The Osceola times., 1881-04-16

flight. There are few things more Won
derful than the velocity of bird, either
when 1t is pursuing ordartingon its prey,
or whilst pursuing Journey.
Tinani, Of all sizes, have seen whilst
walking on my path, or sporting in the
groves in parties of six or eight amongst
dry leaves. CurassoWs reminded me of
our wild turkeys, picking here and there
dainty morsels in their way, or hurrying
on with rapid steps when they hear ap-
preaching danger. The scarlet femingo
is exceedingly beautiful. The flocks of
waterfowl are so various and abundant
as to be almost bewildering as how to
name and place them, attracting at
tention by their gaudy coloring and
rapid fight. Surely this country must
yield a rich harvest for the sportsman; a
fine hunter could not grumble at the
scarcity of game, unlike many of our
lovers of this recreation at home.
| will not weary my reader with emu
merating the abundance and variety of
the feathery tribes of this tropical land,
but, before closing, will give them Bra
LILLIAN legend connected with a little
bird "El Alma Perdida," which signifies
lost soul. will tell the story as il was
told me.
II is said that an Indian and his wife
lett their village 10 work, carrying their
infant with them. The woman, becom-
ing thirsty, went 10 a spring to get some
water, leaving the infant in its fathers
charge, with cautions to take care of the
babe. when she arrived at the spring she
found it dried up, and concluded to go
in search of another one, which was
some distance farther. The husband,
alarmed at her long delay, carefully COW
cred the child with leaves, arranging it
comfortably, started in pursuit. When
he found his wife and told her he had
left the child, the mothers heart become
troubled for her darling They hastened
back, when 10! to their terror and dismay
there was no sign of their treasure. In
their agony they went searching through
the forest, on through groves bright and
fair with tropical lovliness, but in re-
sponse to their cries and lamentations
they could hear ncthing but the wailing
cry Of this little bird, which, their dis
tracted imaginations, syllabled into the
words papa, mamma" The present
Quichua name of the bird. 1t is sup
posed the Spaniards heard this touching
story, and, with their poetic magma
tions, called this beautiful, winged crea-
ture, with its melancholy song "the lost
soul" This legend in Brazil is listened
to with intense interest.
Many birds are shot and sent North to
be stuffed, to ornament ladies' bonnets.
Others are caught alive, and imprisoned
in cages to adorn foreign homes. The
Brazillains make the most exquisite
fans and flowers of their beautiful plum
age, and carry on good trade in this
branch of business. The birds are shot
by the Indians with a curious kind of
gun called the "blow gun"
1t is made of long, straight piece of
the kind of wood of which bows. clubs
and spears are usually made. The pole
or staff is about eight feet in length and
two inches in diameter near the mouth
end, and tapering down to half an inch
at the extremity, is divided longitudn-
ally. A canal is followed out along the
center of each part, which is well smooth
ed and polished by rubbing it with some
fine sand and wood. The two parts are
then brought together, nicely moulded
with resin of the forest TO make it hard.
A couple of boars teeth are fitted to each
side of the mouth end and one of the
curved teeth of small animal resem-
bling cross between squirrel and
hare is placed on the top for sight.
The arrow is made of any kind of light
wood, mostly of wild cane, or the middle
fibre OF species of palm leaf which is
about foot, / should Judge in length,
and the thickness of match.
The end of the arrow which is placed
next TO the mouth is wrapped with
light cotton which grows in pod upon
a very large tree, and is called by the
natives huimba; and the other end is
sharpely pointed and dipped in vegeta-
bic poison prepared from the juice of a
beautiful creeper called bejuco de am
bitruasco mixed with ali, or strong red
pepper, or whatever substance the In
dians know to be deleterious. The
marksman, when using his pecuna, in
stead of stretching out the left hand
along the body of the tube places it to
his mouth by grasping it with both hands
together close to the mouth-piece in such
a manner that requires great strength of
arms to hold it out at all much less stead
lily. II a professional marksman, he will
kill bird at thirty or forty PAGES. They
are killed almost instantly by these blow
guns, and show no evidence of having
been wounded.
The Brazillians are very superstitious
about birds; when some of these species
come near to dwelling, it is regarded
as token Of good luck, whilst others are
said to bring misfortune.
1t is almost worth trip to Brazil to
see the beautiful winged population; al
though they are not as fine singers as
ours. still their p.umape is perfect.