1 88 Travels and Adventures 



CHAPTER XIII. 



THE SPOONBILLS BREAD-FRUIT HARPOONING FISH 



EPIDENDRUMS ADVENTURE WITH HUNTER SNAKE 



LEGEND OF THE GOLD-MINES TAILOR-BIRDS — 



STALKING JAGUARS ARRIVAL IN BARRANQUILLA. 



The waterfowl which congregate around the shores of 

 these lakes in the months of March and April are to 

 be found in such numbers that the description becomes 

 almost incredible. I have seen, at a rough calculation, 

 over four thousand in one flock, which extend them- 

 selves over a mile of the shallow water or sand-bank. 

 The most conspicuous amongst them are the immense 

 storks, the Mycteria Americana, which stand five feet 

 high, and look like soldiers with scarlet necks. It is 

 very rarely the natives succeed in shooting one, but 

 when they do quite a feast is made, as they consider 

 the flesh very good food. Besides these, a smaller 

 stork is to be seen in much larger numbers. Then 

 come the blue herons, the large white cranes, the 

 egrets, two or three varieties of bitterns, a crowd of 

 large Muscovy-ducks, a line of the awkward birds 



