:::::::::*■ TWO BIRD-LOVERS IN MEXICO B-"""-: 



stream not more than fifty feet in widtli and fretted 

 with the larger boulders of its bed. If we could follow 

 its course, we should find it gathering to itself springs 

 and small streams, swelling in volume until it over- 

 rides the rocks in its way, flowing swiftly and smoothly, 

 ever descending, until the corn-stubble is left behind, 

 over-ripe coffee-berries stain its waters, and low-bend- 

 inff banana leaves are rent and fraved bv the touch 

 of its power. From the uplands tli rough temperate to 

 tro2)ical scenes it flows, until, after its waters have been 

 shadowed for many miles by the great primeval forests 

 of Tepic, it reaches and merges with the Pacific. 



Alonu" the brow of the barrd/ica where we had come 

 out upon it, the mesquite and cactus still held their 

 own, but were overshadowed by a mucli larger growth, 

 — the leafless tree morning-glories, clothed in a blaze 

 of white convolvulus l)lossoms. Swarms of January 

 insects filled tlie air with their humming and attracted 

 many birds. It was liere that we first met with two 

 species of liummingbirds with whicli we were later to 

 become very familiar. One, the Broad-billed Hum- 

 mingbird, was wlioliv iridescent green, save for the 

 throat and tail, whicli were blue. The Blue-crowned 

 Hummingbird was, like the Broad-billed, a rather 

 large species, and verv conspicuous as it swung back 

 and forth among the blossoms. Its cap of intense blue 

 contrasted strongly with its pure white under parts 

 and brownish screen back. Although the effort was 



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