THE SEARCHERS. 3. 



second and third quills, which are of equal size, exceeding the rest in length. The moderate-sized 

 tail is straight at its extremity ; the legs are weak, and the tongue, which is tolerably long, composed 

 of two lobes, terminating in fringed margins. 



THE SAI, OR BLUE CAEREBA. 



The Sai, or Blue Caereba {Ccereba cyaned). The prevailing colour of this beautiful species is 



a brilliant light blue, shading towards the top of the head into resplendent blueish green ; the upper 



part of the back, wings, and tail, as well as a stripe surrounding the eye, are black, and the inner 



margins of the wings yellow. The eye is greyish brown, the beak and foot bright orange-red. The 



THE SAI, OR BLUE CAEREBA {,C<Ti-eia cyaveo). 



plurnage of the female is siskin-green on the upper parts of the body, .and pale green beneath ; the 

 throat is whitish. The length of this species is four inches and two-thirds, the wing measures tvvo 

 inches and a quarter, and the tail one inch and a quarter. 



These beautiful birds are met with throughout the greater part of South America, and are 

 especially numerous about Espirito Santo. The Prince von Wied found them in large numbers 

 inhabiting the forests near the coast, and tells us, that except during the breeding season, they live in 

 small parties of six or eight, which disport themselves among the topmost branches of the trees, 

 frequently associating with Tangaras, and such other of the feathered inliabitants of their leafy retreats 

 as are about their own size. Fruit, seeds, and insects constitute their principal means of subsistence, 

 and in pursuit of these they display an agility an \ dexterity fully equalling that of our own Titmouse. 

 The voice of the Sai is only capable of producing a gentle twitter. Schomburghk mentions that large 

 numbers of a very similar species are destroyed by the natives, who employ the gay and glossy 

 featliers as personal ornaments. 



