The SAI, or BLUE CAEREBA (_Cæreba cyanea_). The prevailing colour of this
beautiful species is a brilliant light blue, shading towards the top of
the head into resplendent blueish green; the upper part of the back,
wings, and tail, as well as a stripe surrounding the eye, are black, and
the inner margins of the wings yellow. The eye is greyish brown, the beak
and foot bright orange-red. The plumage of the female is siskin-green
on the upper parts of the body, and pale green beneath; the throat is
whitish. The length of this species is four inches and two-thirds, the
wing measures two inches and a quarter, and the tail one inch and a
quarter.
[Illustration: THE SAI, OR BLUE CAEREBA (_Cæreba cyanea_).]
These beautiful birds are met with throughout the greater part of South
America, and are especially numerous about Espirito Santo. The Prince von
Wied found them in large numbers inhabiting the forests near the coast,
and tells us, that except during the breeding season, they live in small
parties of six or eight, which disport themselves among the topmost
branches of the trees, frequently associating with Tangaras, and such
other of the feathered inhabitants of their leafy retreats as are about
their own size. Fruit, seeds, and insects constitute their principal
means of subsistence, and in pursuit of these they display an agility and
dexterity fully equalling that of our own Titmouse. The voice of the Sai
is only capable of producing a gentle twitter. Schomburghk mentions that
large numbers of a very similar species are destroyed by the natives, who
employ the gay and glossy feathers as personal ornaments.
* * * * *
The PITPITS (_Certhiola_) have a high slender beak, which curves gently
towards its sharp tip; their wings are long, their tail short, and their
tongue divided into two parts, each of which terminates in a brush of
thread-like fibres.