•„*::;::::^^ THE HOT LANDS OF THE PACIFIC lt3:::j::: 



finches flitted through the underbrush in pairs, search- 

 ing for insects and seeds amono- the leaves or mount- 

 ing to the top of a small bush and giving voice to their 

 joy in a little ditty, the attempt at which Avas most 

 to be admired, for the twittering ended in promise. 

 Their beauty and vivacity evade all description. A 

 photograph would convey nothing of their charm. 

 Try to imagine a little feathered sprite, less than five 

 inches in length, ^Wth a crown of apple-green ; cheeks, 

 back, wings, and tail of turquoise-blue; throat and 

 under parts of clear lemon-yellow ; with a band of 

 delicate orange across the breast ! His mate, who fol- 

 lows him so faithfully and listens to his pitiful song 

 so admiringly, has the greens and yellows in soft- 

 ened, indistinct hues. Altogether they are charming 

 little birds, living in a region where their beauty falls 

 only upon such unappreciative eyes as those of vultures 

 and coons. 



Half-wild cattle now and then roamed through the 

 surrounding jungle, watching us, A^de-eyed, until we 

 were out of sight. Their narrow, winding paths ren- 

 dered accessible the densest and most briary thickets, 

 fortunately for us. 



Each animal was invariably attended by a following 

 of birds, which perched upon its back, or flew close to 

 it through the bush. They were Groove-billed Anis, 

 and they relieved the cattle of the ticks which cause 

 the poor creatures such torment. The Anis also picked 



<i 3il #* - 



