'102 cassell's book of birds. 



Azara mentions having seen a Surukua hanging like a Woodpecker from the moss, as it hollowed out 

 a cavity with its beak, his mate meanwhile remaining quietly perched upon a neighbouring branch, 

 and apparently stimulating her mate to renewed exertions by her gestures and glances ; at this period, 

 the constantly-repeated cry of the male resembles the syllables " pio, pio." The eggs, two to four 

 in number, and of a white colour, are laid in September. The flesh of the Surukua is excellent. 



THE POMPEO. 



The PoMPEO {Trogoti viridis) is of a splendid steel-blue, shimmering with green on the crown 

 of the head, nape, sides of the throat, and upper breast ; the back, shoulders, and upper wing- 

 covers are of a metallic green, shading into blue on the rump ; the belly and vent are bright, deep 

 yellow. The exterior feathers of the wing-covers and the quills are black, the latter edged with 

 white ; the centre tail-feathers are green, bordered with black towards the extremity. The next in 

 order are black with a green edge ; the three outermost are white at the tip and on the exterior web. 

 In the female the back is deep grey, the belly pale yellow, and the feathers of the wing-covers 

 delicately striped with white. The eyes of both sexes are brown, the beak pale greenish white, and 

 foot blackish grey. This species is twelve inches and three-quarters long, and eighteen inches 

 and a half broad ; the wing measures five inches and three-quarters, and the tail five inches and 

 one-third. 



The Pompeo is commonly met with in the forests of North Brazil and Guiana ; and, according to 

 the Prince von Wied, is most numerous in the plantations near the coast, where its short, monotonous 

 cry is to be heard in all directions. The habits of this species closely resemble those of the 

 . Surukua. AVe are told, on the authority of Schomburghk, that the Pompeo consumes seeds and 

 fruit, as well as insects, and that the nest, which is supported upon thin branches or twigs, is very 

 similar to that of the Wild Pigeon ; but for the accuracy of this latter statement we cannot vouch. 

 The capture of these birds, which are usually met with in pairs or small parties, is attended with but 

 little difficulty, as they are quite fearless of men ; the Brazilians, we are told, are constantly in the 

 habit of obtaining a meal at their expense by an imitation of their call-note, which at once brings 

 down the unsuspecting victim, and thus affords the hunter or traveller an appetising repast. 



THE TOCOLORO. 



The TocOLORO {Prionotdus temnurus), a species inhabiting Cuba, differs from all its congeners 

 in the remarkable formation of its graduated tail, the feathers of which become gradually broader 

 towards the tip, where the web takes the form of a crescent. The top of the head, nape, back, and 

 upper breast are pale grey, and the belly a rich cinnabar-red ; the quills are brown, striped with 

 white, the feathers of the large wing-covers steel-blue, shaded with white. The centre tail-feathers 

 are of a deep metallic green, the next in order blueish green, and the three outermost tipped with 

 white. The eye is of a brilliant reddish yellow, the foot blackish brown, and the beak deep brown, 

 wth bright red lower mandible. The length of the body is ten inches, and the span of the wings 

 fifteen inches, the wings and tail each measure five inches. 



The Tocoloro is common in some parts of Cuba, and in its habits closely resembles the 

 members of the group already mentioned. D'Orbigny describes its cry as resembling the syllables 

 "to-corr," long drawn out, the first note being shrill and powerful, while the second is deep and low. 

 Flowers, fruit, and seeds appear to constitute its principal means of subsistence. The period of 

 incubation takes place in April, May, and June ; the nest is usually made in holes in trees, those 

 excavated by the Woodpecker being preferred. The eggs are round, pure white, and from three to 

 four in number. 



