J. Delacour—Notes of a Bird-lover in Tropical America 163


grow (Euterpe) ; here and there the forest is intersected by a vast

swamp, which is generally concealed by high grasses ; on the banks

grow the Mucka-Mucka (Arum arboreum) and enormous Mauritia palms

with fandike leaves, whose lofty trunks uplift themselves to the height

of 150 feet, encircling the savanah ; whilst lovely white and pink

Water-lilies, which open at night, rest upon the surface of the open

water.


One hides oneself at the foot of a tree, remaining absolutely stdl,

field-glasses in hand ; and before long the inhabitants of the forest

commence to show themselves on the ground ; Agoutis,' Ant-eaters,

Curassows, Guans, Pigeons, and Tinamous come out to find their

food ; the pretty little black Manakins, with silver-white, golden-yellow,

or scarlet heads, shine on the low branches in company with numerous

species of Ant-thrushes, with long legs and short tails, reddish-brown,

varied with black and white. Golden Green Jacamars perch on the

twigs. Sometimes one finds oneself in the domain of the Motmots,

which look at you from their thickets, swinging their curious racqueted

tails from right to left after the manner of a clock’s pendulum, and

uttering bubbling notes ; and then again one discovers a ground Dove’s

nest. Above the tree-tops the Toucans pass with their hugely prominent

bills, and some pairs of Parrots which stop, chattering at a height of

200 feet amongst the highest branches. There are many species of

Amazons, Caiques, Pionus, Macaws, Conures, and also some Hawk¬

headed Parrots, so beautiful and so rare in captivity. How tantalizing !

But there is no hope of capturing these birds, nor even of shooting them,

for they are too high up.


At times certain trees are transformed for a few hours into a veritable

aviary by flocks of birds which come to feed on the fruits. I surprised

such troops on several occasions, which permitted me to observe them

at my ease. One finds various species mingled together. Troupails

with yellow or red backs ; violet and yellow or green and pink Trogons,

brown Wood-hewers; striped Woodpeckers with scarlet crests ;

Toucans, Cuckoos, Tanagers, etc. It is a fairy gathering !


Other trees are used as a rendezvous for smaller species, such as

yellow-winged and purple Sugar-birds, and turquoise and black-headed

Honey-creepers. The purple Sugar-birds are very abundant in the



