On the Potaro. 351 



plucked and eviscerated, so that I was unable to note 

 the sex. It differs from the common species in having 

 stout green, instead of slender dark slate-coloured legs, 

 and is a trifle larger in the body than the type. 



The common warracabba lays its eggs in holes in 

 the trunks of trees at a height of from 15 to 20 feet from 

 the ground, One nest I took in the savannah contained 

 seven dirty-white eggs somewhat smaller than those 

 of a fowl. The Indians assert that when the young 

 birds are hatched, the mother takes them one by one in 

 her beak and flies with them down to the ground. 



Warracabbas, a few maams, and one powise (Crax 

 aledlorj were the only game birds observed during the 

 whole time of my stay in the Potaro, but I was told that 

 when the balamally tree is in bearing a marudie (Pene- 

 lope species) can be obtained in tolerable numbers as 

 they come to feed on its fruit. The balamally is a 

 soft-wooded tree, the bark of which is often used as a 

 flooring for houses. 



I met with examples of many of our bright-plumaged 

 birds, the CotingidcB and Pipridcs being well represent- 

 ed. Both the white and yellow headed manikins (Pipra 

 leucocilla and auricapilla) were very common, and on one 

 ■^occasion a fine specimen of Pipra suavissima flew by 

 within a few feet of where I sat and caught some inse6ls 

 that were crawling on a log. 



The purple-throated and purple-breasted cotingas are 

 fairly common, and examples of either bird could gene- 

 rally be seen on a morning's walk along the shaded trails 

 of the gold digger. 



Ant thrushes are numerous, although seldom seen, 

 owing to their sombre colours and shy habits. Here I saw 



YY 



