A HUNT FOR HOATZINS 119 



over them. Their wild crests, though sodden 

 and glued together, were still erect, dripping 

 and swaying. We encircled the clump of trees 

 and found deep canals and trenches on all sides. 

 We shot one bird, which, true to its reptilian 

 nature, spread both wings, locked its flight 

 feathers among the twists of a liana tangle, and 

 there hung suspended out of reach. 



A strange coolie now appeared out of the 

 mist and promised many, many, many anaquas 

 " not too far " beyond. We shook the wet from 

 our hat-brims, squeezed it from our shoes, and 

 plodded on. The cane-fields seemed never-end- 

 ing, always separated by lily-covered trenches. 

 Then came half-swampy expanses with scat- 

 tered trees. Careful search revealed another 

 half-dozen hoatzins, sheltered among the dense 

 foliage of the tallest tree. No nests were visible, 

 and the rain was so heavy that we could not look 

 upward. In the midst of the vague expanse of 

 this dreary world a rootie spine-tail perched in 

 a tree and sang three notes. We shot him 

 because we could think of no other way at that 

 moment of relieving our feelings. Then we had 

 a reaction, almost hysterical, and the coolies 

 murmured, " Padliadme" (madmen), and we 



