238 



Bird- Lore 



notes from almost every bush. At length we come in sight of a small bungalow, 

 built on a little island, some five acres in extent, the only high land we lind in all 

 this region. This island has an interesting history, as it was thrown up by the 

 runaway slaves who f\ed thither sixty years ago, and tried to eke out an existence 



TREE DUCKS OVER THE SAVANNA 



in this desolate region. It would take many pages to describe the wonderfully 

 interesting fauna of this little island, and I have space only to touch on several of 

 the more interesting birds. The Hoatzins,^ those strange reptile-like birds, are 

 abundant in the shrubby growth which lines the western side of the river. This 

 growth has been cut away between the island and the river, and at five o'clock 

 each afternoon the Hoatzins, from far down the river, will collect at one edge and, 

 after many false starts, will fly, one by one, across the open space and back again, 

 within fifty }'ards of our hammocks. Only a few are strong enough to make the 

 whole distance at one flight, the others falling down helplessly into the marshy 

 reeds. They nest within sight of the house, and at this time (mid-April) are sitting 

 on their eggs. One comes and perches for a time on one of the beams of the 

 veranda, and every afternoon and early morning the air is filled with their hoarse 

 croaking chorus. 



Ja^anas lead ihcir tiny bhuk broods over the lil}' pads to the very edge of 

 the island, now and then cackling in fright as a crocodile pushes up his snout near 

 them. The deep black lagoon surrounding the island is filled with life: Fishes 

 of many kinds, most of them small and brilliant in color; althougli occasionally 

 a big tarpon noses his way in from the river beyond. Terns of two species, the 

 Oreat-billed^ and the Little Lye-browed Tern,'^ fish all (la\- long within a few 

 yards of the island. 



*■ () jiisthucnmus huazin 



* rhaelhu!:a miigiiiroslris 



'S/cnui su l>frciliaris 



