WOODPECKERS. 



547 



found all over Guiana as far as the Lower Amazons to the south, and as Venezuela 

 to the westward. It is of a coppery-green colour, with a bluish sheen on the 

 crown, the under surface being chestnut, the throat white, followed by a band of 

 bright green across the breast, and the outer tail-feathers blackish. An allied 

 species is the red-tailed jacamar (G. ruficauda), which closely resembles the fore- 

 going, but is distinguished by its rufous outer tail-feathers. It is an inhabitant of 

 the same part of South America as the first, but does not extend into Amazonia, 

 being found, however, further to the west, viz. in Colombia. In Trinidad, Mr. F. 

 M. Chapman says that it is not uncommon at and near the borders of the forests. " Its 



GREEN JACAMAR (|- liat. size). 



appearance, at first sight, would seem to support its reputation for stupidity, but 

 closer observation will, I think, induce one to believe that these birds are by no 

 means so stupid as they have been said to be. They are the most expert flycatchers 

 I have ever seen, and this in spite of the fact that the shape of the bill would 

 seem better to fit them for almost any other mode of existence. Sitting all 

 drawn in on a dead limb, generally near the ground, they may be compared to 

 a set spring. Their watchfulness permits no insect to pass in safety. They 

 maintain a constant look-out, turning the head quickly from side to side, above, 

 or even half-way round. The dart into the air is made with wonderful celerity. 

 Sometimes it is straight up, again at various ang" % s, and they go as far as thirty 

 or thirty-five feet from their perch. As a rule they return to the same perch after 

 each sally, and may occupy this for many minutes. As they rest they utter a 

 singular call a loud, clear, piping whistle, not unlike the call of a lost duckling. 



