WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 179 



or other; now, tlie luimming-bird is most busy about the 

 flowers an hour or two after sunrise and after a shower of 

 rain, and it is just at this time that the insects come out to 

 the edge of the flower in order that the sun's rays may 

 dry the nocturnal dew and rain which they have received. 

 On opening the stomach of the hummiug-bird, dead insects 

 are almost always found there. 



Next to the humming-birds, the Cotingas display the 

 gayest plumage. They are of the order of Passeres, and 

 you number five species betwixt the sea-coast and the rock 

 Saba. Perhaps the Scarlet Cotinga is the richest of the five, 

 and is one of those birds which are found in the deepest 

 recesses of the forest. His crown is flaming red ; to this 

 abruptly succeeds a dark shining brown, reaching halfway 

 down the back : the remainder of the back, the rump, and 

 tail, tlie extremity of which is edged with black, are a 

 lively red ; the belly is a somewhat lighter red ; the breast 

 reddish black ; the wings brown. He has no song, is soli- 

 tary, and utters a monotonous whistle which sounds like 

 '■' quet." He is fond of the seeds of the hitia-tree, and 

 those of the siloabali and bastard-siloabali trees, which 

 ripen in December, and continue on the trees for above two 

 months. He is found throughout the year in Demerara ; 

 still nothing is known of his incubation. The Indians all 

 agree in telling you that they have never seen his nest. 



The Purple-breasted Cotinga has the throat and breast of 

 a deep purple, the wings and tail black, and all the rest of 

 the body a most lovely shining blue. 



The Purple-throated Cotinga has black wings and tail, 

 and every other part a light and glossy blue, save tlie 

 throat, which is purple. 



The Pompadour Cotinga is entirely purple, except liis 

 wings, which are white, their four first feathers tipped with 

 brown. The great coverts of the wings are stiff, narrow, 



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