482 CACIQUES. 



good offices ; for they neither strike at him, hit him with 

 their tails, tread on him, nor try to drive him away as an 

 uncivil intruder. Were you to dissect him, and inspect his 

 stomach, you would find no milk there. It is full of the 

 flies which have been annoying the herd. 



CACIQUES. 



A species of cacique — of which there are several — like the 

 blue jay of the northern part of tlie continent, is celebrated 

 for its imitative powers. It is one of the handsomest in 

 form of the feathered tribe, in size somewhat larger than a 

 starling. On each wing it has a yellow spot ; and its rump, 

 belly, and half the tail are of the same colour. All the rest 

 of the body is black ; while the beak is of the colour of 

 sulphur. 



It lives on the fruits and seeds which nature has provided 

 in the forest ; but wherever human habitations are found, it 

 delights to take up its station on a tree close by, and there, 

 for hours together, pour forth a succession of imitative notes. 

 Its own song is sweet, but very short. If a toucan is yelp- 

 ing in the neighbourhood, it drops its own note and imitates 

 the huge-beaked bird. Then it will amuse itself with the 

 cries of different species of woodpeckers ; and when the sheep 

 bleat, it will distinctly answer them. Then comes its own 

 song again ; and if a puppy-dog or a Guinea-fowl interrupt 

 it, it takes them off admirably, — and by its different gestures 

 during the time, it might be supposed that it enjoys the 

 sport. 



The cacique is gregarious, and is generally found in large 

 flocks, — sometimes one species building their nests on one 

 side of a tree, while another, with a neighbourly feeling, ap- 



