The Osceola times., 1881-04-16
BIRDS OF BRAZIL.

delight our eyes and please our fancy
The winged navigators of the air are at
tractiye not only for their plumage, bu
their song, in both of whick these little
graceful minstrels, 80 trail in their pro
portions, yet so powerful to please, ar,
perfect Whilst visiting Brazil, saw
many beautiful birds, and will desribe
few which came under my observation
i was delighted with the brilliancy o
their plumage, one species having fiv,
different colors, all of the richest hue
There are so many different varietie
that TO enumerate even half in this shor
article would be impossible.
FIRST, there are the parrots, which ar,
so popular; there are several diiieren
kinds, and you can almost distinguish
the birds from the various provinces b,
their tints; the birds from Para are gen
orally green and red, whilst those from
Pernambuco are green, with yellow ant
blue heads. In the latter city, the more
yellow they have in their plumage tn,
more they are admired; the natives offer
feed them upon butter, thinking it has
the effect of making their plumage vel
low, and also pull out their feathers un
till they come in what they consider q
desirable shade.
Parrots in the interior of the country
may be purchased at very moderate
price, but on the borders of the sea
coast they are sold at good figure; a
fine talker is always in demand, as il
requires great care to teach them. They
are taken from their nest when Young
when the Indians, who are the most ex-
pert at the business of teaching them
will put them into dark jar, repeating
words to them without giving them food
until the poor little creatures overcome
with hunger and freight, will say the
words after them, thus obtaining their
freedom. The wild ones are noisy, but,
of course, are not takers, never having
been taught. heard lady, who had a
well trained bird, say that it escaped in
to the forest, and its neighbors were all
soon engaged in conversation; the
amount of chattering was wonderful.
They are afiectionate, so much so that
the Brazilians call them "love birds"
They are alss cunning, and when they
see hunter of whom they are suspi.
cious, they will hide themselves amidst
the leaves of a tree, thus concealing
their whereabout; as they are almost
the same color as the leaves, this is not
difficult. They are often shot for food,
being considered very delicious eating
Cuckoos of different species are plenty
their plumage glancing red in the sun.
light. They fit noiselessly through the
branches of the trees. Purple jaws are
beautiful and numerous. Chatterers are
very abundant, especially in the vicinity
of Para. Their plumage is very gaudy
/ nj t1,.lyn ~ ID .
magnificently colored and blended plum.
age. Fly-catchers are abundant, and
may be seen at almost any time in large
| tlocks. Pigeons are numerous, and are
heard cooling in almost every thicket OF
/ cluster Of trees.
Doves may be seen almost anywhere
was visiting lady, and as her son and
were walking in the grounds, flock OF
these graceful creatures alighted. lie
sent servant for his gun and ammuni-
ton, and in very short time he had
| killed thirty-three of the mild creatures
| interceeded in their behalf with all
the eloquence | possessed, but he only
smiled and proceeded in the slaughter
until left in disgust
OF all the birds the most beautiful
next to the chatterers are the trogons
There are many different varieties. All
have long, wide-spreadingt tails, and their
thick plumage makes them appear much
larger than they really are. They are
pensive, lonely birds; early in the morn
ings or late in the afternoons they may
be observed sitting singly, or in pairs
watching for prey. When they have
satisfied their hunger they spend their
time in twittering the most mournful
notes. They are natural ventriloquists
and often you cannot find their hiding.
place, when they may be directly over
your head or by your side.
Hawks are numerous and of many
varieties. Owls, too, are not scarce, and
their intolerable screeching is hard up
on the nervous system. The beautiful
little humming birds are to be seen fit
ting everywhere. These tiny travellers
surprise You by their bright plumage
and swiftness of flight The scarlet tana.
geas are as numerous as the rest.
Buzzards are to be seen in great flocks
at the city of Para, upon the Amazon
they are the scavengers of the place
and heavy fine is imposed upon the
person who dares TO shoot one. As | sat
at the window of my hotel in that city
| counted forty in flock upon green
opposite, fighting with some goats owe,
refuse matter. | was not favorably inn
pressed; was still more disgusted, when
| visited the cemetry, to see them hov.
ering over some new made graves as il
seeking prey. ! am thankful that We
are not obliged to witness such scenes
in our well regulated country.
! Canary birds are heard singing almost
everywhere, as if the pretty little wing
ed creatures were anxious to entei tair
| the homesicE stranger with their lovely
song. They are of many different
species, all equally attractive.
There are swallows of many varieties
thousands of small green, white-breasted
ones; and the bushes and forest were
alive with the crotophages, and few o
| the hyacinthine macaws; a pair of blue
color, very rare variety, were pointed
out to me.
/ was much pleased with the toucans
with their long, singular looking bill,
and lovely eyes. The bill of one of these
birds was shown me by an English lady
who had made it into snuff box, hand
somely mounted with gold for present
for gentleman friend.
| saw curious little blackbird will
colors exquisitely blended with white
which the natives dignity with the nam,
of the "little washerwoman."
Eagles did not appear TO me to be Sc
abundant. saw very large one one,
near the city of Para. II was beautiful
sight to see it flying over my head on,
bright, sunny afternoon, its immens,
wings penetrating space, as with rapiC
fight it went higher, until it appeared
like a speck against the great blue arcl
above, then was lost to my gaze forever
onward, on in its flight toward the sun