122 TRINIDAD. 



beautiful metallic colour the Ani and Toucan (Hamphastos) ; 

 the latter is very common in the high woods ; the Voutou and 

 Toucan serve as food. Trinidad harbours several varieties of 

 Parrots, and among them two Aras or Macaws ; they are met 

 with only in the high woods, where they generally perch on 

 the highest trees. There are also two kinds of Parrots proper 

 (Psittacus) in the island ; they are gregarious and prefer unfre- 

 quented places, though sometimes met with in cacao plantations, 

 whither they resort to eat the green fruit of the Erytlirina 

 coccinea. Generally speaking, they fly about during the day 

 in search of food, and return in the evening to some favourite 

 spot to sleep ; in this they show a preference for the mangroves, 

 and when assembled in some such locality, their loud chattering 

 is absolutely deafening. The Paroquets (Oornurus) are mostly 

 found in inhabited localities, and live chiefly on the fruits of the 

 Ingas. Although gregarious, they are much attached indivi- 

 dually, and when one of a pair has been killed, the other will, 

 for several days, haunt the neighbourhood perching on the 

 summit of some tree and almost incessantly call for its departed 

 mate. Another kind, known as the seven-coloured Paroquet, 

 is met with everywhere in the island : it lives upon insects and 

 the fruits of the Glusia, generally builds in the nests of the Ter- 

 mites, and lays from six to ten eggs. This beautiful bird has 

 never been tamed so as to live in a cage ; when taken it refuses 

 food, and consequently dies in a few days. The Ara, though 

 tough, and therefore discarded from the table, is prized as a 

 domestic favourite for its gorgeous plumage ; but the Parrot and 

 Paroquet, when young, are much esteemed for the delicacy of 

 their flesh. 



G-allinacece. This order is remarkable for furnishing man, 

 here as in other countries, with an abundance of excellent game, 

 At their head is to be placed the Pauji or Yacou (Penelope), as 

 the largest gallinacean to be found in Trinidad ; it is of the size 

 of a large domestic fowl, and is very choice fare. It lives gene- 

 rally upon berries, and is very stupid ; so much so that, if several 

 are met with together, they can be shot in succession, as they do 

 not fly, even after their companions have been killed. They are 

 easily tamed. 



Next to the Yacou come the Speckled Ramier (Oolumla 

 speciosa), and the Mangrove Ramier, both of the size of a 



