46 WANDERINGS IN 



FIRST the periodical rains, it is not improbable but that 



JOURNEY. 



this is the place which hath given rise to the sup- 

 posed existence of the famed Lake Parima, or El 

 Dorado ; but this is mere conjecture. 



Deer. A few deer are feeding on the coarse rough grass 



of this far-extending plain ; they keep at a distance 

 from you, and are continually on the look out. 



The spur-winged plover, and a species of the 

 curlew, black, with a white bar across the wings, 

 nearly as large again as the scarlet curlew on the 

 sea-coast, frequently rise before you. Here, too, 

 the Moscovy duck is numerous ; and large flocks 

 of two other kinds wheel round you as you pass 

 on, but keep out of gunshot. The milk-white 

 egrets, and jabirus, are distinguished at a great 

 distance ; and in the aeta and coucourite trees, 

 you may observe flocks of scarlet and blue aras 

 feeding on the seeds. 



The It is to these trees that the largest sort of toucan 



resorts. He is remarkable by a large black spot 

 on the point of his fine yellow bill. He is very 

 scarce in Demerara, and never seen except near 

 the sea-coast. 



Ants' nests. The ants' nests have a singular appearance on 

 this plain ; they are in vast abundance on those 

 parts of it free from water, and are formed of an 

 exceeding hard yellow clay. They rise eight or 

 ten feet from the ground, in a spiral form, im- 

 penetrable to the rain, and strong enough to defy 

 the severest tornado, 



