256 TROPICAL WILD LIFE IX BRITISH GUIANA 



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 FIG. 81. ROUGH TARSUS OF TINAMUS 



worth wliile; the question, ^^'^hy? The names Tinamus and 

 Cri/ptiirus, hecame naught l)ut names. All significance fell 

 from them, and running my fingers over the rough tarsus 

 of one bird and the smooth, shining scales of another, I asked 

 again and again, "Why?" 



I noticed that in every instance the rough-backed tarsus 

 was coated w^ith dirt. Often the interstices were com])letely 

 choked with fine mud and debris or with fibrous mold. The 

 legs of the smaller birds were as clean as thev were smooth. 

 With onlv a half-framed theory in mind I thoroughly washed 

 off the dirt from the tarsi of several birds and sprinkled it 

 on a pot of earth, which previously I had thoroughly baked. 

 In the course of the following weeks I reared an interesting 

 little assortment of mosses and small arboreal plants, but 

 which, after all, formed only circumstantial evidence. 



Xupee, the Akawai hunter, was an excellent observer 

 and, as I had tested on a number of occasions, a truthful 

 reporter of what he observed. But to make more certain 

 of tlie result, I put my questions indirectly and negativel}', 

 so tliat to tell the ti'uth he would have to go against my 

 apparent assumption. All but strictly honest natives and 

 savages will readily fall into this little snare, and will offer 



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