THE SINGING BIRDS. T75 



The Cock of the Rock is an inhabitant of Guiana and North-eastern Brazil, where it frequents 

 well-watered mountain regions, and the immediate vicinity of waterfalls, only quitting these localities 

 about June or July, to visit the woods and forests, in order to procure the abundant supply of 

 ripe fruit that awaits it at that season ; but it never, even during these excursions, descends into 

 the open plains. Humboldt met with these birds on the shores of the Orinoco, and Schomburghk 

 encountered them twice, each time in large flocks, whilst he was travelling through British Guiana, 

 once on the Canuku Mountains, and again amongst the sandstone rocks near Wenham Lake. " On 

 one occasion," says Schomburghk, " after ascending to the summit of a lofty precipice, so entirely 

 covered with huge blocks of granite overgrown with moss and ferns as to be almost impassable, we 

 came suddenly upon a small open spot, entirely destitute of vegetation. A signal from the Indian 

 who accompanied me warned me to conceal myself silently amongst the surrounding brushwood. 

 We had only been for a few moments thus hidden from view, when we heard a sound so exactly 

 resembling the cry of a kitten that I concluded we were about to attempt the capture of some 

 small quadruped. The cry was instantly and most exactly imitated by my guide, and he was again 

 answered by similar voices proceeding from every direction. In spite of a sign from the Indian to 

 have my gun in readiness, the first sight of the beautiful birds, whose strange notes had thus deceived 

 me, took me so completely by surprise, that I quite forgot to fire until too late ; for after darting 

 rapidly from the bushes, and ascertaining by a rapid glance that they had been deluded by a false cry, 

 they instantly retreated to their former shelter. Before leaving the spot, however, I succeeded in 

 shooting seven of the flock, but was not fortunate enough to see them perform the peculiar dances 

 and evolutions I had heard described by my brother and my Indian guide." We will give our readers 

 a description of the strange and interesting spectacle here alluded to, as afterwards witnessed by 

 himself, in the same naturalist's own words : — " Having at last attained a suitable spot, we listened 

 breathlessly for the cry of the birds, and my guides having ascertained exactly where they were 

 amusing themselves, I was noiselessly conducted behind some bushes close to their ball-room, and 

 after we had lain ourselves flat on the ground, saw one of the most attractive and extraordinary sights 

 I ever beheld. Some twenty of these glorious birds were seated upon the stones and rocks around 

 a small open space, in the centre of which a solitary male was dancing vigorously, and performing 

 a great variety of evolutions, alternately springing repeatedly with both feet from the ground, 

 spreading his wings, and moving his head, with most comical gestures, from side to side, waving 

 his tail like a wheel through the air, and then, when nearly exhausted by his long-sustained 

 exertions, concluding by walking coquettishly around the open space, as though desirous to receive 

 the applause of the spectators, which the females expressed by uttering a very peculiar cry. One 

 after another the males came down and took their turn in amusing the company, each going back 

 to his seat before another performer commenced. So completely absorbed was I in watching these 

 strange evolutions, that I had entirely forgotten my Indian companions, and was much startled when 

 a sudden shot was heard, and four of these beautiful birds fell. The rest of the party at once rose 

 in great terror, leaving their companions dead upon the ground." 



The remarkable performance thus described by Schomburghk is no doubt a part of the courtship 

 of the Cock of the Rock. We learn from the same authority that the nestlings are to be found at 

 all seasons of the year, but in the greatest numbers about March, when the plumage of the male is 

 in its full beauty. The nests found by Humboldt in Orinoco were made in holes in the granite rocks, 

 whilst those seen by Schomburghk were built in clefts and fissures, suspended like the nest of a 

 Swallow, and covered with resin. One of these nests is often occupied for years together, and 

 repaired by the addition of fresh fibres, feathers, or down, for the reception of each new brood. It 

 is by no means uncommon to find a great number of nests in the same cleft or hole. The brood 



