A YOUNG NATURALIST. 



91 



forest gradually lighted up, and the trunks of the trees 

 gilded by slanting sunbeams. Before starting again, one of 

 our party carefully examined the ground on which we had 

 camped, so as not to forget any of our effects, which, if lost, 

 would have been irreparable. I also noticed that l'Encue- 

 rado's basket was decked with the three squirrels' skins, 

 which would thus gradually dry. 



We had walked on for nearly an hour, the only incident 

 being our meeting with various kinds of birds, when the 

 melancholy cry of the couroucou struck on our ears. The 

 call of this bird is very much like that uttered by the Mex- 

 ican ox-drivers when they herd together the animals under 

 their care ; hence its Spanish name of vaquero. We gave 

 chase to them, and in less than half an hour we had obtain- 

 ed a male and female. Lucien was never tired of admiring 

 these beautiful creatures, with their yellow beaks, hooked 

 like those of birds of prey. The male bird, in particular, 

 was magnificent ; the feathers on the head and back seemed 

 to be " shot " with a golden green, while the edges of the 

 wings and the belly were tinted with the purest crimson, 

 shaded off into fwo black lines, which extended as far as 

 the tail. 



" Shall we find many of these birds in the forest, M. 

 Surnichrast ?" asked Lucien. 



" No, Master 6 Sunbeam ;' they are rather rare ; so we 

 must take great care of the skins of these we have shot." 



" Is their flesh good to eat ?" he asked. 



" Excellent; and many a gourmand would be glad to ihake 

 a meal of it. However, at dinner-time, you shall try for 

 yourself ; and you will meet with very few people who, like 

 you, have partaken of the trogon massena" 



" At all events, it isn't another relation of the rat — is it :" 

 asked the boy, archly. 



" No ; it belongs to the family of climbers — that is to 



