A Collecting Trip on the Abary. 375 
seemed to be almost barren. In the forest, the shrill 
piercing whistle of the " Pi-pi-yo" or green-heart bird 
(Lathria cinerea) alone could be heard, and this the 
only bird seen. Along the small channels, through the 
dense low bush closed in by the forest, the common blue 
butterflies (Morpho) and the common yellow butterflies 
were the only insects noticeable. We wandered about 
for some time, to see if anything could be found ; but in 
the absence of tra6ts or paths, but little could be done ; 
and I determined to return to the lower reaches where 
fortune had been more kind. Skins were made of a few 
small macaws, and of the swallow-winged barbet (Cheli- 
doptera tenebrosa) — the only barbet seen during all the 
time of the trip ; and when we reached the camping 
ground which we left in the morning, we turned in for the 
rest of the day, so as to be better able to skin and 
prepare a large waterhaas sow that had been captured. 
Early next morning we left the Tauraculi district, 
obtaining on the way two lapwings at the same swamp 
where we had procured the one two days before, besides 
a very fine specimen of the yellow-backed mocking-bird 
(Cassicus persicus), a small long-billed kiskadee, a rare 
hawk, and a maroodie. The only "tiger" of the trip was 
met with on this afternoon : but it was seen from a 
distance as it plunged into the water to cross the 
creek ; and whether it was a jaguar or an ocelot, it is 
out of the question to say. A rare species of bill-bird 
(Selenidera sp.^Z was seen close to the high bamboo 
trees at Coupmans, but unfortunately it was not 
procured. 
All along the course of the creek, we met with the 
effects of the fires which had been set two or three days 
