106 
VOYAGE UP THE TAPAJOS. 
Chap. II. 
of the year I had noticed, in other parts of the country, 
that mammals and birds resorted to the more humid 
areas of forest, we therefore proceeded to explore care- 
fully the low and partly swampy tract along the coast 
to the north of Santa Cruz. We spent two days in this 
way, landing at many places, and penetrating a good 
distance in the interior. Although unsuccessful with 
regard to the White Cebus, the time was not wholly 
lost, as I added several small birds of species new to my 
collection. On the second evening we surprised a large 
flock, composed of about 50 individuals, of a curious 
eagle with a very long and slender hooked beak, the 
Kostrhamus hamatus. They were perched on the 
bushes which surrounded a shallow lagoon separated 
from the river by a belt of floating grass : my men 
said they fed on toads and lizards found at the margins 
of pools. They formed a beautiful sight as they flew up 
and wheeled about at a great height in the air. We 
obtained only one specimen. 
Before returning to Aveyros, we paid another visit 
to the Jacare inlet leading to Captain Antonio's cattle 
farm, for the sake of securing further specimens of the 
many rare and handsome insects found there ; landing 
at the port of one of the settlers. The owner of the 
house was not at home, and the wife, a buxom young 
woman, a dark mameluca, with clear though dark com- 
plexion and fine rosy cheeks, was preparing, in company 
with another stout-built Amazon, her rod and lines to 
go out fishing for the day's dinner. It was now the 
season for Tucunar&, and Senhora J oaquina showed us 
the fly baits used to take this kind of fish, which she 
