SOUTH AMERICA. 



99 



species exactly the same as this in shape, note, and Secono 



Journey, 



economy, but differing in colour, its whole body being — 



like black velvet ; on its breast a tinge of red appears 

 through the black. Thus nature has ordered this little 

 Tangara to put on mourning to the north of the line, and 

 wear scarlet to the south of it. 



For three months in the year the environs of Pernam- Seasons, 

 buco are animated beyond description. From November 

 to March the weather is particularly fine ; then it is that 

 rich and poor, young and old, foreigners and natives, all 

 issue from the city to enjoy the country till Lent 

 approaches, when back they hie tiiem. Villages and 

 hamlets, where nothing before but rags was seen, now 

 shine in all the elegance of dress ; every house, every 

 room, every shed become eligible places for those whom 

 nothing but extreme necessity could have forced to live 

 there a few Aveeks ago : some join in the merry dance, 

 others saunter up and down the orange-groves ; and 

 towards evening, the roads become a moving scene of silk 

 and jewels. The gaming-tables have constant visitors ; 

 there, thousands are daily and nightly lost and won ; 

 parties even sit down to try their luck round the outside 

 of the door as well as in the room : — 



" Vestibulum ante ipsum primisque in faucibus aulse 

 Luctus et ultrices, posuere sedilia curae. 



^ About six or seven miles from Pernambuco stands a Monteiro. 

 pretty little village called Monteiro ; the river runs close 



o 2 



