:::::::;»?. TWO BIRD- LOVERS IN MEXICO B-"'-" 



this creature exceeded his fellows in boldness and 

 reckless audacity. There, endeavouring to find an 

 opening in the tent, was the largest skunk I had ever 

 seen. There was little time to consider what was the 

 best thing to do. The head of the animal was already 

 under the tightly pegged canvas. Calling to Ricardo 

 to retreat to the front end of the tent, I emptied both 

 barrels of the shotgun at the bundle of black and 

 white fur, which the moonlight revealed. Good for- 

 tune was with us, and the force of the discharge 

 hurled the dreaded creature down a declivity, and our 

 provision tent and cook were safe. 



We later found that skunks were quite abundant, 

 but none so hungry, or so foolhardy, as this grand- 

 sire of the Jf<'j>hifls. Among its fellow animals the 

 skunk reigns supreme, all giving way before its flaunt- 

 ing, conspicuous tail. As they trot about among the 

 dark fronds and vines, they are exquisite little crea- 

 tures in colour and in actions, but this is truly a case 

 where " distance lends enchantment." 



Several times we heard in the distance the screams 

 of some one of the cat tribe. Just about dark, a few 

 days after making camp, as I was bringing an oUa of 

 water from the spring, a large animal half scrambled, 

 half fell from the top of a sa])ling and scampered away 

 through the underbrush. The thought, " cat ! " was 

 dismissed, when the clumsiness of the creature was 

 apparent, but it was not long before we became better 



<i 278 ^ 



