196 WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. . 



long, you see this bird watching them^ and every now and 

 then picking them up. When they disappear he is seen no 

 more: perhaps this is the only kind of ant he is fond of; 

 when these ants are stirring, you are sure to find him near 

 them. You cannot well mistake the ant after you have 

 once been in its company, for its sting is very severe, and 

 you can hardly shoot the bird and pick it up, without 

 having five or six upon you. 



Parrots and Paroquets are very, numerous here, and of 

 many different kinds. You will know when they are near 

 you in the forest, not only by the noise they make, but also 

 by, the fruits and seeds which they let fall while they are 

 feeding. 



The Hia-hia Parrot, called in England the Parrot of the 

 Sun, is very remarkable : he can erect at pleasure a fine 

 radiated circle of tartan feathers quite round the back of 

 his head from jaw to jaw. The fore-part of his head is 

 white ; his back, tail, and wings, green ; and his breast and 

 belly tartan. 



Superior in size and beauty to every parrot of South 

 America, the Ara will force you to take your eyes from the 

 rest of animated nature, and gaze at him : his commanding 

 strength, the flaming scarlet of his body, the lovely variety 

 of red, yellow, blue, and green in his wings, the extraordinary' 

 length of his scarlet and blue tail, seem all to join and de- 

 mand for him the title of " emperor of all the parrots." He 

 is scarce in Demerara till you reach the confines of the 

 Macoushi country ; there he is in vast abundance ; he* 

 mostly feeds on trees of the palm species. When the cou- 

 courite-trees have ripe fruit on them, they are covered with 

 this magnificent parrot : he is not shy or wary ; you may 

 take your blow-pipe and quiver of poisoned arrows, and ki]l 

 more than you are able to carry back to your hut. They 

 are very vociferous, and, like the common parrots, rise up 



