PRESERV the page of natural history, it will please me much. But ING BIRDS. should they, unfortunately, tend to cause a wanton expense of life; should they tempt you to shoot the pretty songster warbling near your door, or destroy the mother, as she is sitting on the nest to warm her little ones; or kill the father, as he is bringing a mouthful of food for their support;-oh, then!-deep indeed will be the regret that I ever wrote them. Adieu, CHARLES WATERTON. EXPLANATORY INDEX. A. ACAIARI. This is the resinous gum of the Hayawa, or Hiawa, tree, Icica heptaphylla. It is reddish brown, rather translucent, and brittle. When placed on the fire, or, even better, laid on a piece of iron nearly red-hot, it melts and then forms bubbles, which on breaking throw out puffs of a highly perfumed smoke, very much resembling that of the purest incense. Mr. Waterton gave me a large piece of it, and when describing the manners and customs of Guiana to my guests I have often gratified them with the fragrant smoke of the Acaiari. The natives sometimes burn lumps of it as torches. In his Essays, Waterton frequently gives disconnected pieces of information which are extremely useful when employed as additions to the Wanderings. For example, when treating of the trade winds, he makes the following remarks on the acaiari gum : "In Guiana there is a tree called Hayawa; it produces a deliciously-smelling resin, fit for incense. When the Indians stop on the banks of a river for the night, they are much in the habit of burning this resin for its fine and wholesome scent. It is found in a hard and lumpy state, all down the side of the tree from which it has oozed. It is also seen on the foot of the tree, and incorporated with the sand. A A "When we had taken up our nightly quarters on the bank of the Essequibɔ, many a time we perceived this delightful fragrance of the Hayawa, which came down the bed of the river to the place where we were, in a direction quite opposite to the trade wind. My Indians knew by this that other Indians were encamped for the night on the river side above us." In appearance the Acaiari much resembles the kaurie or cowdie gum of New Zealand, which exudes from a species of pine, and, like the Acaiari, is often found in large lumps imbedded in the sand. It is imported in great quantities, as an excellent varnish is made of it. The Hayawa tree grows plentifully on the Essequ bo in loose sandy soil. The wood is not much used because it decays on exposure to weather, but, on account of its perfume, it is recommended for naturalist's boxes and cabinets. It runs to about fifty feet in height. The gum is sometimes known as Resin of Konima. ACOURI (Dasyprocta accuchi).—This is one of the Cavies, of which there are several species. The teeth, which are used as sights for the blow-gun, are the two incisors of the lower jaw. A lump of "kurumanni" wax is heated and fixed to the tube. The teeth are then laid upon it nearly parallel to each other, with the convex side upwards, and pressed into the wax. When the weapon is brought to this country, the wax becomes brittle, and the teeth are apt to be broken off. In travelling, the only hope of preserving this ingenious backsight, is by wrapping it in a piece of linen, and then covering it with a thick layer of tow or cotton wool. The size of the Acouri is about equal to that of a large rabbit, and its flesh can be eaten, although it is very dry and has scarcely a particle of fat. ACUERO. Sometimes called Aquiro (Astrocaryon aculeatum). A species of palm. The fruit is used in lieu of butter, and the seeds, which are spherical, very hard, and as black as ebony, are cut into table-napkin rings, &c., just like the nut of the vegetable ivory. |