338 OUR SEARCH FOR A WILDERNESS. 



three birds rose at once and whirred away, while I retraced 

 my steps. I returned as carefully as possible and encountered 

 a troup of small monkeys which passed close overhead, 

 sending down a rain of dead twigs. They apparendy have 

 the habit of breaking off twigs when they are progressing 

 leisurclv as I observed this same unnecessary amount of 

 falling twigs and branches on several other occasions. When 

 thus engaged they make a great racket, uttering now and 

 then plaintive, inarticulate sounds. When once they spy 

 you beneath them a sudden chorus arises like the greatly 

 exaggerated swearing of a red squirrel, and off they go 

 rapidly, silently, with not a sound of breaking branches. 



Finding a good point of vantage not far from my gun and 

 bag, I waited for Francis, squatting — coolie fashion — out 

 of respect to the bete rouge which were numerous and en- 

 thusiastic at this point! I sat there five minutes and not a 

 moment was devoid of interest. I accidentally snapped a 

 stick, and like an electric spark came a sharp zizz! at my 

 very elbow. I jumped as if an electric shock had indeed 

 accompanied it, and then broke another stick. Again the 

 zizz! snapped in answer, and close to my resting place I 

 discovered a "Six o'clock Bee," as the natives call these 

 giant cicadas {Cicada grossa). Like the Curassow, he was 

 on the qui vive for rivals and ready with his challenge. As 

 often as I snapped a stick, he whirred out an answer. 



A pair of Blue-and-yellow Macaws "' screamed. A\Tien 

 heard in the distance, all harshness is eliminated from 

 their voices, and an extremely human quality of sound is 

 acquired, as of one person calling in a high tone to another. 

 A Green Cassiquc '■'" whirred overhead, tolled his cow -bell 

 and strutted with slow elaborateness. Suddenly a pair of 

 Trumpeters ^'^ came into view, but saw me at the same in- 

 stant, and with loud chacks! fled in all haste. Going on to 

 our meeting place I almost stepped on Francis, who had 



