370 TlMEHRI. 
of Pin. Mara being passed about mid-day. The Mara 
side of the creek here goes by the name of Pourtoco, 
while the left bank is called Qua-qua. Here the sides of 
the creek are well wooded, chiefly with water-wallaba, 
corkwood and mora, amongst which the bullet-tree, 
trysil, crab-wood, blood-wood and the silk-cotton may 
also be seen. The scenery is here decidedly interesting, 
and clumps of cokerite, seta, and manicole palms are 
occasionally seen scattered amongst the forest trees. 
During a great part of the day, a large flight of negro- 
cops had kept in view in the distance in front us, and 
speculation was rife as to whether a shot would be got at 
them as they gracefully circled, and one by one alighted ; 
but they were extremely shy and alert, and seeing the 
boat, as it rounded a turning, they leisurely rose and 
circled upwards and upwards, until they could barely be 
distinguished. It was a most interesting sight, to watch 
their easy, graceful circlings, at one time dark against 
the white fleecy clouds, and then suddenly, as their white 
wings caught and reflected the rays of the sun earth- 
wards, flashing with light, and with a whiteness that 
showed clear against the clouds. Circle after circle 
they described in this manner, upwards and upwards, 
crossing and recrossing each other in their course. 
Soon after, a bend of the creek brought us suddenly 
in view of an immense array of negrocops or jabirus, 
and of " nigger-heads" (Tantalus loculator) standing in 
a swampy part of the creek, about 150 yards ahead. A 
few of the birds raised their heads as we came in 
sight, but the rest remained in a dignified pose with 
their necks ihrown back, and their long black bills 
turned slightly downwards. The boat was at once put 
