:::::::::C TWO BIRD- LOVERS IN MEXICO B--" 



lapped eagerly at the little pool. From the top of the 

 rock he then took a flying drop and was oli' on his 

 night's hunt. 



The light had now lessened considerably, and, half 

 concealed in a little hollow among the boulders, we 

 were not observed by any of the creatnres which passed 

 to the water. Almost at the same minute eaeli evenino- 

 doves began to droj) down and drink — long and 

 thirstily — dove-fashion. Mourning and White-fronted 

 Doves whistled by us in hundreds, drank and flew on 

 past the tents up the (irroyo to some secluded roosting- 

 place. During the day these doves were scattered 

 abundantly all over the surrounduig uplands, feeding 

 on berries and fruits. They were fat and tender and 

 formed our staple diet, being alwavs easy to obtain and 

 cpiickly ])rej)ared. 



Shortly after the last bird straggled past, there arose. 

 from some (piite indeterminate direction, a low, sooth- 

 ing monotone ; a sound so indefinable, so minora chord 

 in Nature's harmony that it escaped the ear at first. 

 Soon it became more distinct — a double throb could 

 be distinguished. It seemed to come from a solitary 

 dead tree which was silhouetted against a certain spot 

 over the harraucft wall, where the moon would soon 

 rise. " W//l/>-fri// ! (r/iiji-tri// ! tr/tlj)-/rll/ ! " we inter- 

 preted it. But the resemblance to the note of our 

 Northern bird of the night was but slight. Soon a 

 something appeared from the dusk and a patch of black 



4 ••21(3 -^ 



