A history of the Brazil

by James Henderson

Canario (Canary) has the form, and almost the same colour, but not the song of those of the Canary islands. It is the first amongst the small birds that announces the dawn of day.

Cancao is of the size of a blackbird, the belly white, the upper part dark, with a long round tail, and white at the extremity. The fore part of the head, neck, and breast, are of a jet colour. It has a large white spot upon the back part of the head, a small black crest, a small round spot above the eyes, beginning with blue and finishing in white; the iris is yellow, which it extends and compresses, and the beak thick and short. This bird always goes near the ground, and on perceiving any living creature immediately gives a signal. It is the most choleric bird of the country, and a destroyer of the others, eating the eggs and the young ones whilst unfeathered.

Cardial (Cardinal) is a little larger than the linnet, which it resembles. It has a small crimson cap, or hood, which covers a part of the neck, and from which it derived the name: its song is loud and pleasant.

Carrica (Hedge-sparrow) differs from that of Europe only in being a little larger, and less fearful. It makes its nest, with little care, in inhabited houses or the fields.

Chama-Coelho is a little less than the blackbird, with a black head, the lower part yellow, and the upper of a tobacco colour.

Cegonha, or Stork, is common, and similar to that of Europe.

Cazaca de Coiro is of the size of a lark, yellow above, and gray under the belly.

Colhereira, which with justice has the pre-eminence of king amongst birds of the morasses, is the size of a large capon, without a tail, of a rose colour above, the belly white, with long legs, long white neck, the bill also long and thick at the root, square in the middle, wide and flat at the point, like a Spatula.

Colibri, or Humming-bird, and known in the Brazil only by the name of Beija Flor, (Kiss the Flower,) is the smallest bird existing. Mr. Robert has represented it to be as small as a fly, in which he does not appear to be correct, as none so diminutive are seen in this country. Their varieties have been stated at six or seven, but there are a great many more: Padre Cazal has seen ten different kinds. An European would never have supposed that a bird so small as the end of one’s finger could exist, furnished as it is with a bill, feathers, wings, and intestines, similar to the larger kind, and he would be naturally disposed to consider it but a creature of imagination, until he visited its native country, and daily beheld it fluttering like a butterfly at every flower, and humming a gentle chirrup. It has long wings compared with the size of the body. The largest, of the size of a very small wren, are of an indigo colour, with a white spot upon the back. The second species differ only from the first in being smaller and not having a spot, both have a long tail much forked. The third kind and size are gray, and make their nests in inhabited houses, in the form of a little pocket, suspended from the point of a straw. The fourth variety are entirely green. The fifth are the same colour and size, with a white spot upon the breast. The sixth differs only from the preceding in having a very short tail. The seventh is of the same colour and size, with the tail yellow. The eighth is the colour of the nightingale, the breast finely speckled with white. The ninth is of a brilliant green, with the wings and tail dark, the beak short, slender, and yellow. All the others have it long, pointed, very delicate, and straight, with the exception of the gray ones and those of the nightingale colour, who have it a little curved. The tenth kind is dark, or almost black, with a short tail of the colour of fire, the bill black, and of medium length; when turned towards the spectator, the throat and breast exhibit at one instant various colours, according to the movements of the bird, at one time that of Aurora, when most bright, or like gold melted in the crucible, followed, on a sudden, sometimes by a suffusion of green, at others by blue, and by white, without ever losing an inimitable brilliancy. The head, which is black, appears ornamented with a little crest of the same colour when the bird has its side towards the observer, and when it presents the front it appears studded with sparkling rubies, or all of a brilliant scarlet, which insensibly changes to refulgent yellow. They generally have the tongue very long, the legs exceedingly short, and the eyes black; their principal aliment is the juice or honey of flowers, which they extract, not as the bee but in the same manner as the butterfly. Some of them have the tongue cleft.

Ema, or Emu, is the Ostrich of the old world, and is the largest bird of this country; its body is round, and covered with long gray feathers, standing on end; the legs thick and long, with three short and stout toes; two sort of spears are at the joints of the wings, which are not sufficient to fly with, but in the plains it surpasses the horse in swiftness, and is difficult to laço, even when the laçador is mounted upon a fleet horse. It has no tail, and when it elevates its head it is the height of a man. Its feathers are esteemed for plumes, and the skin is used for shoes.