98 



WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 



on a twig over tlie Avater in the unfrequented creeks ; it 

 looks lilve tanned cow leather. 



As you advance towards the mountains of Demerara, 

 other species of humming-birds present themselves before 

 you. It seems to be an erroneous opinion, that the hum- 

 ming-bird lives entirely on honey-dew. Almost every 

 flower of the tropical climates contains insects of one 

 kind or other ; now, the humming-bird is most busy 

 about the flowers an hour or two after sunrise, and after a 

 shower of rain, and it is just at this time that the insects 

 come out to the edge of the flower, in order that the sun's 

 rays may dry the nocturnal dew and rain wdiich they 

 have received. On opening the stomach of the hum- 

 ming-bird, dead insects are almost always found there. 



^sText to the humming-birds, the cotingas 

 display the gayest plumage. They are of the 

 order of passeres, and you number flve species betwixt 

 the sea-coast and the rock Saba. Perhaps the scarlet co- 

 tinga is the richest of the five, and is one of those birds 

 which are found in the deepest recesses of the forest. His 

 crown is flaming red ; to this abruptly succeeds -a dark 

 shining brown, reaching half way down the back : the 

 remainder of the back, the rump, and tail, the extremity 

 of which is edged with black, are a lively red ; the belly 

 is a somewhat lighter red j the breast reddish black ; the 

 wings brown. He has no song, is solitary, and utters a 

 monotonous whistle which sounds like "quet." He is 

 fond of the seeds of the hitia-tree, and those of the 

 siloabali and bastard siloabali-trees, which ripen in 

 December, and continue on the trees for about two 

 months. He is found throughout the year in Demerara ; 

 still nothing is known of his incubation. The Indians all 

 agree in telling you that they have never seen his nest. 



