188 WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 



tail towards the extremity, and tlie outside feathers are 

 partly white, as in the boclora ; its belly is entirely ver- 

 milion, 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 different plumage, and 

 about half the size. Arrayed from head to tail in a robe 

 of richest sable hue, the bird called Eice-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 man ; 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 depre- 

 dations on his seeds and fruits prove that it is the property, 

 and not the proprietor, which has the attractions. 



One bird, however, in Demerara is not actuated by selfish 

 motives : this is the Cassique ; in size, he is larger than the 

 starling ; he courts the society of man, but disdains to live 

 by his labours. When nature calls for support, he repairs 

 to the neighbouring forest, and there partakes of the store 

 of fruits and seeds which she has produced in abundance 

 for her aerial tribes. When his repast is over, he returns 

 to man, and pays the little tribute which he owes him for his 

 protection ; he takes his station on a tree close to his house ; 

 and there, for hours together, pours forth a succession of 

 imitative notes. His own song is sweet, but very short. 

 If a toucan be yelping in the neighbourhood, he drops it, 

 and imitates him. Then he will amuse his protector with 



