9 6



even wall of vegetation all around the clearing, and, as soon as

one stepped beyond this border into the forest, it took some time

to get the e3^es used to the sudden gloom. I can recollect

nowhere else in S. America where the trees were such a height

as here, or the vegetation so thoroughly tropical-looking. In

this clearing was a small plantation of sugar-cane, and a large

plantation of bananas and a few other fruit trees. The rest of

the clearing was all grass, and a pretty stream wandered through

the centre, fringed with bamboos. It was a veritable paradise

for the naturalist. At no other spot in Ecuador did we find birds

in such numbers and varieties as here. In isolated huts in the

forest around, dwelt the Colorado Indians : so called because

they paint their bodies a uniform red from head to foot. One

day, one of them brought me a small packet of banana leaf,

neatly tide up with fibre, and, on opening it, I found it to con¬

tain a live Silver-throated Tanager. It was in perfect condition

but for the primaries, which had been plucked from the wings.

Although the Indian told me he had only just caught it, it

seemed most confiding, and did not struggle in the hands in the

least. Some birds get tamer much more quickly in captivity

than others, and it was after finding this so tame, that I con¬

cluded the Golden Tanager would be equally so, for they

greatly resemble one another in general appearance, and in size

the}^ are identical. I kept this bird during the two months of

our stay there. It took great delight in hopping about the room,

and made itself thoroughly at home at once. It bathed regular^

every day, and also sang a little with a gentle subdued voice,

chiefly in the early morning ; and when so engaged would

always sit on the bottom of the cage in one corner. I fed it on

bananas with an occasional cockroach, which it readily took from

the fingers. When bananas got over-ripe (which they quickly did

in that hot country) they attracted into the cage a great number

of very small flies, which the Tanager was very quick to catch.

I fully intended to take this bird back with me to Quito ; but one

day, when the cage was hung outside the hut, one of the bamboo

bars fell out of place, and so m3" Tanager escaped. I found it such

an attractive bird, always so contented, that I hope it may be my

lot some day to possess one of these birds alive in England,

where, if they were known, they would be great favourites.

This bird is just over 5 inches in length. The head is 3"ellow

with a greenish reflection about the nape. A black line starts

from the base of the beak and widens out over the ears. The

back is greenish yellow with a black line down the centre of each

feather ; the rump is veiy golden, and the throat a beautiful



