Buru'õtõre, the swallow, is the fire-rescuing culture-hero of the Xavante fire-theft narrative. When the stolen fire is on the point of falling into the water and going out, the swallow flies swiftly and catches it in the air, then passes it to Mã the rhea to carry to safety. As the boys chase and gather the flying embers they decorate their bodies and are turned into the many birds — jacu, curassow, toucan and others — whose colours and patterns are said to date from that moment.