BIRDS OF ILL OMEN AND CARRION HAWKS.
The distant bellowing of bulls assembling their herds--sure sign that
the tiger was prowling near them--lulled us pleasantly to sleep in our
hammock-beds after the fatigues and labors of the day. Not unfrequently
we were treated to a serenading chorus of _araguatos_ or howling
monkeys, and to the hootings of the _titirijí_ or tiger-owl of the
pampas, whose peculiar cries might be readily mistaken, by an
unaccustomed ear, for the angry growl of that spotted bandit of the
forest--the jaguar. The neighboring woods were also the haunts of
several other species of owls and goat-suckers, whose dreary notes wake
mournful echoes by night and fill superstitious imaginations with
fearful and foreboding visions.
The tiger-owl, which may be said to rank among the feathered tribe as
does the jaguar or American tiger among beasts, is nearly the size of a
domestic turkey. Like his powerful prototype, he is spotted with black,
and seldom makes himself heard excepting at night, when calling on his
mate; or during his nocturnal expeditions in the neighborhood of the
farmyard. He is then, not only a terror to the defenceless brood, but
also to the younger inmates of the house, who look upon him with a kind
of superstitious awe, on which account he sometimes escapes punishment.
Less imposing in size than the preceding--although more terrifying in
their way--are the _ya-acabó_ and the _pavita_--two other species of owl
considered harbingers of calamity or death, when heard fluttering around
a house. The first portends an approaching death among the inmates, and
is therefore looked upon with dread even by men who would not flinch at
the sight of the most formidable bull or jaguar. Yet that appalling cry,
_ya acabó! ya acabó!_--it is finished! it is finished!--seems so fraught
with evil mystery, that few hear it unmoved. The only expedient resorted
to, in such cases, is to form a cross with hot ashes in front of the
house, which, it is believed, will drive away this ill-omened messenger.
The _pavita_--although not larger than a turtle-dove, is also considered
_pajaro de mal agüero_--a bird of ill-omen--being no less--they
say--than the departed spirit of some good-natured relative come to warn
his kindred against approaching calamity. In these cases, as it is
believed that nothing is so acceptable to the poor soul as a few Pater
Nosters and Ave Marias, they usually try to disembarrass themselves of
the unwelcome visitor by reciting aloud several of these prayers, after
crossing themselves twice with much devotion. Whenever this owl’s
dreaded cry is heard, it is certain to be followed by a scene of great
confusion and dismay: the children run to the women and hide behind
their skirts; the women seek protection from the men; while these
content themselves with muttering the holy invocation _Ave Maria
Purisima!_ which is ever with them the favorite talisman against danger.
Great varieties of goat-suckers--not unlike huge butterflies fluttering
in the light evening breeze--also make their appearance at sundown, when
may be heard their singularly harsh notes closely resembling human
articulations.
“The harmless, unoffending goat-sucker, from the time of Aristotle down
to the present day”--says Waterton in his “Wanderings”--“has been in
disgrace with man. Father has handed down to son, and author to author,
that this nocturnal thief subsists by milking the flocks. Poor injured
little bird of night! how sadly hast thou suffered, and how foul a stain
has inattention to facts put upon thy character! Thou hast never robbed
man of any part of his property, nor deprived the kid of a drop of
milk.”
“When the moon shines bright, you may have a fair opportunity of
examining the goat-sucker. You will see it close by the cows, goats, and
sheep, jumping up every now and then, under their bellies. Approach a
little nearer--he is not shy, ‘he fears no danger for he knows no sin.’
See how the nocturnal flies are tormenting the herd, and with what
dexterity he springs up and catches them as fast as they alight on the
belly, legs and udder of the animals. Observe how quiet they stand, and
how sensible they seem of his good offices, for they neither strike at
him, nor hit him with their tails, nor tread on him, nor try to drive
him away as an uncivil intruder. Were you to dissect him and inspect his
stomach, you would find no milk there. It is full of the flies which
have been annoying the herd.
“The prettily mottled plumage of the goat-sucker, like that of the owl,
wants the lustre which is observed in the feathers of the birds of day.
This, at once, marks him as a lover of the pale moon’s nightly beams.
There are nine species here” (in Demerara). “The largest appears nearly
the size of the English wood-owl. Its cry is so remarkable, that having
once heard it, you will never forget it. When night reigns over these
immeasurable wilds, whilst lying in your hammock, you will hear this
goat-sucker lamenting like one in deep distress. A stranger would never
conceive it to be the cry of a bird. He would say it was the departing
voice of a midnight murdered victim, or the last wailing of Niobe for
her poor children, before she was turned into stone. Suppose yourself in
hopeless sorrow, begin with a high loud note, and pronounce, ‘ha, ha,
ha, ha, ha, ha, ha,’ each note lower and lower, till the last is
scarcely heard, pausing a moment or two betwixt every note, and you will
have some idea of the moaning of the largest goat-sucker in Demerara.
“Four other species of the goat-sucker articulate some words so
distinctly, that they have received their names from the sentences they
utter, and absolutely bewilder the stranger on his arrival at these
parts. The most common one sits down close by your door, and flies and
alights three or four yards before you, as you walk along the road,
crying, ‘Who are you, who, who, who are you?’ Another bids you, ‘Work
away, work, work, work away.’ A third cries mournfully, ‘Willy, come go,
Willy, Willy, Willy come go.’ And high up the country a fourth tells you
‘Whip poor Will, whip, whip, whip poor Will.’”[27]
There is a bird, however, among these nocturnal serenaders which
impresses you with very different feelings from those produced by the
owl species: this is the _Gallineta de monte_ or forest-hen, a most
beautiful creature both in color and in shape, and not unlike a
water-hen in general appearance: the eyes especially are peculiarly
pretty, being of a brilliant ruby color and scintillate like fire. These
birds sing in concert, and their song--a lively chatter--has a mystic
fascination I am unable to describe. They are also considered delicate
eating; but unfortunately are very difficult to catch, for even after
being shot, unless wounded in the leg, they can outstrip the swiftest
hound, although their wings, being very small, avail them little.
Nature, however, has provided them with long yellow legs for the
purpose.
The ponds and lagoons of the savannas are literally crowded with other
individuals of the feathered tribe, whose lively notes and incessant
chatterings contribute likewise to enliven the night. The most
conspicuous among them are various species of teal-ducks, such as
_güires_ and _yaguasos_, and a long-legged plover--_alcaravan_.--This
last has the peculiarity of uttering a long, shrill sound at hourly
intervals, thus marking every hour of the night after the manner of a
clock’s alarum. It is easily domesticated in the houses, where it
renders some service, not only by marking time, but also by giving
warning of the approach of strangers.
The _aruco_ is another bird of large size, whose drum-like notes are
often heard in the stillness of night. In size and plumage it greatly
resembles a turkey; but its flesh is so spongy, that in lifting one of
these uncouth birds from the ground, it appears like a mere bundle of
feathers. The wings of the male are provided with a pair of sharp spurs,
with which, when fighting, they greatly injure one another.
Another feature of the cattle-farm is the great number of carrion
vultures and other birds of prey constantly hovering around the houses
and corrals, attracted thither by the carcasses of dead animals. The
most conspicuous among them is the _zamuro_ or _gallinazo_, (Cathartes
Atratus,) that constant companion of rude civilization in all tropical
countries, but an indolent, greedy and disgusting associate. As,
however, they occasionally render service in the capacity of scavengers,
they are generally tolerated among the fowl of the farmyard. It is a
gregarious bird, and collects in large flocks on the roof and fences,
where, with knowing glances, they seem to be scanning all the actions of
the inmates. I often amused myself in threatening them with a missile of
some sort; but they never appeared to notice it, until they perceived me
to be in earnest: then with wings half spread and leaning forward, they
watched intently the moment when I should hurl it at them to evade it by
flight or a dodge of the head.--They build their nests in holes which
they dig in the ground. Their young are white, gradually changing to
black as they grow older, and only two are raised by the parent every
year. Although essentially carrion feeders, the olfactories of these
birds are not so sensitive as to discover for them a dead animal--as
many suppose;--but their sight is very good. They fly to immense
heights, and thence examine every portion of the ground below them. In
doing this they may often be observed on motionless wing, whirling round
and round in graceful evolutions.
With the _zamuro_ is often associated another carrion vulture, the
_oripopo_ or turkey-buzzard, (Vultur aura,) of the same size and with
similar habits to the former. It differs however, from its relative in
color--which is dark brown--and in having its neck more destitute of
feathers. It is also more elegant in form and in its graceful evolutions
through the air than the black vulture. The turkey-buzzard has a wide
geographical range, having been met by Audubon as far north as
Pennsylvania, and by Darwin in the arid plains of Patagonia and Tierra
del Fuego. When soaring through the upper regions of the air, it can be
at once recognized by its long, sweeping flight, accompanied by a
buzzing sound, much like the gust of the whirlwind, and perfectly
audible from a great distance.
The _Rey-Zamuro_ or king of the vultures, (Vultur papa,) larger than the
foregoing, is the most beautiful of its kind. Its plumage, resembling
down in softness and fineness, is of a pearly white, excepting the
wings, which are tipped with black. The breast and neck, although
entirely bare of feathers, are decked in the most brilliant tint of
blue, orange, and red, while a sort of membranous excrescence crowns
the head, giving it a truly royal appearance.
This King of the vultures has also very aristocratic habits, never
associating with any, not even those of his own tribe. It is a
remarkable fact that when he alights upon a carcass, amidst a flock of
other vultures, all these last retire, or make a circle round the
banquet. When his majesty has dined, he flies off, uttering a loud cry,
and only then his subjects venture to approach the carrion.
There is in the more elevated part of the adjoining province of Barinas,
another bird of the same class--Vultur barbatus--which partakes of the
eagle and the vulture, but is larger than either. It is called in
consequence _gavilucho_--eagle-hawk--and has been seen at times
descending toward the plains. The legs and wings are very long and
powerful. It is said to be very handsome, but it is extremely shy of
man. The plumage is bluish, red, white and yellow. This bird joins to
the boldness and cruelty of the eagle, the loathsome voracity of the
vultures. It prefers live flesh, especially that of small quadrupeds,
and preys principally upon rabbits, goats, sheep and even young calves.
It raises only one brood in a season, and builds its nest amidst the
most inaccessible ledges of the Cordilleras.
I will close the list of the carrion birds of Venezuela with enumerating
two others, nearly allied to the hawk, but partaking also of the
characteristics of the eagle. These are the _caricari_ and _chiriguare_
(Polyborus Brasiliensis and P. Chimango) corresponding to the
_caracaras_ and _carrancha_ of Brazil and Buenos Ayres, concerning
which Darwin has given this graphic account:
“The _caracaras_ are from their structure placed among the eagles: we
shall soon see how ill they become so high a rank. In their habits they
will supply the place of our carrion crows, magpies and ravens, a tribe
of birds widely distributed over the rest of the world, but entirely
absent in South America.
“The carranchas, together with the chimango, constantly attend in
numbers the estancias and slaughtering-houses. If an animal dies on the
plain, the gallinazo commences the feast, and then the two species of
Polyborus pick the bones clean. These birds, although thus commonly
feeding together, are far from being friendly. When the carrancha is
quietly seated on the branch of a tree or on the ground, the chimango
often continues for a long time flying backward and forward, up and
down, in a semicircle, trying each time at the bottom of the curve to
strike its larger relative. Although the carranchas frequently assemble
in numbers, they are not gregarious; for in desert places they may be
seen solitary, or more commonly in pairs.
“The carranchas are said to be very crafty, and to steal great numbers
of eggs. They attempt, also, together with the chimango, to pick off the
scabs from the sore backs of horses and mules. The poor animal, on the
one hand, with its ears down and its back arched, and, on the other
hand, the hovering bird, eyeing at the distance of a yard the disgusting
morsel, form a picture, which has been described by Captain Head with
his own peculiar spirit and accuracy. These false eagles rarely kill
any living bird or animal; and their vulture-like, necrophagous habits
are very evident to any one who has fallen asleep on the desolate plains
of Patagonia, for when he wakes he will see, on each surrounding
hillock, one of these birds patiently watching him with an evil eye; it
is a feature in the landscape of these countries, which will be
recognized by every one who has wandered over them. If a party of men go
out hunting with dogs and horses, they will be accompanied during the
day by several of these attendants. After feeding, the uncovered craw
protrudes; at such times, and indeed, generally, the carrancha is an
inactive, tame, and cowardly bird. Its flight is heavy and slow, like
that of an English rook. It seldom soars; but I have twice seen one at a
great height gliding through the air with great ease. It runs, (in
contradistinction to hopping,) but not quite so quickly as some of its
congeners. At times the carrancha is noisy, but is not generally so; its
cry is loud, very harsh and peculiar, and may be likened to the sound of
the Spanish guttural _g_, followed by a rough double _r r_; when
uttering this cry, it elevates its head higher and higher, till at last,
with its beak wide open, the crown almost touches the lower part of the
head. This fact, which has been doubted, is quite true.”
These birds are, however, a great blessing to the inhabitants of the
Llanos, who are indebted to them, not only for the destruction of vast
numbers of snakes and other reptiles, but for the service they render
conjointly with the vultures in consuming the offal near houses. They
seek their food both in dry lands and amidst the swampy borders of
rivers; on the one they find serpents and lizards in abundance; in the
other terrapins, frogs and small crocodiles. They are peculiar in always
killing their prey before commencing to devour it. If the _caricari_
meet with a serpent or young crocodile large enough to oppose a long
resistance, he approaches it sideways, shielded by one of his wings
spread out, and striking his prey near the head with his bill, retires
to a short distance to watch the result. A second blow is usually fatal,
upon which, seizing his victim in his claws, he tears it with his bill.
The sluggish tortoises and terrapins are easy prey for the _caricari_;
these he renders helpless by turning them upon their backs, then with
his powerful bill tears out the entrails.
Singing birds are of great numbers and varieties in the Llanos; these
are mostly of the oriole species, all of which seem to delight in the
vicinity of man. They usually select some tree near the house, and from
its slender topmost branches, weave their hanging nests beyond reach of
mischievous boys and monkeys. One of these songsters, the _gonzal_, had
his nest close by the ropes of my hammock, where every morning before
sunrise he awakened me by his sweetly plaintive notes; and so fascinated
was I by this charming neighbor, that I always remained long after the
reveille, listening to his delicious music.
There is another closely allied species, far superior to this or any
other bird of the kind with which I am acquainted. It is the troupial,
whose powerful notes can only be likened to strains of the violin. It is
easily domesticated in houses, and learns readily any air from hearing
it whistled. I have one of these birds at home (in New York) which sings
the Cachuca, Yankee Doodle, and various other tunes, besides distinctly
whistling the name of a person. Its predominant colors are rich orange
and shining black, with white spots on the wings and bill in beautiful
contrast. It is a dangerous pet, however, if at large in a house,
attacking strangers furiously, and always aiming at the eyes.
The _arrendajo_, or mocking-oriole, is perhaps the most extraordinary of
its kind, on account of its imitative proclivities, mimicking every
sound with such exactness, that he goes by the name of mocking-bird
among the colonists of Demerara; according to Waterton, “His own song is
sweet, but very short. If a toucan be yelping in the neighborhood, he
drops it, and imitates him. Then he will amuse his protector with the
cries of the different species of woodpecker, and when the sheep bleat
he will distinctly answer them. Then comes his own song again; and if a
puppy dog or a guinea fowl interrupt him, he takes them off admirably,
and by his different gestures during the time, you would conclude that
he enjoys the sport.”
The arrendajo is, besides, a beautiful bird, and considered by
ornithologists a model of symmetry; his predominant color is a glossy
black, with the exception of his belly, rump and half the tail, which
are of a bright yellow. On each wing also he has a spot of the same
color. His beak is tinged of a delicate shade of lemon, while his eyes
are sky blue, the pupil being a deeper shade of the same.
[Illustration: THE RODEO.]