Another interesting and common bird was the Japim, a species of Cassicus ( C.icteronotus).It belongs to the same family of birds as our starling, magpie, and rook--it has a rich yellow and black plumage, remarkably compact and velvety in texture.The shape of its head and its physiognomy are very similar to those of the magpie; it has light grey eyes, which give it the same knowing expression.It is social in its habits, and builds its nest, like the English rook, on trees in the neighbourhood of habitations.But the nests are quite differently constructed, being shaped like purses, two feet in length, and suspended from the slender branches all around the tree, some of them very near the ground.The entrance is on the side near the bottom of the nest.The bird is a great favourite with the Brazilians of Para--it is a noisy, stirring, babbling creature, passing constantly to and fro, chattering to its comrades, and is very ready at imitating other birds, especially the domestic poultry of the vicinity.There was at one time a weekly newspaper published at Para, called "The Japim"; the name being chosen, I suppose, on account of the babbling propensities of the bird.Its eggs are nearly round, and of a bluish-white colour, speckled with brown.
Of other vertebrate animals we saw very little, except of the lizards.These are sure to attract the attention of the newcomer from Northern Europe, by reason of their strange appearance, great numbers, and variety.The species which are seen crawling over the walls of buildings in the city are different from those found in the forest or in the interior of houses.They are unpleasant-looking animals, with colours assimilated to those of the dilapidated stone and mud walls on which they are seen.The house lizards belong to a peculiar family, the Geckos, and are found even in the best-kept chambers, most frequently on the walls and ceilings, to which they cling motionless by day, being active only at night.They are of speckled grey or ashy colours.
The structure of their feet is beautifully adapted for clinging to and running over smooth surfaces; the underside of their toes being expanded into cushions, beneath which folds of skin form a series of flexible plates.By means of this apparatus they can walk or run across a smooth ceiling with their backs downwards;the plated soles, by quick muscular action, exhausting and admitting air alternately.The Geckos are very repulsive in appearance.The Brazilians give them the name of Osgas, and firmly believe them to be poisonous; they are, however, harmless creatures.Those found in houses are small; but I have seen others of great size, in crevices of tree trunks in the forest.
Sometimes Geckos are found with forked tails; this results from the budding of a rudimentary tail at the side, from an injury done to the member.A slight rap will cause their tails to snap off; the loss being afterwards partially repaired by a new growth.The tails of lizards seem to be almost useless appendages to these animals.I used often to amuse myself in the suburbs, whilst resting in the verandah of our house during the heat of mid-day, by watching the variegated green, brown, and yellow ground-lizards.They would come nimbly forward, and commence grubbing with their forefeet and snouts around the roots of herbage, searching for insect larvae.On the slightest alarm, they would scamper off, their tails cocked up in the air as they waddled awkwardly away, evidently an incumbrance to them in their flight.
Next to the birds and lizards, the insects of the suburbs of Para deserve a few remarks.The species observed in the weedy and open places, as already remarked, were generally different from those which dwell in the shades of the forest.In the gardens, numbers of fine showy butterflies were seen.There were two swallow-tailed species, similar in colours to the English Papilio Machaon; a white Pieris (P.Monuste), and two or three species of brimstone and orange coloured butterflies, which do not belong, however, to the same genus as our English species.In weedy places a beautiful butterfly, with eye-like spots on its wings was common, the Junonia Lavinia, the only Amazonian species which is at all nearly related to our Vanessas, the Admiral and Peacock Butterflies.One day, we made our first acquaintance with two of the most beautiful productions of nature in this department--namely, the Helicopis Cupido and Endymion.A little beyond our house, one of the narrow green lanes which I have already mentioned diverged from the Monguba avenue, and led, between enclosures overrun with a profusion of creeping plants and glorious flowers, down to a moist hollow, where there was a public well in a picturesque nook, buried in a grove of Mucaja palm trees.On the tree trunks, walls, and palings, grew a great quantity of climbing Pothos plants, with large glossy heart-shaped leaves.These plants were the resort of these two exquisite species, and we captured a great number of specimens.
They are of extremely delicate texture.The wings are cream-coloured, the hind pair have several tail-like appendages, and are spangled beneath as if with silver.Their flight is very slow and feeble; they seek the protected under-surface of the leaves, and in repose close their wings over the back, so as to expose the brilliantly spotted under-surface.
I will pass over the many other orders and families of insects, and proceed at once to the ants.These were in great numbers everywhere, but I will mention here only two kinds.We were amazed at seeing ants an inch and a quarter in length, and stout in proportion, marching in single file through the thickets.
