forty days. If the slothes attacked by another animal, it possesses theiftost
formidable- arms for. its defence in' its strong muscular legs and its long
and sharp claws ; and the hunters take care their dogs do not pursue a sloth,
as they frequently perish in‘the contest; and thus has nature provided for
the safety of the meanest cjeature in appearance, against the attacks of a
nfOst sagacious animal. %
ON THE BIRDS OF SURINAM.
Amongst the birds that live on fruits and seeds, the Paweese is- the most
esteemed in;thé colony; it belongs to the pheasant kind, but is near the
size o f a turkey, and' ofM slender shape ; its head is ornamented with a
curled crest o f feathers, the colour of the bird is black, the* beak and tegs
yellow. The poweese is easily tamed, feeds with the other poultryvahd in
taste is very much like that of a turkey. I
Another species is called the Marray; it is. smaller, and though likewise
o f a black colouf, bks a white crest o f long feathers laying jflat, and
two gills of a red colour, like that o f the game-cock ? the beak and legsare
o f a horn colour. This birdis easy tamed, and. is; very good eating.
The third kind is the nearest in its shape to- an European pheasant,
but more slender, and stands higher on its legs it is of a réddish colour,
with other different shades. This bird is of a very fine flavor.
The Partridge of Surinam, called Anamoe, ishfthe same shape as the European
partridge,"but much larger; it is of a dark brown colojjr on the back,
wings, and top of the head, the under part of which, as also :the breast and
the thighs, aré of a cream colour, intermixed with orange and black leathers,
forming several small transversal bars: the form of thte body is oval; it has
no tail, the neck is long, and the head small, the bill rather short, the point
a little bent, the eyes black, the thighs rather short, the legs of a red
colour, with three small toes on each foot. This bird, it is said, flies very
heavy, - but runs extremely swift, and then hides itself among the bushes,
wherefore it is difficult to be shot; its taste is most excellent.
The Gamy-Gamy bird is in form much like the Anamoe, but its head
is rather larger in proportion, and the bill stronger; the bird is nearly of the
size of a turkey' ;• its colour is black, except on the back, where it is gray,
and. on the breast it has long feathers of a shining bluish green; .the eyes
are black, the bill is of-a horn colour, as are also the legs, on which it stands
very high. This bird is likewise calledat.jSufinam the Trumpeter, as it
makes a Sound which bears some resemblance to that instrument, heard at
a great distance: this the bird performs without opening its bill, in the
manner of a ventriloquists; I had not an opportunity of obtaining a dead
one, to see if the throat is. o f a particular construction. The bird Is frequently
kept by the-colonists, as it becomes remarkably tame, and follows
its master, liking to be caressed by him, and shews a great deaf of attachment
to the human species in general.
There is a wild fowl at Surinam about the size pf an European moor
fowl, to which, it bears a resemblance ; but its neck and legsare rather
longer, and the colour of thé bird is of a brownish black, the bill^and legs
ö f a hqrpicolpur. . Tb$re.. is^gapgtfeer .^pepies ,qf a ^ ^ ü pej size, and a more
slender form, and of a black colour,: .t^heir cries are frequently heard inf
the morning and evening in the woods, which, it is said, the IntlianSj imitate
exactly, and make them by this approach so very near as to shoot them
easily. •
There is a dunghill fowl at Surinam, of which the points^of the feathers
are all turned outside, and have a curled appearance; it is thought by
some inhabitants, that,they were first brought by the Indians from^the
interior parts of Guiana, and therefore are thought to be natural to,South
America; but these fowls seem not to differ from those well known in
Europe with such feathers ; perhaps thejndians got them from the Spaniards
of the adjacent countries.
There are many of th^doyp. specie^ wild .jS u r in a ^ ^ .w h ^ P&ad
opportunities of seeing Eve different kinds.
.The largest is about the s j^ ql-an European large wood pigeon, hut
rather uiore slender * it is of a light graytcplopr, but the feathers on the
neck are shaded with light and dark, brown amJ^eJU^,, somewhat in the
manner of. scales, intermixed, with a bright shining purple ,coloqr,swhilst
others have a tint pf^reen; t,tbe,bills and legs.^re of a. hprn.colour.
■ The second, kind iis- q £ the size of ^turtle dove, of, a reddish browa
" cólour, the eyes black, the bill and legs of,an iron griy. ,
L I