BIRDS OF THE TROPICAL FORESTS 83 



more numerous than the nocturnal species, have generally a 

 louder voice. Their full concert, however, does not begin im- 

 mediately after sunrise ; for they are mostly so chilled by the 

 colder night, that they need to be warmed for some time before 

 awakening to the complete use of their faculties. First, single 

 tones ring from the high tree-crown, and gradually thousands 

 of voices join in various modulation, — now approaching, now 

 melting into distance. Pre-eminent in loudness is the roar of 

 the howling monkeys, though without being able fully to stifle 

 the discordant cries and chattering of the noisy parrots. But 

 the sun rapidly ascends towards the zenith, and one musician 

 after the other grows mute and seeks the cool forest shade, 

 until finally the whole morning concert ceases to be heard. 

 Where the rays of light break through the foliage and play upon 

 the underwood, or on the damp ground, gaudy butterflies flutter 

 about, beetles of metallic brilliancy warm themselves, and richly 

 robed or dark-vested snakes creep forth; for these indolent 

 creatures are also fond of basking in the sun. 



As the heat grows more intense, the stillness of the forest 

 is only interrupted at intervals by single animal voices. 

 Sometimes it is the note of the ivory-billed woodpecker, re- 

 sounding like the distant axe of the 

 forester, or the wail of the sloth 

 breaking forth from the dense thicket. 

 Sometimes human voices seem to issue 

 from the depth of the forest, and the 

 astonished huntsman fancies himself 

 close to his comrades of the chase, or 

 in the more dangerous neighbourhood 

 of a wild tribe of Indians. With deep ivory-biiied woodpecker 

 attention he listens to the sounds, until 



he discovers them to be the melancholy cries of the wood- 

 pigeon. 



The deepest silence reigns at noon, when the sun becomes 

 too powerful even for the children of the torrid zone ; and 

 many creatures, particularly the birds, sink into a profound 

 sleep. Then all the warm-blooded animals seek the shade, and 

 only the cold reptiles, — alligators, lizards, salamanders, — 

 stretch themselves upon the glowing rocks in the bed of 



G 2 



