CAVE OP GUACIIARO, 89 



with numerous species of singular and beautiful plants, ciiAr. viiL 

 some of which hang in festoons over the vault. This luxurious 

 luxuriant vegetation is not confined to the exterior of vegetation. 

 the cave, but appears even in the vestibule, where the 

 travellers were astonished to see heliconias nineteen feet 

 in height, palms, and arborescent arums. They had 

 advanced about four hundred and sixty feet before it 

 became necessary to light their torches, when they 

 heard from afar the hoarse screams of the birds. 



The guacharo is the size of a domestic fowl, and has The gaa- 

 somewhat the appearance of a vulture, with a mouth chaio. 

 like that of a goatsucker. It forms a distinct genus in 

 the order Passeres, differing from that just named in 

 having a stronger beak, furnished with two denticula- 

 tions, though in its manners it bears an affinity to it as 

 well as to the Alpine crow. Its plumage is dark bluish- 

 gray, minutely streaked and sjjotted with black, the 

 head, wings, and tail, being marked with white spots 

 bordered with black. The extent of the wings is three 

 feet and a half. It lives on fruits, but quits the cave 

 only in the evening. The shrill and piercing cries of 

 these birds, assembled in multitudes, are said to form a 

 harsh and disagreeable noise, somewhat resembling that 

 of a rookery. The nests, which the guides showed by 

 means of torches fastened to a long pole, were placed in 

 funnel-shaped holes in the roof. The noise increased as 

 they advanced, the animals being frightened by the 

 numerous lights. 



About midsummer every year, the Indians armed Destnictioa 

 with poles enter the cave, and destroy the greater part of y^^ng"^ 

 the nests. Several thousands of young birds are thus 

 killed, and the old ones hover around, uttering frightful 

 cries. Those which are secured in this manner are 

 opened on the spot, to obtain the fat which exists 

 abundantly in their abdomen, and which is subsequently 

 melted in clay vessels over fires of brushwood. This 

 substance is semifluid, transparent, destitute of smell, 

 and keeps above a vear without becoming ranciil. At 



