14 IN THE WILDS OF SOUTH AMERICA 



speed by and then drop on the ground near the marsh, to 

 stand motionless and on the alert for possible danger be- 

 fore plunging into the water. Great gray herons croaked 

 and waded sedately among the rushes, spearing frogs and 

 fish as they went along. The horned screamer — a bird the 

 size of a large turkey — is also an inhabitant of the marshes. 

 It has rather long, but thick legs, that enable it to wade 

 into fairly deep water, but also swims to floating islands 

 of succulent water-plants which form a part of its food. 

 The bird's color is slaty black, the back being glossy; the 

 belly is white; a horn, or caruncle, several inches long grows 

 from the forehead and curves forward. The feathers are 

 soft, and the tissues for half an inch under the skin are filled 

 with air spaces; the natives say that this protects the bird 

 from the bites of poisonous snakes, and it is not impossible 

 that this pneumatic cushion could serve such a purpose, 

 although it is hardly probable. The most remarkable thing 

 about the bird, however, is its voice. Usually a pair sing 

 together; they walk slowly back and forth, throw the head 

 over the back, and emit powerful hoots, booms, and long- 

 drawn, clear, ringing notes that, while harmonious and not 

 unmusical, are nevertheless touched with pathos and con- 

 jure in one's imagination a picture of some trammelled spirit 

 of the wild yearning for redemption. Numerous small 

 birds, mainly tyrant-flycatchers inhabit the thorny thickets 

 growing out of the water, and build their huge grass nests 

 within the safe barrier of thorn-armed branches. 



The surrounding country of the Cauca Valley is fertile 

 and productive of most of the things essential to the sup- 

 port of a contented and thriving populace. A great deal 

 of the land is used for grazing cattle and horses, but it will 

 soon become too valuable to use for this purpose on ac- 

 count of the limited amount available. A far greater revenue 

 can be derived through cultivation. 



We paid a visit to a large sugar estate called La Manuelita, 

 near the town of Palmira. La Manuelita is a little world 

 of its own; it comprises fifteen hundred acres of the most 



