:::::::::^s TWO BIRD- LOVERS IN MEXICO B'"-" 



of the leaves — a curious kiud of gall caused by the 

 ovipositor of some insect. 



Certain charming- little birds occasionally flitted 

 close to the camp, never leaving the underbrush. They 

 were active, insect-hunting warblers — grayish above 

 and scarlet below, the bright hue bordered in front by 

 a collar of black across the breast. Sometimes they 

 mounted a twig and sang a brief, silvery song, but 

 a sharp call-note marked their presence, when busy in 

 quest of food. Only when the song was heard might 

 we hope for a good look at their rosy feathers, as at 

 other times they persisted in presenting their dull 

 upper plumage. 



We called them Scarlet Ground Warblers, but Sci- 

 ence demands GranateUus venustust, or at most only 

 unbends enough to permit us to speak of them as the 

 Du Bus Ked-breasted Chat ! Fie on human names ! 

 What poetry or significance does the appellation 

 convey ? What iota of the bird's habits or hint of the 

 daintv song or form or colours is conveyed in those 

 first syllables? 



One very remarkable fruit attracted our attention. 

 Scattered over the tree were many round, green seed- 

 pods. These, when ripe, split open on one side and 

 the slit gradually widened. The seeds within now pro- 

 truded in two rows, bright scarlet at the base with 

 black and white tips. The effect was most startling, 

 for, as we stood below and looked upward, a thousand 

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