A GOLD MINE IN THE WILDERNESS. I/i 



first stroke of the axe; others, swayed l)y curiosity, return 

 again and again to watch the interlopers. A third class, 

 learning somehow of the new settlement, come post haste 

 and make themselves at home. These arc chiefly birds, 

 which, seldom or never found living in the heart of the jungle, 

 are as keen as Vultures to spy out a new clearing. They 

 must follow the canoes and trail, else it is impossible to 

 imagine how they learn of new outposts — whether a simple 

 Indian hammock shelter and cassava field, or a great com- 

 mercial undertaking such as this gold mine. 



To begin with the birds, the Hoorie clearing possessed 

 two pairs of Blue,"' three ])airs of Palm,'" and five jjairs of 

 Silverbeak"" Tanagers, besides six Blue-backed Seedeaters.''^' 

 None of these are forest birds and all nest in brushy places. 



The Blue Tanagers are clad in delicate, varying shades of 

 pale blue; the Palm Tanagers in dull olive green, but both 

 make up in noisy sibilant cries what they lack in color. The 

 Silverbeaks are beautiful, shading from rich wine color to 

 black, and with conspicuous silvery blue beaks. The little 

 Seedeaters were the most familiar birds about the bungalow, 

 coming to the steps to feed on fallen seeds. 



One of the first things which caught our eye were several 

 brilliantly iridescent green birds, insect-catching, among the 

 brush near the house. These were Paradise Jacamars,*''' 

 and they had their homes in the clay banks of the rivulets, 

 deep buried in the narrow valleys which abounded in the 

 forest. 



Each bird had two or more favorite twigs. When bug- 

 hunting flagged at one post they flew with a long swoop to the 

 second point of vantage. Our assistant, Crandall, observing 

 this, laid a limed twig across the lookout perch and in a short 

 time had caught two male birds. Their mates called loudly 

 for a time, then disappeared. Before night l:)oth had returned 

 with new mates, which we left in peace. 



