152 WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA 



spirits; but, when you least expect it, they drop 

 down and die in epilepsy. 



Smaller in size, and of colour not so rich and 

 somewhat differently arranged, another species of 

 troupiale sings melodiously in Demerara. The 

 woodcutter is particularly favoured by him; for 

 while the hen is sitting on her nest, built in the 

 roof of the woodcutter's house, he sings for hours 

 together close by: he prefers the forests to the 

 cultivated parts. 



You would not grudge to stop for a few min- 

 utes, as you are walking in the plantations, to ob- 

 serve a third species of troupiale : his wings, tail, 

 and throat are black, all the rest of the body is a 

 bright yellow. There is something very sweet 

 and plaintive in his song, though much shorter 

 than that of the troupiale in the interior. 



A fourth species goes in flocks from place to 

 place in the cultivated parts at the time the Indian 

 corn is ripe ; he is all black, except the head and 

 throat, which are yellow; Ms attempt at song is 

 not worth attending to. 



Wlierever there is a wild fig-tree ripe, a numer- 

 ous species of birds, called Tangara, is sure to be 

 on it. There are eighteen beautiful species here. 

 Their plumage is very rich and diversified ; some 

 of them boast six separate colours; others have 

 the blue, purple, green, and black so kindly 

 blended into each other, that it would be impossi- 

 ble to mark their boundaries ; while others again 

 exhibit them strong, distinct, and abrupt: many 

 of these tangaras have a fine song. They seem to 

 partake much of the nature of our linnets, spar- 

 rows, and finches. Some of them are fond of the 



