There are various kinds of Andorinhas, or Swallows, distinguished alone by the size or the colour, being more or less black.
The Anum is of the size of a blackbird, the whole of a brilliant and jet black, the tail long and rounded, with only eight feathers. The bill curved, thick at the root, and the upper part pointed. Its song is a kind of sad lamentation; and its flight is short. They always proceed in flocks not very numerous, and never alight upon high trees. It is said that these flocks all lay their eggs in one common nest. It is, however, certain, that if the nest of these birds is found with a great number of eggs, there are numerous compartments, and the various little nests are separated by portions of dried grass. There are other casts of the Anum, of the size of the preceding one, but of an ash-colour, with a slender beak, a little curved, and a tuft or plume of feathers, which it elevates and lowers at pleasure.
The Araponga, or Guiraponga, is of the size of a small pigeon, white as snow, with a beak wide at the root, a portion unfeathered, and of a green colour around the eyes. This bird perches upon the top of the highest trees in the woods, and there passes the principal part of the day in a song, which imitates well a farrier just finishing a horse’s shoe upon the anvil.
Azulao is a species of sparrow, of an indigo-colour, which, after being accustomed to the cage, imitates various other small birds.
Bemtevi, so called by the Europeans in consequence of its articulating with accuracy the words which compose its name, is the size of a lark, with a white circle around the head, a thick and pointed bill, having a yellow belly, and a gold colour above.
Bicudo is a kind of sparrow, either of an agate or gold colour, sings, and has a very short thick bill.
Barbudo is little less than a blackbird, also black, with a large white spot on the back, and a yellow one on the neck, a short tail and legs, a large head, with thick eyebrows, a jet black bill, a little curved and pointed, having whiskers.
Cabeca de Rubim (Head of Ruby) is a species of duck, of a green colour, with a little crimson cap, which it conceals at pleasure, as well as the feathers of its sides. The female has a larger and black cap.
Cabore is the small Spanish owl.
Caiçu, which signifies large head, is of the size of a lark, of a disagreeable aspect, with the wings and tail of a tobacco and the belly of an ash colour, having a white spot upon the neck, the upper part of the body gray and speckled with white, a thick neck and bill, the latter black pointed.