46 



Prince Maximilians 



body and yellowish white head. Near the house I found a nest 

 of thebentavi (laniiis pitangua. Linn.) with eggs in it, which has 

 the shape of a baker"*s-oven closed at the top. 



In the large lagoas in the plains north of BattuLa, innumerable 

 marsh and w ater-birds are to be found. We fell in with about 

 tliirty of the rose-coloured spoon-heron {platalea ajaja, Linn.) but 

 notwithstanding all our precautions, we could not succeed in killing 

 one. ^rhe lagoas are separated by dams, upon which we found 

 bushes in which there are always some birds of prey, of which we 

 killed some. On the border of a lake, I perceived the antunga, 

 (plotus anh 'nga, Linn.) At a distance of from four to five leagues 

 from Batiuha^ we came to a place called Barra do Fiirando, where 

 the lagoa fiia is connected with the sea. The lagoa /l?/a is usually 

 ruffled by the wind, and therefore often dangerous for canoes ; for 

 larger ships it is often too shallow. At low water the Bar-ra do 

 Furando, is blocked up. This whole district contains a great many 

 lakes along the coast, several of which are not marked in the maps. 

 With this quantity of water, and the fruitfulness of the soil, this 

 district might be made one of the most fruitful in Brazil, if it were 

 inhabited by a more industrious people. 



Having embarked our baggage on the lake, we continued our 

 road along the downs, amusing ourselves with the sight of many- 

 plovers, ( charadria J, strand-smpes, and oyster-fishes (hcematopus J, 

 which were picking up a number of small insects, as often as the 

 waves retired. The great number of ducks and marsh-birds which 

 we found here, was really remarkable. Large blackish flights of the 

 anas viduala. Linn, and of the whistling green-shouldered spe- 

 cies, described by azara under the name of"^ ipecutiri, rose at our 

 first shots like a sheet. This latter species is the most common in 

 that part of Brazil which I have seen. 



As it was growing late, and we could not cross the lagoa that 

 evening, being at the same time threatened with a heavy fall of 

 rain, we returned a little distance back to a small hut, where five 

 or six soldiers were watching to prevent the smugghng of dia- 

 monds. The soldiers lit a good fire for us, gave us mandiocca 

 meal and dried salt meat, and we chatted all the evening with 

 them. These mihtia soldiers, of rather a brown colour, wear 

 white cotton shirts and trowsers, their necks and feet remaining 

 naked ; each of them wears, like all other Brazilians, his rosary 

 about his neck. A musket, without a bayonet, is their only 

 arms. In the day-time they are fishing in the lagoaSy which fur- 

 nish them with food, besides the mandiocca meal and salt meat 

 which is given to them. They have, therefore, ropes made of 

 twisted bulls' skin, extended before their huts, on which they dry 

 the fish. The hut, being a guard-house, contained several rooms, 



neck dark brown ; thighs and rump rust-red ; all the upper parts dark brbwn ; pinion* 

 sad talc-feathers ash-coloa? with dark brown cross-stripes. 



