BIRDS OF THE SUBURBS 



II 



by these familiar tanagers. They are just as lively, 

 restless, bold, and wary ; their notes are very similar ; 

 chirping and inharmonious, and they seem to be almost 

 as fond of the neighbourhood of man. They do not, 

 however, build their nests on houses. 



Another interesting and common bird was the Japim, 

 a species of Cassicus (C. icteronotus). It belongs to the 

 same family of birds as our starling, magpie and rook. 

 It has a rich yellow and black plumage, remarkabl}^ com- 

 pact and velvety in texture. The shape of its head and 

 its physiognomy are very similar to those of the magpie ; 

 it has light gray eyes, which give it the same knowing 

 expression. It is social in its habits ; and builds its nest 

 like the English rook, on trees in the neighbourhood of 

 habitations. But the nests are quite differently con- 

 structed, being shaped like purses, two feet in length, 

 and suspended from the slender branches all round the 

 tree, some of them very near the ground. The entrance 

 is on the side near the bottom of the nest. This bird is 

 a great favourite with the Brazilians of Para : it is a noisy, 

 stirring, babbling creature, passing constantly to and fro, 

 chattering to its comrades, and is very ready at imitating 

 other birds, especially the domestic poultry of the vicinity^ 

 There was at one time a weekly newspaper published at 

 Para called The Japim ; the name being chosen, I sup- 

 pose, on account of the babbling propensities of the bird. 

 Its eggs are nearly round, and of a bluish-white colour, 

 speckled with brown. 



Of other vertebrate animals we saw very little except 

 of the lizards. These are sure to attract the attention of 

 the new-comer from Northern Europe, by reason of their 

 strange appearance, great numbers, and variety. The 

 species which are seen crawling over the walls of buildings 

 in the city, are different from those found in the forest 

 or in the interior of houses. They are unpleasant-looking 

 animals, with colours assimilated to those of the dilapi- 

 dated stone and mud walls on which they are seen. The 

 house lizards belong to a peculiar family, the Geckos. 

 They a,re found even in the best-kept houses, most fre- 

 quently on the walls and ceilings : they are generally 

 motionless by day, being active only at night. They are 

 of speckled gray, or ashy colours. The structure of their 

 feet is beautifully adapted for clinging to and running 

 over smooth surfaces ; the underside of their toes being: 



