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Reviews.



appears distasteful to this lover of primeval forests, and if his

domain be encroached upon by human beings, he immediately

abandons it to retire to some distant recess, where he can enjoy

the solitude he loves so well.”


One of the chief exports of the town of Cuidad-Bolivar

on the Orinoco consists of feathers, chiefly the plumes of two

species of Egrets, which can only be obtained in the breeding

season. “ The small Egret ( Ardea candidissima) produces the

most valuable plumes ; from the larger birds ( Ardea garzetta) a

coarser feather is obtained which is not so much appreciated,

but the wily dealer can sort his plumes so as to introduce a fair

proportion of the inferior article without danger of detection.

Quite a number of birds have to be slaughtered to produce a

pound of feathers, only a few drooping plumes from the backs of

the birds being taken. The season for collecting extends through

the months of June, July, and August; that is, through the


mating and breeding period.In spite of the slaughter of


thousands of these birds, the garceros continue to be used by the

Egrets, but in ever diminishing numbers. The beauty of a few

feathers on their backs will be the cause of their extinction. The

love of adornment common to most animals is the source of their

troubles. The graceful plumes which they doubtless admire in

each other have appealed to the most destructive of all animals.

They are doomed, because the women of civilised countries

continue to have the same fondness for feathers and ornaments

characteristic of savage tribes.”


The trees on some of the islands in the Caura were

frequently used by whole colonies of Hang-nests which were

rearing their young at the time our author ascended the river.

“ Some of the trees were literally covered with nests placed so

close together that it would be impossible to find room for an

additional one. The biggest colonies were those of the Yellow

Cassique ( Cassicus albirostris) and the Scarlet-backed Cassique


(Cassicus hcemorrhous ).Both Cassiques are favourite cage-


birds in Venezuela, but the yellow variety, being commoner, is

seen much more frequently in houses than the other. While in

Venezuela the Yellow Cassique is called Arrendajo , it is known

as Oropendola in Colombia.”



