412 THE ADVENTURES OF 



" This is the first bird of that kind we have met with." 



"These long-legged birds, or waders as they are called, 

 are scarcely ever found except in marshes, or on the banks 

 of large rivers. They can always be recognized by their 

 legs, which are of an enormous length, and devoid of feath- 

 ers below the knee a conformation which enables them to 

 capture their prey in shallow water." 



" Is this tantalus going to fish ?" 



" I should imagine so, for birds of its order have no 

 other means of obtaining food." 



" One might almost fancy that it was asleep, with its 

 great bill drooping down over its chest." 



" Woe be to the fish that is of your opinion. There ! did 

 you remark its sudden movement? It plunges its head 

 down into the water like a flash of lightning ; and now you 

 can see it holds its prey in its beak. Now it is spreading 

 its short black-edged wings in order to take flight, and 

 divide among its young brood the products of its labors. 

 Do you see that beautiful large bird with a tuft on its fore- 

 head ? That is the Ardea agaml, a wader of the heron 

 genus. But look, there is a flock of egretts (Egretta alba), 

 clothed in their plumage as white as the ermine. They fly 

 about in flocks, but separate for their fishing. These birds 

 have rather a grave and sad air, and utter now and then a 

 wild and plaintive cry." 



We stopped to watch these waders gloomily standing in 

 the water, until we heai'd 1'Encuerado's " Hiou ! hiou !" in- 

 forming us that our companions were approaching the biv- 

 ouac. I took Lucien through the forest, replying to his 

 numerous questions about the Grallatores, when we heard 

 the chattering and clatter produced by a band of monkeys. 

 About twenty wild turkeys, doubtless frightened by the 

 noise, rushed between our legs. I let the poor fugitives 

 go, for we had already more victuals than we could .con- 



