all moving about 

 with the greatest activity — woodpeckers and Dendro- 

 colaptidse (from species no larger than a sparrow to 

 others the size of a crow) running up the tree trunks ; 

 tanagers,* ant-thrushes, humming-birds, fly-catchers, and 

 barbets flitting about the leaves and lower branches. 



* Tachyphonus surinamus and cristatus, Tanagrella elegantissima. 

 I very often found fruit-eating birds, such as Cassicus icteronotus and 

 Capito Amazoninus mingled with these bands. 



