38 TlMEHRI. 
next instant there was a change ; it gave almost a scream, 
started back, and literally fell, without using its wings, 
through a hole in the floor to the ground below. It 
seemed as if it had a fit. But it soon picked itself up 
and flew up near, but not too near the basket, round and 
round which it moved excitedly and angrily. On going 
to the basket to see what was the matter, a large rattle 
snake glided out. 
The most curious of all Guiana birds, is occasionally, 
but very rarely tamed. This is the bell-bird [Chasmar- 
hynchus carunculatus) a white bird, at least as regards 
the male, with an odd black process on the upper man- 
dible, pendent ordinarily, but raised like a black horn when 
the bird utters its cry. And this cry, which is supposed 
to resemble the sound of a bell, has given a name to the 
bird. When domesticated the loud resonant cry uttered at 
intervals of about a minute throughout the greater part 
of the day is anything but pleasant. 
Hawks, owls, herons, plovers and almost every other 
kind of native bird,. are tamed ; but of these we cannot 
allow ourselves space to speak. Only one other bird 
must be mentioned, the beautiful cock-of-the-rock, 
{Rupicola crocea), of the most indescribably vivid fiery 
orange everywhere but at the tips of the wings and the 
tail where there is some black. Beautiful in colour as 
are the skins of these birds when seen in museums at 
home, no one can form an idea of the intense light of 
their colour who has not seen them living and in good 
condition ; for the life of the colour — if we may so speak 
— soon dies out after death or even when the bird is in 
bad health. These birds are highly valued by the Indians, 
