RoTH] ANIMAL FOOD 189 
182. Dance mentions how, on the Curiebrong River, he saw two 
boys quietly swim out and dive. While the “ wicissi” ducks were 
luxuriating in the river, they were each seized from under the water 
by the lads (Da, 233). [This method of capturing ducks was par- 
alleled westward of the Guianas, on Lake Maracaybo, where the 
Indians purposely allowed empty calabashes to be continually floating 
on the water around their habitations in order that these birds, by 
being habituated to their presence, might not be intimidated. When 
an Indian wished to procure any of these fowl he put on his head a 
calabash, perforated so as to permit him to see without being seen. 
In this manner he went into the lake, keeping his head above the sur- 
face of the water, but taking care that no part of his body should be 
visible. He proceeded thus, swimming to the spot where the wild 
ducks were collected in the greatest number, then seizing them by 
the feet he immediately dragged them below the water, so that they 
had neither time to cry out nor to make any motion which could warn 
the others of the impending danger. As fast as they were taken he 
fastened them to his girdle, and never thought of retiring until his 
wants were fully satisfied (FD, 15).] 
188. To obtain the beautiful skins of the “cock of the rock,” or 
“rock manikin” (Rupicola elegans), the Indians will look out for 
their “ playing ground,” .. . a spot secluded from the path, from 4 
to 5 feet in diameter, and which appears to have been cleared of every 
blade of grass and smoothed as by human hands. . . . There he 
hides himself, and, armed with his blowpipe and poisoned arrows, 
awaits the arrival of the dancing party. He does not fire until they 
are so eagerly engaged, to all appearance, in their sport as to allow 
him to bring down four or five successively before the rest take alarm 
and disperse (Sc, 236). The toucan may be robbed of its feathers 
by shooting with a poisoned arrow (sec. 122) and allowing it to re- 
cover—perhaps to be shot and robbed again, subsequently. 
184. Guacharo, salies (Steatornis caripensis). Brown, in the 
neighborhood of Ackar village, on the upper Mazaruni, thus describes 
his visit to the nesting places of these birds: We entered a gorge in 
the mountains . . . Our guide pointed out a cave in which he said 
the salies or guacharo birds live. Wishing to see them, we ascended 
the slope to it, arriving at a great vertical rent in the rocks some 10 
feet wide and 50 feet high. . . . The Indians had a bush rope made 
fast on the cliff above, let down through a hole in the roof, which 
they used for climbing up to dislodge the young salies from their 
nests on the ledges. They eat these young birds and make oil from 
their fat (BB, 386). 
185. Fish.—It has been recorded that on the Orinoco, after the 
breeding season, by just rowing over the shoals of fish in certain 
