THE


Avicultural Magazine


BEING THE JOURNAL OF

THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY

FOR THE STUDY OF

FOREIGN 8c BRITISH BIRDS

IN FREEDOM 8c CAPTIVITY


Third Series. —Vol. XIII.—No. 8 .—All rights reserved. AUGUST, 1922.


NOTES OF A BIRD-LOVER IN VENEZUELA


By J. Delacour


Since leaving Martinique, two days ago, the heat has been

unbearable, and this morning the mountainous coast of Venezuela

is at last visible. The port of La Guara, where we land, is scorching

hot, and we leave it with all possible speed in order to cross the

mountains which separate it from Caracas. The precipitous sides of our

undulating road are of red rock, and are covered with a sparse, often

prickly vegetation, consisting mainly of cacti.


Caracas, a Spanish type of town, is situated in a high valley (900m.),

surrounded with mostly bare mountains, only the ravines being wooded.

The object of my journey, however, is to see birds. In the town itself

there are some “ Qu’est-ce qu’il dit ”, as Pitcmgus rufipennis is called in

the Antilles and the Guianas. They are to be found on the roofs of

houses, and on telegraph wires, and make a deafening din. They amuse

me, but I know they will become maddening. Further on the squares

resound with the cries of the blue and black Tanagers, which are to be

seen flying to and fro. In the middle of the town, situated on a hill, is

a public garden called Le Calvario, and there all kinds of birds abound.

Tanagers and Tyrants are to be seen in company with various species

of Finch, Boutons d’or, Thrushes and Humming Birds being especially

abundant. In the Calvario there are a few cages in which local mammals

are exhibited : Jaguars, Pumas, Agoutis, Peccaries, etc. There are

also some captive Crocodiles and a few birds, the Macaws, Guans,

Curassows (Daubenton’s and Razor-bills), and a Caurale Soleil (?)


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