The Nest of the Jabiru. 
121 
and so it happens that both the colour and size of the egg remain 
unknown to me. The construction of the nest which is always built 
upon a horizontally i)rojecting forked branch is quite in accordance with 
that of our storks. The, old nest is used over again Avith each new 
breeding season which takes i)lace in August and Sept(nnber. The 
number of young which leave the nest f)nly in January or February is on 
an average two, rarely three. During incubation, male and female 
regularly take turn and turn about: the one like tlie other makes its way 
back immediately after satisfying its hunger and settles on the branch 
nearest the nest to take its share in the hatching process, or to defend 
it from any approaching danger with which it may l»e frequently 
threatened in the waj^ of tiger-cats andJ monkeys. Considering how shy 
we had always found the bird in the savannah, it seemed very extra- 
ordinary that all fear was now cast aside, and that it should remain quiet 
with all our noisy ways and doings under the very tree on which its nest 
was built. Eegard for their eggs and young makes them unmindful of 
danger threatening them. It is a lovely sight to see hundreds of these 
huge birds when frightened in the savannah flying in wild confusion 
hither and thither, right and left, until when at a heiglit of 100 to 1.jO feet 
they will form one long file, and then soar higher and higher in a majestic 
flight of ample spirals until. Jiovering like dark spots in tlie azure sky, 
they almost disappear from sight. When they travel, tliey also arrange 
themselves in long liooked rows (in langen Hakenrrihcn) in whiclii the 
leader, as with cranes, will after a time be relieved by tlie ono innnediately 
following. In spite of their ungainly somewhat uptui-ned beak they are 
adepts at extracting the Am pullnrin c/uianrnsis and A. papi/racca mollusc 
from its shell without breaking it. The Macusis call the bird Tai-aramu, 
the Warraus Doih, the Brazilians Yuga, and the Arawaks Mora-coyasehre, 
the Spirit of the Mora. 
298. Owing to the Mahn, the Ireng of the Macusis, making a number 
of bends which, when the water is high, considerably increase the 
strength of its current, we reached its mouth Ity three o'clock in the 
afternoon, and at the same time our old camping place on the Takutu 
trip. The Royal Cipher VR (Victoria Regina) shewed up clear on the 
smooth ashy-grey trunk of the giant Mimosa (Sect. 85) opposite, but the 
huge sandbanks had disappeared at the 300 yard wide junction, whence 
the waters that were rolling calmly and jdacidly towards the Rio Branco 
would be quickly carrying us down the Takutu. Behind us. on the 
southern bank, was the mouth of a small stream, the Yaroai, while on the 
northern was to be seen that of the larger Virua, the Manucuroi)a of the 
maps, which, according to the Indians, takes its rise in the Pacaraima 
Mountains. Departing day reminded us about choosing a camp and it 
was not long before we made a landing on the obliquely sloping high 
southern shore on the top of which we found spreatt: out before us one 
of the most lovely sunset-tinted landscapes imaginable. The Pacaraima 
Mountains, in front of which lay the Wacuta, a small range of hills, 
stretched their broad outline from NNIW. to NNE., while tbe Waiking- 
epping or Deer Mountain, with its strang-ely truncated summit and the 
Wai-ami in W. by S. stood up like protecting guards. Towards SSE., the 
