WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA 145 



boclora, but its colours different ; its head, breast, 

 back, and rump, are a shining, changing green; 

 its tail not quite so bright ; a black bar runs across 

 the tail towards the extremity, and the outside 

 feathers are partly white, as in the boclora; its 

 belly is entirely vermilion, a bar of white separat- 

 ing it from the green on the breast. 



There are diminutives of both these birds ; they 

 have the same habits, with a somewhat different 

 plumage, and about half the size. Arrayed from 

 head to tail in a robe of richest sable hue, the bird 

 called Rice-bird loves spots cultivated by the hand 

 of man. The woodcutter's house on the hills in 

 the interior, and the planter's habitation on the 

 sea-coast, equally attract this songless species of 

 the order of pie, provided the Indian corn be ripe 

 there. He is nearly of the jackdaw's size, and 

 makes his nest far away from the haunts of man; 

 he may truly be called a blackbird: independent 

 of his plumage, his beak, inside and out, his legs, 

 his toes, and claws are jet black. 



Mankind, by clearing the ground, and sowing a 

 variety of seeds, induces many kinds of birds to 

 leave their native haunts and come and settle near 

 him; their little depredations on his seeds and 

 fruits prove that it is the property, and not the 

 proprietor, which has the attractions. 



One bird, however, in Demerara is not actuated 

 by selfish motives : this is the Cassique ; in size, he 

 is larger than the starling; he courts the society 

 of man, but disdains to live by his labours. When 

 nature calls for support, he repairs to the neigh- 

 bouring forest, and there partakes of the store of 

 fruits and seeds which she has produced in abun- 



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