WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 193 



the trees over the water, and as its beak bears some resem- 

 blance to that of the kingfisher, this may probably account 

 for its being taken for one ; it feeds entirely upon insects ; 

 it sits on a branch in motionless expectation, and as soon 

 as a fly, butterfly, or moth passes by, it darts at it, and re- 

 turns to the branch it had just left. It seems an indolent, 

 sedentary bird, shunning the society of all others in the 

 forest. It never visits the plantations, but is found at all 

 times of the year in the woods. There are four species of 

 jacamar in Demerara ; they are all beautiful; the largest, 

 rich and superb in the extreme. Its plumage is of so fine 

 a changing blue and golden green, that it may be ranked 

 with the choicest of the humming-birds. Nature has de- 

 nied it a song, but given a costly garment in lieu of it. 

 The smallest species of jacamar is very common in the dry 

 savannas. The second size, all golden green on the back, 

 must be looked for in the wallaba forest. The third is 

 found throughout the whole extent of these wilds ; and the 

 fourth, which is the largest, frequents the interior, where 

 you begin to perceive stones in the ground. 



When you have penetrated far into Macoushia, you hear 

 the pretty songster called Troupiale pour forth a variety 

 of sweet and plaintive notes. This is the bird which the 

 Portuguese call the Nightingale of Guiana ; its predominant 

 colours are rich orange and shining black, arrayed to great 

 advantage; his delicate and well- shaped frame seems un- 

 able to bear captivity. The Indians sometimes bring down 

 troupiales to Stabroek, but in a few months they languish 

 and die in a cage. They soon become very familiar ; and 

 if you allow them the liberty of the hoiise, they live longer 

 than in a cage, and appear in better spirits ; but, when 

 you least expect it, they drop down and die in epilepsy. 



Smaller in size, and of colour not so rich and somewhat 

 differently arranged, another species of troupiale sings 







