JUNGLE LIFE AT AREMU. 321 



bark about the body leaving it loose at the top. I hoisted up 

 the deer and he put his arms and shoulders through the 

 tied legs as if it had been a pack bag and slipped the loose 

 band of bark across his forehead, like the tump-lines of the 

 Canadian Indians. 



A gentle cool breeze was blowing down the narrow valley 

 and the blood from cleaning the animal had not been exposed 

 five minutes when a line of burying beetles and yellow wasps 

 began coming up-wind to the feast. Such a summons calls 

 them far and wide from their vantage points on leaves and 

 branches, where we see them so frequently in walking through 

 the jungle. Before fifteen minutes had passed, an Orange- 

 headed Vulture 52 appeared soaring over the little opening 

 in ever lessening circles. He too had responded, but as 

 much by sight as by scent, to the welcome meal. 



On the way home we frightened a group of large weasel- 

 like creatures which we found to be Tayras (Galictis barbdni) 

 or, as the natives call them, Hackas. Seven ran rapidly 

 away snarling and I secured one. They had been feeding 

 on big grubs which they had nosed out among the dead 

 leaves, a rather remarkable occupation for creatures of the 

 fierce Mustelidae family. The fur was dark-brown with a 

 white spot on the breast, while the tail was long and bushy. 



Before we reached the clearing a Quadrille Bird m sang 

 to us from the heart of a tangled swamp, a new theme differ- 

 ing from any I had heard : 



During the four mile walk to the clearing there was hardly 

 a minute when we were out of sight or sound of birds. Big 

 Blue Tinamou * and Jacupeba Guans 5 boomed up before 

 us; Woodpeckers and Manakins of several species called 



