322 TlMEHRI. 
in the place of antennae, or as a feeler to warn its possessor 
of the approach of danger. So tame or impudent were 
these insects that, on rising and disturbing them, they 
would not fly away, but would quietly walk off and per- 
haps rehearse their curious antics. 
Though the camp was never troubled by " tigers" 
(Felis onca) distant noises attributable to such animals 
were often to be heard at night. A small ocelot to 
which chase was given, was once met with on an island 
in the Puruni, but it dashed into the water and made its 
escape into the forest. 
The Indian huntsman of my parry was a decided acqui- 
sition, for the larder was well supplied with fresh meat. In 
fa6t, I often experienced an embarras de richesses when 
he was more than usually successful. Several times did 
he bring powis (Crax aletlor) , maam (Tinamus) , 
douraquara (Odontophorus guianensis) , maroodi (Pene- 
lope mar ail) , land turtle (Testudo) , deer (Cervus) 
bush hog or abouyah (Dicotyles torquatus) , haimara 
(Erythrinus macrodon) , and acouri (Dasyprotla 
aguti). All this fresh meat was an extremely 
pleasant change from the usual fare of bush travellers, 
viz., tinned meats and salt fish. 
During the last three months of my stay, labba meat 
(Coelogenys paca) , which is justly looked upon as the 
caviare of the bush, was fairly plentiful. This was due 
to a small black and white dog, belonging to one of the 
boat hands, which hunted labba excellently ; sometimes 
killing four or five in a morning, and once even six. 
There do not seem to be many Indians in the Puruni ; 
but from some that stopped at my camp en route for 
Bartica Grove, I learned that about seven days' journey 
