Mr. Dow in his naturalistic wanderings had acquired a keenness of perception for the detection of danger from premonitory indications that exceeded, from his natural endowments, the sagacity of the veteran trappers of the North American wilds, so that with Aabrawa and his two well trained dogs he had felt himself proof from surprisal. In proof of his cultivated superiority he instructed the members of the corps in the various causes inciting the flight of birds along the banks of the river and over the distant forests, which invariably proved to be correct in inception. The flight of water-fowl disturbed by alligators or other causes, birds by serpents or monkeys, or like inimical foes, he could detect the intruding species with unerring certainty while distant to the utmost reach of the eye. Early in the afternoon a flight of parrots rose over a distant headland, settling again in the same place; this was repeated frequently with upward impetuosity, which with irregularity in rise and descent indicated some vengeful cause. In explanation, Mr. Dow said, “You will find on rounding the headland a settlement of Brazilian apes, of a different species from any you have yet seen, also in the neighborhood a plantation of sugar bananas. These the natives believe the apes plant, as the spot selected is always adapted in a special way to their growth, and in close proximity to a grove of trees suited in spread of limbs for their arboreal habitations. The parrots have likewise a great fondness for the luscious fruit, which is known as the ape banana, and gather in flocks for poaching depredations, in which large numbers lose their lives, for they are no match in quickness of flight for the nimble quadrumanal defenders of the rights of freehold proprietorship, who have acquired considerable skill in the use of projectile weapons. When we reach the plantation you will find them engaged in defending ‘the fruits of their labor,’ unless the unusual appearance of the steamer alarms both parties.”