130 WANDERINGS IN 



SECOND breast, back, and rump are a shining, changing 



JOURNEY. r . 



green ; its tail not quite so bright ; a black 



bar runs across the tail towards the extremity, 

 and the outside feathers are partly white as in 

 the boclora ; its belly is entirely vermilion, a bar 

 of white separating it from the green on the 

 breast. 



There are diminutives of both these birds ; 

 they have the same habits, with a somewhat dif- 

 ferent plumage, and about half the size. Arrayed 

 from head to tail in a robe of richest sable hue, 



The Rice- the bird called Rice-bird loves spots cultivated 

 by the hand of man. The woodcutter's house 

 on the hills in the interior, and the planter's 

 habitation on the sea-coast, equally attract this 

 songless species of the order of pie, provided 

 the Indian corn be ripe there. He is nearly of 

 the jackdaw's size, and makes his nest far away 

 from the haunts of men ; he may truly be called 

 a blackbird : independent of his plumage, his beak, 

 inside and out, his legs, his toes, and claws are 

 jet black. 



Mankind, by clearing the ground, and sowing 

 a variety of seeds, induces many kinds of birds 

 to leave their native haunts, and come and settle 

 near him : their little depredations on his seeds 

 and fruits prove that it is the property, and not 

 the proprietor, which has the attractions. 



The cas- One bird, however, in Demerara is not actuated 

 by selfish motives : this is the Cassique ; in size, 



