Ampelis Pompadoha. is a Migrant. 
71 
to several yellow and bluish concentric stripes at their centres, 
presented an unusually lovely colouring. The forest consisted for the 
most part of huge species of Ficiis, the fruits of which had just then 
reached maturity. Fern, Rapatca, AJ[nnm, Cahithai and Cannu spread 
over the ground. A number of brilliantly ornamental birds Ampelis 
poiiipadora, called by the Indians \\'a]]alial)a from the sound of their 
husky note, were perclied upcm the Firns trees so that within a few 
minutes we had already secured five specimens. However abundantly 
the Ampelis Cotinga Linn., A. caerulea Tom., A. Cayana Linn., and 
A. pompcnlom Linn., are met with in (Juiana, ])articu]arly on tlie 
Demerara, especially in November up to the middle of January, when the 
fruits and seeds of the different species of Ficiis, ßrosii)hum and Psidiuin 
reach maturity, they nevertheless suddenly disappear out of the forests 
from March until the end of October, when they are once more to be seen 
at the commencement of November: the anomaly of their presence here 
(in March) was therefore all the more extraordinary to me. That the 
above species of Ampelis are only met w'ith in British Guiana as 
migrants seems to follow, among other things from tlie fact that one finds 
on their first appearance every transition in plumage and age but never 
quite young birds: the latter cannot probably as yet undertake the 
journey owing to the weakness of their flight-muscles, or else during tlieir 
first year of life sultsist on food not to be got here. During the whole of 
my four years' stay birds of such tender age were just as rarely seen by 
me as were their nests known to the Indians and backwoodsmen, and yet 
these latter are the most excellent empirical naturalists that are to be 
found anywhere : indeed, I must explain that I never considered any of my 
observations and experiences concerning animal life valid, and never re- 
corded them here unless they corresponded with those of these people. 
The accounts of the Indians are far from being as al)Solutely trustworthy 
as the statements of the grey-haired backwoodsmen, but according to the 
assurances of both, who were in agreement, the species of Ampelis cited 
must betake themselves to Cayenne and spend the breeding season there. 
It was sur])rising to me that, with regard to their breeding, I could learn 
just as little concerning the gcnei-a CJtasiiKirJnjiirhus, J'rornias and the 
species A)ii pelts carnifex alth(»ugh the latter remains liorc the winde year 
round . 
178. At the settlement of the one-eyed chief who, with the largest 
portion of the male inhalatants, had gone ahead with my brother, the 
women left behind had tlie greatest difficulty in protecting me from the 
ferocious dogs. When finally their Idows had quietened some and driven 
off others of the raging pack, I was al)le to enter the old man's large 
roomy and cleanly house the walls of whicli were ])uilt of tree bark in- 
stead of clay. Both hunting and household impleuients were hung u]) 
and put away with a love of order and care that I had never yet observed 
among the Indians. The Avliole female population was engaged in spin- 
ning cotton, but I exerted myself in vain when I tried to seduce them 
into'^selling the prettily carved weapons of their absent husbands. 
179. After a short visit we turned to another village the two new 
bge-hiye houses of which liad already smilingly invited us in the 4if5- 
