116 



WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 



wings, and tail, black ; all the rest of the body a charm- 

 ing blue. Chiefly in the dry savannas, and here and 

 there accidentally in the forest, you see a songless 

 yawaraciri still lovelier than the last : his crown is 

 w r hitish blue, arrayed like a coat of mail ; his tail is 

 black, his wings black and yellow ; legs red ; and the 

 whole body a glossy blue. Whilst roving through the 

 forest, ever and anon you see individuals of the wren 

 species, busy amongst the fallen leaves, or seeking in- 

 sects at the roots of the trees. 



Here, too, you find six or seven species of small birds, 

 whose backs appear to be overloaded with silky plumage. 

 One of these, with a chestnut breast, smoke-coloured 

 back, tail red, white feathers like horns on his head, 

 and white narrow- pointed feathers under the jaw, feeds 

 entirely upon ants. When a nest of large light brown 

 ants emigrates, one following the other in meandering 

 lines above a mile long, you see this bird watching 

 them, and every now and then picking them up. When 

 they disappear he is seen no more : perhaps this is the 

 only kind of ant he is fond of : when these ants are 

 stirring, you are sure to find him near them. You can- 

 not well mistake the ant after you have once 

 been in its company, for its sting is very 

 severe, and you can hardly, shoot the bird, and pick it 

 up, without having five or six upon you. 



Parrots and Parrots and Paroquets are very numerous 

 Paroquets. here, and of many different kinds. You will 

 know when they are near you in the forest, not only by 

 the noise they make, but also by the fruits and seeds 

 which they let fall while they are feeding. 

 Th h . ^ The Hia-hia parrot, called in England the 

 parrot of the sun, is very remarkable : he can 



