IIIXTI'.RLAND NOTES 475 



(k'lmdcd of Icuncs and hraiit'lies, or at tlie suniinit of the 

 tallest tree at the edf)e ol' a wood. One evenin*^', as we 

 were returning- from the North Savannah, up the hill to the 

 Mission, we heard a eieada, as it traversed our direetion, high 

 in the air. Two hawks ^vere poised, nearhy, examining the 

 woods, on either side oi' the trail. One of them swooped 

 at the eieada and carried it off in its talons, ])rotesting loudly 

 the while. Truly the great do not despise small things! A 

 smaller hawk-hird, called hy the Indians, enthaking, hunted 

 in the village, ever on the watch for the heautiful pets kept by 

 the Indians, or for stray chickens. A large bird, in appear- 

 ance like a haw^k, hunts with the vultures. It has a white 

 head and collar. The Indians call it krakra. It does not 

 kill its food; but feeds upon grubs and worms and carrion. 

 Probably, it seeks carrion in the rotted meat. About the 

 rocky hills, at Tuka, the kite is to be admired. It nests in 

 bushes amongst the rugged boulders. 



At the jNIission I shot a lai'ge hawk, wnth feathers barred 

 black and white, and black and rufus-brown. It was a hand- 

 some bird, and measured exactly four feet from tip to tip of 

 wings. 



A hill, about a mile to the northw^est of the Mission is 

 named after the smaller curassow, Mdiich is said to have 

 abounded hereabouts, though, now, it is seldom to be seen. 

 The large curassow is conmion in the big forests of Rewa 

 and Uriiata. Certain thickets, along the river, are its favor- 

 ite haunts, and it was noticed that when a bird had been shot 

 at one of these the spot was occupied by a successor, not long- 

 afterwards. The booming ugm, ugm .... ugm, ugm, ugm, 

 (twice, then thrice), rouses the Indians to a pitch of eager- 

 ness, while the boat is yet a long way off. Stalking is diffi- 

 cult, as it is almost impossible for even an Indian to make 

 way through a thicket of underbrush without snapping a 

 single twig. At the first sound of snapping, the booming 

 ceases. There is a very long pause before it is resumed. 

 Should more snaps be heard, a little nearer, those who are 



