ry feathers at the end of bare quills which
were now raised and spread out in the shape of a fringed sunshade.
Round its neck was a tippet formed of glossy steel-blue feathers; and as
we watched it, while it was singing it spread these out, and waved them
in a curious manner, extending at the same time its umbrella-formed
crest, while it bowed its head slightly forward and then raised it
again. I knew at once the curious creature to be the rare umbrella-bird
(_Cephalopterus ornatus_). The bird was continuing its flute-like
performance, when Duppo, advancing slowly and lifting his blow-pipe,
sent forth with unerring aim a tiny dart, which pierced the bird's neck.
Much to my sorrow, the note ceased; but yet the bird stood on its perch
as if scarcely aware of the wound it had received. We all stood
watching it. For nearly a minute it remained as before, till gradually
its head began to drop, and finally it fell to the ground. Duppo ran
forward, and taking a pinch of white substance from a wallet which he
carried at his side, placed it in the bird's mouth, and then carefully
pulling out the arrow, put some into the wound, just as our Napo Indians
had done when they shot our monkey, Nimble. We then went on, he
carrying the apparently lifeless bird carefully in his arms. In a few
minutes it began slowly to lift its head, and then to look about it as a
hen does when carried in the same way. In a short time the bird seemed
to be as well as if it had not received a wound, and began to peck at
the bare arms of our young guide. On this he took from his bag some
small pieces of fibre. On piece he wound round its bill, and another
round its legs, taking great care not to hurt or injure it in any way.

We went on for some distance, our young guide keeping his sharp eyes
roving round in every direction in search of some other bird or animal
on which he might exercise his skill. We were naturally surprised at
the wonderful way in which the bird he had shot had recovered. I could
scarcely believe that the arrow had been tipped with poison, and yet I
could not otherwise account for the manner in which the bird fell to the
ground. I inquired of Duppo, but could not understand his reply. At
last he took out of his bag some of the white stuff we had seen him
apply and put it on his tongue. "Why," exclaimed Arthur, to whom he had
given some to taste, "it is salt!"

Salt it undoubtedly was; and we now first learned that salt is