FAUNA OF GUIANA. 81 



may soon attract the attention of those reckless speculators who have already 

 wasted so many woodlands. The mora excehn, a leguminous tree, which overtops 

 all other forest growths, shooting up to a height of 120 or 130 feet, exceeds 

 the oak and even the teak in elasticity and durability ; it is unsurpassed for ship- 

 building, and in economic value is rivalled only by the green-heart ebony (nec- 

 tandra Rodkei). 



Dozens of forest trees are met which possess more solidity than the oak, but 

 their specific gravity is for the most part equal to or even greater than that of 

 water. During the last century some of these heavy woods were used for 

 making mortars and gun-carriages. The species suitable for cabinet work are 

 noted for their bright green, yellow, grey, or black tints, their mottled, marble, 

 or satin-like surface. One species which shows in section a lovely spotted brown 

 grain has taken the name of " tiger- wood " from its resemblance to the spotted 

 skin of the American tiger (jaguar). Another is the letter-wood [brosimum 

 Aitbletii), so called from the deep colour of its surface, on v/hich are inscribed black 

 figures resembling hieroglyphics. 



Fauna of the Gui ax as. 



In its fauna, no less than in its flora, Guiana forms a land of transition 

 between the Amazonian zone and those of the Venezuelan seaboard and of the 

 West Indies. None of its mammals, saurians, or reptiles belong to it exclusively ; 

 and if some of its birds, insects, or other smaller organisms have not hitherto 

 been met elsewhere, it may be almost taken for granted that such forms do also 

 occur in the conterminous regions possessing the same climate, soil, and vegetation. 



The species usually spoken of as specially characteristic of the Guianas are 

 those that naturalists have first observed in this region. Such are the marsh or 

 mangrove deer {cervus palustris), which frequents the swampy districts ; the crab- 

 eater {cancropliagus major), which preys on crabs and builds its nest in the banks 

 of the creeks; the grey crane (f/nis ferrimra), with the digestion of an ostrich, 

 and nearly as tall ; of aquatic fowl, such as duck, flamiugoe?, herons, ibis, there is 

 a great variety, gathering at times in flocks of thousands. The tijraunus siil- 

 phurens, most common of all birds, Avhose voice is heard in every tree, has from 

 its peculiar note received in French Guiana the eccentric name of Qu^est-cc qri il 

 dit, contracted to Kifiliccli. In the depths of the forest is often heard the metallic 

 note of the so-called bell-bird (eauipanero), of which there are two varieties 

 {chasmarhynchus carunciilatits and C. variegatmi). But Mr. im Thvirn " never 

 could detect much resemblance in the note of these birds to the sound of a bell. 

 The cry of the first species is more like the ring produced by two pieces of iron 

 struck against each other ; but the notes of the male and female birds differ con- 

 siderably. The cry of the second species is like the sound made by the drill in 

 blasting operations. Then also in the forest is heard an extraordinary deep sound, 

 like the lowing of an ox, and it is long before the traveller realises the fact that 

 this is made by the ' quow ' or ' calf-bird ' [gyviuocephahis calni.s), a bird no bigger 

 than a pigeon." 



