160 



STAY AT CAPITANIA, 



species, which I shall call strigilata*, a beautiful new species of tan- 

 gara (tnnagra ekgans-]-, and an extremely beautiful species of chat- 

 terer (proaiias cyanotropiis jj, whose plumage changes according to 

 the light. We could always make sure of finding the pretty little 

 manakins on a certain kind of tree, the black berries of which are 

 their favourite food. There are also deer in this forest; and Colonel 

 Falcao had his hounds brought hither from Aracatiba, to hunt them. 

 But to kill large and rare animals, which avoid the neighbourhood 

 of man, we went to the extensive ancient forest, about two or three 

 leagues distant, in the vicinity of Arapatiba. 



The road to this place was extremely agreeable : it led first through 

 wide swamps and sandy plains, full of various kinds of marsh plants ; 

 we then ascended hills, where thickets of young cocoa-palms and 

 other beautiful trees afforded a dark shade. A rush-like species of 

 grass covers the open spots, on which the little bright steel-coloured 

 finch (fringiUa nitens. Linn.) is very common. Riding along a nar- 

 row path in the woods, I found a large serpent coiled up, which 

 would not move out of the way. My horse started, and I therefore 

 took my pistol loaded with shot and killed the reptile. On examina- 

 tion we found that it was of a harmless kind, and learned that it is 

 known in the country by the name of caninana. It is certainly of 

 the genus coluber. It was not without much persuasion that Colonel 

 Falcao^s negro, who accompanied us, could be induced to take the 



* Pipra strigilata : smaller tlian/»?p?a erythrocephala ; crown deep red ; upper part of the 

 body olive green ; lower part whitish, striped with reddish brown. 



+ Tanagra elegans ; head deep yellow ; back black, with yellow stripes ; throat and breast 

 a brilliant greenish azure ; belly and sides green. 



X Procnias cyanotropus : if looked at against the light, the whole bird is of a splendid 

 azure ; and turned from the light, it appears of a shining bright green ; wings and throat 

 black ; the lower part of the body white. In the Berlin Museum it has received the name of 

 procnias ventralis. 



