193 THE NATURALIST IN NICARAGUA. [Cli. XI. 



always draw blood. That in the tropics birds should 

 have some special development for the protection of their 

 breeding-places is not to be wondered at when we reflect 

 upon the great number of predatory mammals, monkeys, 

 racoons, opossums, &c., that are constantly searching 

 about for nests and devouring the eggs and young ones. 

 I have already mentioned the great danger they run 

 from the attacks of the immense armies of foraging ants, 

 and the importance of having some means of picking off 

 the pioneers, that they may not return and scent the 

 trail for the advance of the main body, whose numbers 

 would overcome all resistance. 



After examining round the rock without finding any 

 place by which it could be ascended, I rejoined Bito in 

 the valley below, and we continued our journey. We 

 passed over some ranges and wide valleys, where there 

 was much grass and a few scattered huts, but very little 

 cattle ; the country being thinly populated. On the top 

 of a rocky range we stayed at a small house for break- 

 fast, and they made us ready some tortillas. As usual, 

 there seemed to be three or four families all living 

 together, and there were a great number of children. 

 The men were two miles away at a clearing on the edge 

 of the forest, looking after their "milpas," or maize 

 patches. The house, though small, was cleaner and 

 tidier than the others we had seen, and in furniture 

 could boast of a table and a few chairs, which showed 

 we had chanced to fall on the habitation of one of 

 the well-to-do class. The ceiling of the room we were 

 in was made of bamboo-rods, above which maize was 

 stored. The women were good-looking, and appeared to 

 be of nearly pure Spanish descent ; which perhaps 



