486 EXPLANATORY INDEX. 



longest and most powerful of the Vulture tribe, this bird has 

 derived its name from the tyranny which it exercises over the 

 aura and black vultures, not allowing them to eat until its 

 own hunger is satisfied. The beautiful colours which adorn 

 the beak are well and accurately described by "Waterton, and 

 it is on account of these fleshy excrescences that the bird is 

 called by the scientific name of Sarco-rhamphus, or " flesh- 

 beaked." These colours, however, are not to be found in the 

 young bird, and do not make their appearance until the fourth 

 year. The name of papa is equivalent to that of pope, and 

 signifies that the bird is a sort of pope among the other vul- 

 tures. Its curious facility for discovering dead carrion and 

 snakes has already been mentioned on p. 380. 



w. 



WALLABA TREE (Epwna falcata). So called from the shape 

 of the pods, which resemble a sickle, Lat. falx. " I passed 

 . . . the Wallaba Tree, with its thin curved pods dangling 

 from innumerable bootlaces six feet long." C. Kingsley. 

 The wood of the wallaba splits freely, and is used for staves 

 and shingles. The oily resin exudes from the tree when 

 wounded. Also, see " Siloabali." 



WALLABABA. See " Cotinga, Pompadour," 



WARACABA. See " Trumpeter." 



WATER-HEN, SPUR-WINGED (Parra Jacana). Several species 

 of Jacana are known, and are at once recognizable by the 

 enormous proportionate length and slenderness of the toes. 



This provision of nature enables them to walk with safety 

 upon the floating leaves of water-plants, and so to procure its 

 food, which consists of aquatic insects, &c. It is a good 

 swimmer and diver, but its powers of wing are trifling. The 

 magnificent leaf of the Victoria regia is a great favourite with 

 the Jacana, which finds a firm footing on a leaf which is able to 

 sustain the weight of a little girl some six or seven years old. 



