204 



OUR SEARCH FOR A WILDERNESS, 



Before we describe the condition of the colony as we found 

 it when we reached the fallen tree, it will be interesting to 

 record its early history as far as we know it. This was the 

 first year of this colony of Cassiques, as last year there were 

 none nearer the clearing than the mouth of Hooric Creek, 



Fig. 



Nests of Red-backed Cassiques. 



three and one-half miles away, where in a tree, overhanging 

 the house of a black, a colony has been in existence for two 

 years. Three months ago, in January, one Scarlet-backed 

 Cassique was observed in the clearing at the mine, but it 

 soon vanished. Within a few days, however, a number of 

 these birds appeared, perhaps guided by the solitary scout. 



