NOTES ON BRAZItv. 



One of them, called the Tessoura, was very different from the bird of 

 that name before described. This was about as large as a sparrow ; its 

 head dark brown, with a spot of yellow on the crown, the neck and 

 belly white, the back green, the wings light brown ; the tail very long, 

 composed of four feathers, which diverge when the bird flies, whence 

 it receives its name ; the outer half of the two extreme feathers were 

 white, all the rest dark brown, inclining to black ; the feet were small, 

 with three toes forward, and one behind, My knowledge of Ornithology 

 is just sufficient to enable me to refer it to the order of Passeres. To 

 the same order belongs the Laruna. My specimen was a strong plump 

 bird, nearly as large as a fieldfare ; its general colour a red orange, palest 

 beneath the belly and the tail, which was formed like that of a canary ; 

 the back and wing feathers had a tinge of brown, and the latter seemed 

 uncommonly strong ; the bill was short, thick, and jagged, and the 

 toes long. The Maria Preta was about the size of a lark ; its colour a 

 cinerous black, with a broad dash of white in the wings ; its bill black 

 and slender, and the tail long. Its appearance and habits give it a claim 

 to be called the Magpye of this part of the continent, where it is as 

 common as its prototype in England, 



At the East side of the town, where the waters from the mountains 

 unite, there is abundance of Cascalho, which contains gold, and is 

 wrought in the usual manner. But the principal mine is on the West 

 side of the hill, and close to the town ; where the speculators have 

 commenced their operations by digging into the bottom of the hill, and 

 excavating an area, three sides of which are formed by the rock, and 

 the fourth is open towards the West. The texture of the rock is a soft 

 red stone, or rather indurated clay, mingled with mica, like the common 

 soil of the country. In one part of the cleared area an hollow has been 

 made, towards which there are channels from every part of the mine; 

 so that all the water which can be conveyed thither goes into the well, 

 and, having no other outlet, flows over its sides into a rivulet at the foot 

 of the hill, passing towards the North, In working the mine the earth 

 is thrown into the chaqnels, gnd conducted through them by rakes and 



