The OocK.-o^’-THE-I^ocIvs , Play-Ghounh. $47 
of the poison, it is probable that they also do not know the dangerous 
properties of the plant. 
940. In what way did the Indians learn the properties ol this 
plant, how did they discover it in the midst of these wildernesses? These 
questions press themselves on the botanist all the more in that a number 
of species of Strychnos are present in the forest oases of the savannah, 
even in the immediate neighbourhood of their settlements, and yet are 
not utilised by them. Before continuing our journey farther, we cut a 
number of 3 to 4 feet long pieces, mostly from the trunk and woody twigs • 
of the specimens that showed by their young shoots they were full of sap: 
we proposed preparing the poison with them on the following day. 
941. The higher we climbed the more difficult became the track and 
the offener were we obliged to take a rest: while thus engaged we 
suddenly heard the well-known note of the Cock of-the-rock at not too 
great a distance. My companions immediately sneaked with their 
weapons in its direction, when soon after one of them returned and told 
me to follow him carefully and lightly. We might have crept some 
thousand paces through the bush on hands and knees when my curiosity 
that had been aroused was satisfied, and on crouching down quietly 
beside the other Indians I witnessed a most interesting sight. On the 
smooth surface of a rocky crag a party of (lie beautiful birds were 
keeping up a dance: a performance that has been doubted by many 
ornithologists though not. only my brother, but many of the Indians had 
already told me plenty concerning it. While about a score of birds, 
perched upon the bushes surrounding the play-ground, were uttering thq 
most peculiar notes, and apparently constituting an admiring audience, 
one of the males was cutting capers on the smooth boulder: in proud 
consciousness of self it cocked and dropped its outspread tail and flapped 
its likewise expanded wings, and thus continued to figure out the steps 
until it seemed to be exhaused, when it flew back on to the bush and its 
place was taken by anoher male. The females in the meantime uttered 
a peculiar .note, watched unweariedly and on the return of the tired 
performer uttered a scream denoting applause. The shot of one of the 
Indians, whom I had been unable to prevent, dispersed the merry party, 
which left four of their partners wounded on the ground. The bird 
appears to be of an especially delicate nature because the slightest injury 
kills it, which also is the case if just the wing-bones are broken by the 
shot. In the crop were found only fruits, especilly hard berries of the 
size of a maize corn which belonged to some palm. 
942. As the Indians set high store upon the birds’ feathers they 
particularly keep a look-out for its play-grounds, which are regularly 
established, and wait here with their blow-guns for the performers to 
put in an appearance: once the ball is opened the birds are so absorbed 
with their sport that the hunters can shoot down several of the 
spectators perched around. 
943. After this interesting interlude we renewed our journey over 
the irregular confusion of heaped-up rubble and across whole stretches 
of uprooted trees, which clearly indicated that frightful storms must 
often rage on these heights. In some places these decaying giants 
