SOUTH AMERICA. 
107 
Next to tlie humming-birds, the cotingas display SECOND 
the gayest plumage. They are of the order of The Co ~ 
passeres, and you number five species betwixt the tingas - 
sea-coast and the rock Saba. Perhaps the scarlet 
cotino^a is the richest of the five, and is one of those 
birds which are found in the deepest recesses of the 
forest. His crown is flaming red ; to this abruptly 
succeeds a dark shining brown, reaching half way 
down the back: the remainder of the back, the 
rump, and tail, the extremity of which is edged with 
black, are a lively red; the belly is a somewhat 
lighter red; the breast reddish black; the wings 
brown. He has no song, is solitary, and utters a 
monotonous wdnstle which sounds like “ quet.” He 
is fond of the seeds of the hitia tree, and those of the 
siloahali and bastard siloabali trees, which ripen in 
December, and continue on the trees for about two 
months. He is found throughout the year in 
Demerara ; still nothing is known of his incubation. 
The Indians all agree in telling you that they have 
never seen his nest. 
The purple-breasted cotinga has the throat and The pur- 
breast of a deep purple, the wings and tail black, ed cotin- 
andall the rest of the body a most lively shining blue. ga ' 
The purple-throated cotinga has black wings and 
tail, and every other part a light and glossy blue, 
save the throat, which is purple. 
The Pompadour cotinga is entirely purple, except ThePom- 
his wings, which are white, their four first feathers cotinga. 
tipped with brown. The great coverts of the wings 
are stiff, narrow, and pointed, being shaped quite 
