58 



birds, finding the danger impending, sought for safety in the higher 

 regions of the atmosphere, and it was in their gyrations to obtain a 

 suitable elevation that their gracefulness and beauty were particu- 

 larly remarkable. I am not acquainted with any Hawk which soars 

 to such a height as the Nauclerus. I have seen them over the river 

 Pomeroon, at an elevation so great as to be scarcely visible. 



The whole of the next group, nine in number, with the exception 

 of three, are birds which frequent the extensive abandoned fields near 

 the sea and the courida trees {Avicenna nitida et tomentosa), which 

 form a narrow belt of vegetation along the coast, between the sea and 

 the high roads. These fields, which were for the most part formerly 

 in cotton, are often inundated, either from imperfect drainage of bush- 

 water, or the incursion of the sea, which, since the British people 

 commenced to make us pay the penalty of having had slaves, is fast 

 resuming its ancient dominion, from whence it was dammed out by 

 our Dutch predecessors. Over these fields may be seen hunting with 

 indefatigable industry the first two of the group ; viz. 



The Brown-backed Harrier, and 



The Long and Slender-legged Buzzard. 



They search every bush, destroying old and young alike, snatch 

 up the little grass-finches, and in fact are a most dreadful scourge 

 to the feathered inhabitants of these woe-begone and miserable look- 

 ing swamps, remembrances of our former glory and shame. The 

 next is 



The Chestnut Harrier. 



A very rare bird, which was shot while flying over the Mahaica 

 creek. Nothing whatever is known of its habits, but from its struc- 

 ture they must be similar to those of the two former. 



The Large Sea-fishing Hawk. 



The coasts of Demerara, it may not be unnecessary to inform the 

 Enghsh reader, are bound by vast mud-flats, which at high tide are 

 covered by the sea. At dead low tide the water-mark is, at many 

 parts of the coast, not visible. It is on the courida trees which bor- 

 der the coast landward that the Large Sea-fisher may be seen waiting 

 patiently for the influx of the tide, which brings with it his food. At 

 about half-tide he begins to bestir himself, and as there is always an 

 abundance of fish brought up by the water, he soon captures as much 

 mullet and other such-like coast-fish as gratifies his hunger. The 

 Sea-fisher fishes on the hover from a considerable height, pouncing 

 down vertically on its prey. The next is 



The Bird Hawk, 



With striated chestnut belly, which does not hunt on the wing, but 

 sights its prey, small birds, from the perch, generally a courida tree. 

 It builds a nest of dry sticks upon these trees. The next is 



