136 



WANDERINGS IN 



Second 

 Journey. 



The small 

 Tiger-bird. 



The Yawa- 

 raciri. 



and half black species is the scarcest. There is a creek 

 in -the Denierara called Camouni. About ten minutes 

 from the mouth, you see a common-sized fig-tree 

 on your right-hand, as you ascend, hanging over the 

 water ; it bears a very small fig twice a year. When its 

 fruit is ripe, this Manikin is on the tree from morn 

 till eve. 



On all the ripe fig-trees in the forest you see the bird 

 called the small Tiger-bird. Like some of our belles 

 and dandies, it has a gaudy vest to veil an ill-shaped 

 body : the throat, and part of the head, are a bright 

 red ; the breast and belly have black spots on a yellow 

 ground ; the wings are a dark green, black, and white ; 

 and the rump and tail black and green. Like the Mani- 

 kin it has no song : it depends solely upon a showy 

 garment for admiration. 



Devoid too of song, and in a still superber garb, the 

 Yawaraciri comes to feed on the same tree. It has a bar 

 like black velvet from the eyes to the beak ; its legs are 

 yellow ; its throat, wings, and tail black ; all the rest of 

 the body a charming blue. Chiefly in the dry savannas, 

 and here and there accidentally in the forest, yoxi see a 

 songless Yawaraciri still lovelier than the last : his crown 

 is whitish blue, arrayed like a coat of mail ; his tail ij- 

 black, his wings black and yellow ; legs red ; and the 

 whole body a glossy blue. Whilst roving through the 

 forest, ever and anon you see individuals of the wren 



