2 CLASS AVES. 



• 



marshes or the borders of streams ; their flight is rapid, but 



short, and low ; they only perch on the middle branches of 

 trees in the woods, which they never quit to proceed into the 

 open plains or to the neighbourhood of habitations. They 

 assemble in the morning, in small troops from eight to ten 

 in number, of the same species, and frequently join company 

 with other small birds. At such times, their chirping is 

 rather agreeable. But, about nine or ten o''clock, they 

 separate, and retire alone, until the following day, into the 

 most shady recesses of the forests. Their food consists of 

 little wild fruits, and they also eat insects. 



The Rtipicola, Cog de Roche, and Rock Manakin, of La- 

 tham, has been ranged with the manakins, but with little pro- 

 priety, being a bird differing from them considerably in size 

 and habits. It inhabits in Guiana and other parts of South 

 America, the deep clefts of rocks, and still more frequently 

 large and obscure caverns, where the light of day cannot 

 penetrate. This circumstance has caused many to believe 

 that it was a nocturnal bird, but as it flies during the day, 

 others have placed it among the diurnal. It is, however, 

 now well known that many of the howlers, and other birds, 

 reputed nocturnal, do the same thing. There is also another 

 point of approximation between the rupicolae and the noctur- 

 nal birds. The former are found more frequently in their 

 obscure habitations, than in open places. Great numbers of 

 them are discovered in caverns, where one cannot enter but 

 with torches. The male and female are equally lively, and 

 extremely wild. It is impossible to shoot them, but by 

 remaining concealed behind some rock : here it is necessary 

 to wait many hours before they come within range of shot ; 

 for the instant they perceive the hunter, they fly off" very 

 rapidly, but their flight is short and low. The males come 

 forth from the caverns more frequently than tlie females, 

 which seldom show themselves, and probably only come out 

 during the night. They place their nest in the hole of a 



