Chap. XV. BIRDS AND INSECTS. 255 



heights on the north-east side of the Yana-mayu, where, at an 

 elevation of 450 feet, there is a level table-land, covered with 

 palms and bamboos. The search was chiefly conducted along 

 a ridge above this plateau, where the bamboos ended. We 

 obtained twenty more plants of C. Calisaya, one of which was 

 declared by Martinez to be a Galisaya morada (C. BoUviana, 

 Wedd.), and the leaf agreed well with Dr. Weddell's descrip- 

 tion, though that botanist believed that the species was not 

 found in this part of Caravaya, but only in the valleys of 

 Ayapata, fm-ther north. To-day we saw a couple of tunquis^ 

 birds with the most gorgeous plumage I ever beheld. They 

 are the size of large pigeons, with orange-scarlet feathers on 

 the head, neck, breast, and tail, black wings, light-grey back, 

 and scarlet crest. They have a shrill, harsh cry. The but- 

 terflies and moths were numerous and brilliant, but so tame, 

 and in such swarms, as to be a perfect plague. There was 

 one bright swallow-tail, with blue wings, iringed with crimson. 

 The torments from venomous insects were maddening ; espe- 

 cially from a kind of fly which in a moment raised swellings 

 and blood-red lumps all over the hands and face, causing 

 great pain and irritation. During the night it rained 

 heavily, with peals of thunder, and vivid flashes of lightning, 

 while the river increased in size, and roared past the' tent 

 noisily. 



The collection of chinchona-plants was deposited in a shady 

 place, near the tent, the roots being well covered over with 

 soft moss. 



On the morning of May 4th the river was so swollen as to 

 destroy all hopes of crossing it for the present. It frequently 

 changed its colour, on one morning the surging flood being 

 black, on another tolerably clear, and on another a light 



» Rupicola Peruviana (family of j they feed on the seeds of chinchona- 

 Ampelidse). Van Tschudi says that \ trees.— Travels in Peru, p. 427. 



