. Our search for a wilderness; an account of two ornithological expeditions to Venezuela and to British Guiana . utive doctor-bird as the natives call theHummingbirds. The call-birds, which are confined in verysmall cages, or cribs, cannot endure the high temperatureunder these conditions, and soon succumb if left out inthe sun. Operations, therefore, must be confined to thefew hours immediately following sunrise, and precedingsunset. Another feature, very trying to the bird-catcher, is thehabit which most of the birds have of going singly or in few of the Icterine birds, such as the Y
. Our search for a wilderness; an account of two ornithological expeditions to Venezuela and to British Guiana . utive doctor-bird as the natives call theHummingbirds. The call-birds, which are confined in verysmall cages, or cribs, cannot endure the high temperatureunder these conditions, and soon succumb if left out inthe sun. Operations, therefore, must be confined to thefew hours immediately following sunrise, and precedingsunset. Another feature, very trying to the bird-catcher, is thehabit which most of the birds have of going singly or in few of the Icterine birds, such as the Yellow-headed Black-bird,154 Cowbird,153 Little Boat-tailed Grackle,100 and mostof the Cassiques, feed usually in flocks, sometimes of greatsize. In the deep bush of the interior it is the habit of birdsof many species to search together for food, following a setroute, and keeping closely to their time schedule. But ordi-nary call-birds and set-ups are not for these. This gregarious habit among widely varying birds is,however, at times, a great aid to the trapper. A cage con- 126 OUR SEARCH FOR A GEORGETOWN. 127 taining a Yellow-bellied Calliste 142 was one day placed ina tree about twenty feet high, and limed twigs arrangedon neighboring branches. In two hours in the morning,two specimens of the same species, three Blue Tanagers,143two Black-faced Callistes,141 two Toua-touas or Brown-breasted Pygmy Grosbeaks,129 and one Yellow Oriole 159 weretaken. The various species of Tanagers and Orioles aremuch more gregarious in feeding habits than the Finches,hence the variety caught. The Toua-touas were purelyaccidental visitors. The Finches can rarely be taken by acall-bird not of the same species. The black or coolie bov who makes his living at catchingbirds at tuppence each, sets out at daylight with his twoor three call-birds in their cribs, arranged on a stick. Arrivedat some secluded spot, where he has heard the song of anintended victim, he sets his call-birds on up
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