DOWN THE AMAZONS. 



369 



we call reminiscence or association existed in the workings 

 of Nature ; for though the organic combinations are so dis- 

 tinct in different climates and countries, they never wholly 

 exclude each other. Every zoological and botanical prov- 

 ince retains some link which binds it to all the others, and 

 makes it part of the general harmony. The Arctic lichen 

 is found growing under the shadow of the palm on the 

 rocks of the tropical serra ; and the song of the thrush and 

 the tap of the woodpecker mingle with the sharp, discord- 

 ant cries of the parrot and paroquet. 



" Birds of prey, also, were not wanting. Among them was 

 one about the size of our kite, and called the Red Hawk, 

 which was so tame that, even when our canoe passed im- 

 mediately under the low branch on which he was sitting, he 

 did not fly away. But, of all the groups of birds, the most 

 striking as compared with corresponding groups in the tem- 

 perate zone, and the one which reminded me the most dis- 

 tinctly of the fact that every region has its peculiar animal 

 world, was that of the gallinaceous birds. The most fre- 

 quent is the Cigana, to be seen in groups of fifteen or twenty, 

 perched upon trees overhanging the water, and feeding upon 

 berries. At night they roost in pairs, but in the daytime 

 are always in larger companies. In their appearance they 

 have something of the character of both the pheasant and 

 peacock, and yet do not closely resemble either. It is a 

 curious fact, that, with the exception of some small par- 

 tridge-like gallinaceous birds, all the representatives of this 

 family in Brazil, and especially in the valley of the Ama- 

 zons, belong to types which do not exist in other parts of 

 the world. Here we find neither pheasants, nor cocks of the 

 woods, nor grouse ; but in their place abound the Mutum, 

 the Jacu, the Jacami, and the Unicorn (Crax, Penelope, 



16* X 



