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



The day on which I found my first Motmot was very 

 warm and sultry, and I was glad of the shade of an 

 acacia. A Black-throated Gray and a Pileolated Warbler 

 were fearlessly feeding" within a few feet, snatching 

 tiny insects from the blue tiowers which covered the 

 tree. 



Every green and gold feather on the body of the little 

 Pileolated was unruttted, anil his tiny monk's cap shone 

 in the sunlight like burnished jet. My glance slipped 

 past him, and there sitting motionless was a Motmot. 

 I had often wondered, when I saw mounted specimens 

 in museums, with what special innnunity from danger 

 these birds were blessed, their beautiful colourin«i' would 

 seem to be such a startling advertisement of the bird's 

 whereabouts. But in reality the very diversity in hue 

 is their ])rotection, and they merge perfectlv into their 

 environiui'ut of <j;;reen foliau'e and l)rioht sunliiilit. 

 Although these birds measure fully a foot from head 

 to tail, yet it is not their size but their voice which 

 usually betrays them. Tliis is a most startling utterance ; 

 several harsh churrs ! followed by three distinct, 

 beautifully licpiid notes ; but even when this was heard 

 near at liand, little clew was <»iven as to the bird's 

 whereabouts, for the tones were so loud and had such 

 ventrihxpiial power that they seemed to come from 

 all directions at once. No sound that I heard them 

 utter could possibly be construed into the syllables 

 motinof. 



- -94 202 ^ 



