CHAPTEE XIII. 



THE MANAKIN's AERIAL DANCE. 



How to catch birds in the deep woods— Calls used by the Caribs — > 

 A peculiar courtship — The rivals dancing in air. 



When in the deep forests of the tropics, where 

 the trees are tall, the foliage dense, the undergrowth 

 a perfect snarl of spiny, thorny vines and bush ropes, 

 it is next to impossible to secure a bird even after 

 you have shot it and "marked" it down to a cer- 

 tainty. 



In the first place, you must find your prospective 

 prey, and this is no small matter ; you may hear the 

 chattering of parrots, the songs of thrushes, the 

 "squeaking" of humming birds; but while all may 

 be quite near you, yet they are hidden beyond masses 

 of leaves and vines. The best way to obtain them is 

 to seek a good spot, make yourself as comfortable as 

 possible, then await their arrival. Even then you 

 must not depend wholly upon your unaided powers 

 of sight, but must use all your arts of allurement. 



Birds are curious, though shy and cautious. 

 While they would fly from you in affright, should 

 they see you coming through the woods, they may be 

 caught by stratagem quite easily. 



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