194 WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 



melodiously in Demerara. The woodcutter is particularly 

 favoured by him ; for while the hen is sitting on her nest, 

 built in the roof of the woodcutter's hoiise, he sings for 

 hours together close by : he prefers the forests to the 

 cultivated parts. 



You would not grudge to stop for a few minutes, as you 

 are walking in the plantations, to observe a third species 

 of troupiale : his wings, tail, and throat are black, aU the 

 rest of the body is a bright yellow. There is something 

 very sweet and plaintive in his song, though much shorter 

 thaa that of the troupiale in the interior. 



A fourth species goes in flocks from place to place in the 

 cultivated parts at the time the Indian corn is ripe ; he is 

 all black, except the head and throat, which are yellow ; his 

 attempt at song is not worth attending to. 



Wherever there is a wild fig-tree ripe, a numerous 

 species of birds, called Tangara, is sure to be on it. There 

 are eighteen beautiful species here. Their plumage is 

 very rich and diversified ; some of them boast six separate 

 colours ; others have the blue, purple, green, and black so 

 kindly blended into each other, that it would be impossible 

 to mark their boundaries ; while others again exhibit them 

 strong, distinct, and abrupt : many of these tangaras have 

 a fine song. They seem to partake much of the nature of 

 our linnets, sparrows, and finches. Some of them are 

 fond of the plantations ; others are never seen there, pre- 

 ferring the wild seeds of the forest to the choicest fruits 

 planted by the hand of man. 



On the same fig-trees to which they repair, and often 

 accidentally up and down the forest, you fall in with four 

 species of Manikin. The largest is white and black, with 

 the feathers on the throat remarkably long : the next in 

 size is half red and half black : the third, black, with a 

 white crown : the fourth, black, with a golden crown, and 



