158 THE NATURALIST IN NICARAGUA. [Ch. IX. 



small clumps of low trees and shrubs on stony hillocks. 

 TTild pigeons were very numerous, and their cooings 

 were incessant. On the rocky spots grew spiny cactuses, 

 with flattened pear-shaped joints and scarlet fruit. I 

 reached the Juigalpa river ahout two miles below the 

 town. Near the crossing it ran between shelving rocky 

 banks, with here and there still reaches and pebbly shores. 

 Shady trees overhung the clear water ; and behind were 

 myrtle-leaved shrubs and grassy openings. The morning 

 was yet young, and the banks were vocal with the 

 noises of birds, that chattered, whistled, chirruped, 

 croaked, cooed, warbled, or made discordant cries. I 

 doubt if any other part of the earth's surface could show 

 a greater variety of the feathered tribe. A large brown 

 bittern stood motionless amongst the stones of a rapid 

 portion of the stream, crouching down with his neck and 

 head drawn back close to his body ; so that he looked 

 like a brown rock himself. Kingfishers flitted up and 

 down, or dashed into the water with a splashing thud. 

 At a sedgy spot were some jacanas stalking about, and, 

 when disturbed, rising, chattering their displeasure, and 

 showing the lemon yellow of the underside of their wings, 

 contrasting with the deep chocolate brown of the rest of 

 their plumage. Parrots flew past in screaming flocks, or 

 alighted on the trees and nestled together in loving 

 couples, changing their screaming to tender chirrups. 

 Numerous brown and yellow fly-catchers sat on small dead 

 branches, and darted off every now and then after 

 passing insects. A couple of beautiful mot-mots 

 (Eumomota superciUaris) made short flights after the 

 larger insects, or sat on the low branches by the river- 

 bank, jerking their curious tails from side to side. 



