Billeder på siden
PDF
ePub

eggs.

and highest part of the islets in the river, or about a hundred feet from the shore. The Indians say it will lay only where itself was hatched out. With its hind flippers it digs a hole two or three feet deep, and deposits in it from eighty to one hundred and sixty These are covered with sand, and the next comer makes another deposit on the top, and so on until the pit is full. The Indians are very expert in finding the nests. Guided approximately by the tracks of the turtle, they thrust a stick into the sand, and whenever it goes down easily they commence digging with their hands, and invariably strike eggs. The turtles are caught for the table as they return to the river after laying their eggs. To secure them it suffices to turn them over on their backs. The turtles certainly have a hard time of it. Alligators and large fishes swallow the young ones by hundreds; jaguars pounce upon the full grown ones as they crawl over the plains, and vultures and ibises attend the feast. But man is their most formidable foe. The destruction of turtle life on the Amazon is incredible. It is calculated that fifty millions of eggs are annually destroyed. Thousands of those that escape capture in the egg are collected as soon as hatched, and devoured; the remains of the yolk in their entrails being considered a great delicacy. An unknown number of full-grown turtles are eaten by the natives on the banks, while every steamer, schooner and canoe that descends the Amazon is laden with turtles for the tables of Manáos, Santarem, and Pará. When we consider also that all the mature turtles that are taken are females, we wonder that the race is not well-nigh extinct. They are in fact rapidly decreasing in numbers. A large turtle which twenty years ago could be bought for fifty cents, now commands three dollars. One would suppose that the males being unmolested, would far outnumber the other sex; but they are in fact immensely less numerous than the females."

The marsh-tortoises may be said to form the connecting link between the eminently aquatic marine, and river chelonians and the land-tortoises, as the formation of their feet, armed with sharp claws or crooked nails, and furnished with a kind of flexible web, connecting their distinct and movable toes, allows them both to advance much quicker on the dry land than the latter, and to swim rapidly either on the surface or in the depth of the waters. According to the more or less terrestrial habits of the various species, the feet are more or less webbed, for in those that habitually remain on the banks of the lagoons, the connecting membrane is confined to the basis of the toes, while in others, that but rarely come on shore, it sometimes reaches to the extremity of the claws, another beautiful example of the foresight of the Almighty in adapting organic structure to the wants of His creatures. The marsh-tortoises, being endowed with more rapid power of locomotion, are not vegetarians like the land-tortoises, but chiefly live on mollusks, fishes, frogs, toads, and annelides. Although the eggs are palatable, the flesh is generally too coarse even for the craving appetite of an Indian.

Sea turtles differ in many respects from those of the rivers. During the Brazilian summer (December, January, February), colossal turtles are seen everywhere swimming about along the coast, raising their thick round heads above the water, and waiting for the approach of night to land. The neighboring Indians are their bitterest enemies, killing them whenever they can. Thus these dreary sand coasts, bounded on one side by the ocean and on the other by gloomy primeval forests, offer on all sides pictures of destruction, for the bones and shells of slaughtered turtles everywhere bestrew the ground. Two parallel grooves indicate the path of the turtle after landing;

they are the marks of the four large and long fin-shaped feet or paddles, and between them may be seen a broad furrow where the heavy body trailed along the ground. On following these traces about thirty or forty yards shore-upwards, the huge animal may be found sitting in a flat excavation formed by its circular movements, and in which onehalf of its body is imbedded. It allows itself to be handled on all sides without making the least attempt to move away, being probably taught by instinct how useless. all endeavors to escape would be. A blowing or snorting like that of a goose when any one approaches its nest, at the same time inflating its neck a little, are the sole signs of defence which it exhibits. Similar scenes take place during the dry season, throughout the whole of the tropical zone, on every sandy, unfrequented coast for the same instinct which prompts the salmon to swim stream-upwards, the cod to seek elevated submarine banks, or the penguin to leave the high seas and settle for the summer on some dreary rock, attracts also the turtles from distances of fifty or sixty leagues to the shores of desert islands or solitary bays.

The enemies of the marine chelonians are no less numerous than those of the terrestrial or fluviatile species. While the full-grown turtles, as soon as they leave the water, are exposed to the attacks of many ravenous beasts, from the wild dog to the tiger or jaguar, storks, herons, and other strand or sea-birds devour thousands upon thousands of the young before they reach the ocean, where sharks and other greedy fishes still further thin their ranks, so that but very few escape from the general massacre, and the whole race can only maintain itself by its great fecundity.

Of all the foes of the turtle tribe there is, however, none more formidable than man, as even on the most lonely islands the seafarer lies in wait, eager to relieve the monotony of his coarse fare by an abundant supply of their luscious flesh. On the Isle of Ascension, the head-quarters of the finest turtle in the world, all the movements of the poor creatures are carefully watched, and when, after having deposited their eggs in the sand, they waddle again towards the sea, their retreat is often intercepted, for two stout men running up to the unfortunate turtle after the completion of her task, one seizes a fore-flipper and dexterously shoves it under her belly, to serve as a purchase; whilst the other, avoiding a stroke which might lame him, cants her over on her back, where she lies helpless. From fifteen to thirty are thus turned in a night. In the bays, when the surf or heavy rollers prevent the boats being beached to take on board the turtles when caught, they are hauled out to them by ropes.

The way by which the turtles are most commonly taken at the Bahama Islands is by striking them with a small iron peg of two inches long, put in a socket at the end of a staff of twelve feet long. Two men usually set out for this work in a canoe, one to row and gently steer the boat, while the other stands at the end of it with his weapon. The turtles are sometimes discovered by their swimming with their head and back out of the water, but they are more often seen lying at the bottom, a fathom or more deep. If a turtle perceives he is discovered, he starts up to make his escape; the men in the boat, pursuing him, endeavor to keep sight of him, which they often lose and recover again by the turtle putting his nose out of the water to breathe.

On Keeling Island, Mr. Darwin witnessed another highly interesting method of catching turtle: "The channel was exceedingly intricate, winding through fields of delicately-branched corals. We saw several turtles, and two boats were then employed in catching them. The method is rather curious: the water is so clear and

shallow that, although at first a turtle quickly dives out of sight, yet in a canoe, or boat under sail, the pursuers, after no very long chase, come up to it.

A man, stand

ing ready in the bows, at this moment dashes through the water upon the turtle's back; then clinging with both hands by the shell of the neck, he is carried away till the animal becomes exhausted and is secured. It was quite an interesting chase to see the two boats thus doubling about, and the men dashing into the water trying to seize their prey."

[ocr errors]

The Green turtle (Chelonia midas), which has been known to attain a length of seven feet, and a weight of 900 lbs., is most prized for its flesh; but the Hawksbill (Chelonia imbricata), which hardly reaches one third of the size, is of far greater commercial value, the plates of its shell being stronger, thicker, and clearer than those of any other species. It is caught all over the tropical seas, but principally near the Moluccas, the West Indian and the Fiji Islands, where it is preserved in pens by the chiefs, who have a barbarous way of removing the valuable part of the shell from the living animal. A burning brand is held close to the outer shell, until it curls up and separates a little from that beneath. Into the gap thus formed a small wooden wedge is then inserted, by which the whole is easily removed from the back. When stripped, the animal is again put into the pen, where it has full time for the growth of a new shell-for though the operation appears to give great pain, it is not fatal.

A similar cruel method of removing the tortoise's shell by heat is resorted to in Ceylon; but the mode in which the flesh of the edible turtle is sold piecemeal, while it is still alive, by the fishermen of that island, is still more repulsive, and a disgrace to the Colonial Government, which allows it to be openly practised. "The creatures," says Sir Emerson Tennent, "are to be seen in the market-place undergoing this frightful mutilation, the plastron and its integuments having been previously removed, and the animal thrown on its back, so as to display all the motions of the heart, viscera, and lungs. A broad knife, from twelve to eighteen inches in length, is first inserted at the left side, and the women, who are generally the operators, introduce one hand to scoop out the blood, which oozes slowly. The blade is next passed round till the lower shell is detached and placed to one side, and the internal organs exposed in full action. Each customer, as he applies, is served with any part selected, which is cut off as ordered, and sold by weight. Each of the fins is thus successively removed, with portions of the fat and flesh, the turtle showing by its contortions that each act of severance is productive of agony. In this state it lies for hours writhing in the sun, the heart and head being usually the last pieces selected; and till the latter is cut off, the snapping of the mouth, and the opening and closing of the eyes, show that life is still inherent, even when the shell has been nearly divested of its contents."

The Coriaceous turtle (Sphargis coriacea), of a more elongated form than the other species, and whose outer covering, marked along its whole length by seven distinct, prominent, and tuberculated ridges, is not of a horny substance, but resembles strong leather, grows to the greatest size of all the marine chelonians, some having been taken above eight feet in length, and weighing no less than 1,600 lbs., so that even the crocodile can hardly be compared to it in bulk. While the land-tortoises can scarcely be said to have a voice, merely hissing or blowing when irritated or seized, the coriaceous turtle, when taken in a net or seriously wounded, utters loud shricks or cries which may be heard at a considerable distance.

CHAPTER XII.

BIRD-LIFE IN THE TROPICAL WORLD.

Difficulties of the Subject-Wide Range of Birds-The Toucan-Humming-Birds-Cotingas -The Campanero, or Bell-Bird-The Realejo, or Organ-Bird-The Manakins-The Cock of the Rock-The Troopials-The Baltimore Oriole-The Cassiques-The Mocking-Bird -The Toropishu-The Tunqui-Goat-Suckers-The Cilgero-Flamingos-The IbisSpoon-Bills-Birds of the New and the Old World-Sun-Birds-Honey-Eaters-The Ocellated Turkey-The Lyre-Bird-Birds of Paradise-Fables respecting them-Their Character and Habits-Their Dancing-Parties-Mode of Shooting and Snaring them—The Australian Bower-Bird-The Brush-Turkey-The Adjutant-The Copper-Smith-The Indian Baya-The Tailor-Bird-The Grosbeak-The Korwé-Parrots-The Brazilian Love-Parrot-Their Powers of Mimicry-Cockatoos-Macaws-The Ara-Paroquets— The Ostrich-His Swiftness of Foot-Modes of Capturing it-Stratagems to Save its Young -Its Enemies-Its Young-Resemblance to the Camel-Its Powers of Digestion-Uses of its Eggs-The Rheas-The Cassowary-The Emu.

U whether they are considered for the be

SEFUL in many respects to man, no class of animals are more agreeable to

plumage, the grace of their movements, the melody of their voice, or the ingenuity with which they construct their nests. Their study forms one of the most attractive departments in the range of natural history. But it is also one of the most difficult, especially in regions which are covered with dense and matted forests. Thus it is by no means surprising that so many secrets yet veil the life of tropical birds, and comparatively little is known of their habits and modes of existence. We can hope only to present a few of the salient features of bird-life in the tropics, reserving for another chapter the birds of prey.

Many families of birds have a wide range over the whole earth. Falcons hover over the Siberian fir-woods as over the palm-forests of the Amazon. In every

zone are found woodpeckers, owls, and martins; while thrushes enliven with their song both the shades of the beech-woods and the twilight of the cocoa-nut groves. In the north and in the south, fly-catchers carry destruction among the numerous insect tribes; in every latitude, crows cleanse the fields of vermin; and swallows, pigeons, ducks, gulls, petrels, divers, and plovers frequent the fields and lakes, the banks and shores, in all parts of the world.

Thus the class of birds shows us a great similarity in the distribution of its various forms all over the earth; and we find the same resemblance extending also to their mode of life, their manners, and their voice. The woodpeckers make everywhere the forest resound with the same clear note, and the birds of prey possess in every clime the same rough screech so consonant to their habits, while a soft cooing everywhere characterizes the pigeon-tribes. But, notwithstanding this general uniformity and this

wide range of many families of birds, each zone has at the same time its peculiar orni

thological features, that blend harmoniously with the surrounding world of plants and
animals, and, taking a prominent part in the aspect of nature, at once attract the atten-
tion of the stranger. In this respect, as in so many others, the warmer regions of the
globe have a great advantage over those of the temperate and glacial zones; and here,
where warmth and moisture call forth an exuberant vegetation, they produce an equal
multiplicity of animal forms, among which many birds rival the most gorgeous flowers
by the splendor of their plumage.

On turning to each continent in particular, we again find each endowed with its
peculiar genera of birds, and thus, though tropical America has many of its feathered
tribes in common with the torrid zone of the Old World, it enjoys the exclusive pos-
session of the Toucans, Colibris, Crotophagi, Jacamars, Anis, Dendrocolaptes, Mana-
kins, and Tangaras; while the Calaos, the Souimangas, the Birds of Paradise, and
many others, are confined to the eastern hemisphere. A complete review of all these
various forms of the feathered creation would fill volumes. My narrow limits neces-
sarily confine me to a brief account of those tribes which are either the most remark-
able, or the most widely different from the birds which we are accustomed to see in the
temperate zones.

By their enormous bill, which might seem rather adapted to a bird of ostrich-like dimensions than to one not much larger than a crow, the toucans are distinguished from all the other feathered races of America. The use of this enormous beak puzzles naturalists. "How astonishing are the freaks of nature," writes Sydney Smith. "To what purpose, we say, is a bird placed in the woods of Cayenne, with a bill a yard long, making a noise like a puppy-dog, and laying eggs in hollow trees? The toucan, to be sure, might retort, 'To what purpose are certain foolish, prating members of Parliament created, pestering the House with their ignorance and folly, and impeding the business. of the country?' There is no end to such questions; so we will not enter into the metaphysics of the toucan." The bill, though certainly much less than a yard long, is big enough to give the bird a very awkward appearance; but the beauty of its coloring soon reconciles the eye to its disproportionate size: for the brightest red, variegated with black and yellow stripes on the upper mandible, and a stripe of the liveliest sky-blue on the lower, contribute to adorn the bill of the Bouradi, as one of the three toucan species of Guiana is called by the Indians. Unfortunately, these brilliant tints fade after death. The plumage of this strange bird rivals the beak in beauty of coloring, and the feathers are frequently used as ornaments by the Brazilian ladies, as well as by the Indian tribes that roam through the vast forests of South America. The toucans are generally seen in small flocks or troops, and from this it might be supposed they were gregarious; "but upon a closer examination," says Waterton," you will find it has only been a dinner-party which breaks up and disperses towards roosting time." While thus assembled, discord never ceases to reign, for there is hardly a more quarrelsome and imperious bird than the toucan. A bird with so strange a beak must naturally be expected to feed and drink in a strange manner. When the toucan has seized a morsel, he throws it into the air and lets it fall into his throat; when drinking, he dips the point of his mandibles into the water, fills them by a powerful inspiration, and then throws back the head by starts. The tongue is also of a very singular form, being narrow and elongated, and laterally barbed like a feather. The toucans are very

« ForrigeFortsæt »