490 CLASS AVES. 



The Tanagra Cayana, called Daiiphinois by the Creoles of 

 Cayenne, is very common in that country. It inhabits open 

 places, approaches the habitations, and lives on fruits. It 

 destroys the bananas, and gayavas in great quantities ; it also 

 carries devastation into the rice-fields in the period of their 

 maturity. It is only, in fact, in the rice-grounds that these 

 birds unite in any numbers ; for ordinarily they are seen only 

 in couples. They have no song or modulation of voice, and 

 generally utter but a short ci'y. 



The Tanagra Tafao, Paradise Tanager of our text, is 

 called Septlcolor by Vieillot. The figures of BufFon to which 

 we have referred, are, even according to his own confession, 

 defective. The first was taken from a bird dried at the fire, 

 and to which the tail of some other bird was added. The 

 other is from a skin, but badly preserved. 



This tanager is about the size of a canary-bird ; the bill and 

 feet are black, and the tail a little forked ; the wings when 

 folded extend about half its length. Some individuals are 

 handsomer than others, and the colours of the female are, in 

 general, less brilliant than those of the male. The lower part 

 of the back in the male is of a very brilliant red, which the 

 young does not assume until maturity. 



These birds, which fly in numerous flocks, appear in Sep- 

 tember, in the neighbourhood of Cayenne, and in the inhabited 

 portion of Guiana, remain there six weeks, and return in April 

 and May. They are attracted, it is said, at these two epochas 

 by the fruit of a very large tree which they never quit. It is 

 stated that they are never seen on any other trees ; an asserted 

 fact, which, to say the least of it, appears doubtful. 



The Turdus Palmarum is a species, rare in Guiana, but 

 very common in St. Domingo. In this island it abounds in 

 lofty and dense thickets. It also frequents wood, and, notwith- 

 standing its name, does not appear to give one tree the pre- 

 ference to another. Perhaps it received this name in Guiana, 

 from the accidental circumstance of being occasionally seen on 

 the palm tree. It lives on berries and insects. 



