J. Delacour — Notes of a Bircl-lover in Tropical America, 181


young, and a great number of nestlings, which, without being able to fly,

scrambled about awkwardly in the middle of the entangled branches.

Towards evening the whole colony returned from the seashore, where it

had passed the day feeding. Innumerable grey and white dots appeared

in the air and reassembled on the trees of the islets with raucous cries

and disputes. One cannot imagine what an interesting spectacle these

birds present, with their peculiar habits, irascible but sociable in their

colonial life. Four species inhabited the garden during my visit, the

little Egret (Egretta thula), the little blue and tricoloured Herons

(Florida coerulea and Hydranassa tricolor), and the violet Night Heron

(Nycticorax violaceus). In the larger pools big forms travel under the

water with strong movements. A Hindoo keeper throws in some grass

and whistles, and from the summit of a little Japanese bridge I see the

lotus plants yielding to the passage of some large aquatic animal. The

movements multiply and converge towards us, and then on the surface

of the muddy lake appeared a cowlike muzzle with broad nostrils

which opened and shut. A Manatee commences his repast, and is soon

accompanied by five or six others. The enormous rounded backs

appear on the surface ; they seemed to be made of old worn-out leather,

greyish brown in colour, and attaining a length of several yards. The

Manatees have been introduced into the pools of the Botanical Gardens

for some long time, and several generations have succeeded one another

there ; they increase, but not in considerable numbers. These great

aquatic mammals, still fairly abundant in the South American rivers,

are decreasing rapidly in numbers. In addition to which it is most

difficult to study them, for they never leave the water and are naturally

timid. The captives of Demerara are on the contrary very tame.


Amongst the waders mingle the curious Rostrliamus sociabilis, birds

of prey which feed upon shellfish; a very great number flew

from tree to tree, emitting sharp cries. These also had their nests in

March mixed with those of the Herons, who showed not the slightest

fear of them. During my stay at Demerara I used to return time after

time to the Garden, and I passed my last evening there ; before leaving

the South American continent I wished to see once more the Jacanas

dancing on the gigantic leaves of the Victoria Begia, and the Herons

flying over the pools starred with the blooms of the water lilies and

the lotus.



