834 
ANIMALS OF EGA. 
Chap. Y. 
the country is tenanted by many hundred species, many 
of which are, in reality, abundant, and some of them 
conspicuous from their brilliant plumage. The cause 
of their apparent rarity is to be sought in the sameness 
and density of the thousand miles of forest which con- 
stitute their dwelling-place. The birds of the country 
are gregarious, at least during the season when they are 
most readily found ; but the frugivorous kinds are to be 
met with only when certain wild fruits are ripe, tod to 
know the exact localities of the trees requires months 
of experience. It would not be supposed that the in- 
sectivorous birds are also gregarious ; but they are so, 
numbers of distinct species, belonging to many different 
families, joining together in the chase or search of food. 
The proceedings of these associated bands of insect- 
hunters are not a little curious, and merit a few re- 
marks. 
Whilst hunting along the narrow pathways that are 
made through the forest in the neighbourhood of houses- 
and villages, one may pass several days without seeing 
many birds ; but now and then the surrounding bushes 
and trees appear suddenly to swarm with them. There 
are scores, probably hundreds of birds, all moving about 
with the greatest activity — woodpeckers and Dendro- 
colaptidse (from species no larger than a sparrow to 
others the size of a crow) running up the tree trunks ; 
tanagers,* ant-thrushes, humming-birds, fly-catchers, and 
barbets flitting about the leaves and lower branches. 
* Tachyphonus surinainus and cristatus, Tanagrella elegantissima. 
I very often found fruit- eating birds, such as Cassicus icteronotus and 
Capito Amazoninus mingled with these bands. 
