PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 385 



attacking man, as they are said to do. The natives sever the scent- 

 pouch from the animal as soon as possible after death. Otherwise it is 

 extremely disagreeable both to the taste and smell. 



The " Watousa" {Dasyprocia cristata) is also cpiite common, though 

 very shy and mostly coatined to the thick forests. Its flesh is, in the 

 oi)inion of the writer, the most delicious meat he ever had the pleasure 

 of eating. 



The Tapir {Elasmognathus hairdi) is somewhat rare, and seldom seen, 

 probably on account of its nocturnal habits. 



The Coatimundi {Nasua narica) is abundant, and though eaten by 

 the Indians is not considered eatable by the Spaniards. It somewhat 

 resembles the Eaccoon {Procyon lotor) but is diurnal, as a rule, and is 

 Irecpiently found in quite extensive troops of twenty or more. 



Smaller mammals are numerous, but not having secured specimens, 

 the writer will not venture to identify them. 



Alligators are extremely abundant and constitute a source of con- 

 stant annoyance, and sometimes of danger, to the collector while hunt- 

 ing along the rivers and lagoons of that region. 



The avi-fauna, although strictly tropical, is not so varied as on the 

 eastern coast. 



Perhaps the most characteristic birds of the region are the Parrots 

 {Psittacl). They are so numerous as to constitute a real source of an- 

 noyance to the collector. They are always noisy and apparently always 

 quarreling. Their harsh, discordant cries make such a din that the 

 faint twittering of the smaller birds is entirely drowned, and many 

 rarities are doubtless unobserved by the naturalist who vainly attempts 

 to trace their modest song among the clatter of their gaudy neighbors. 



The Falconidcc are exceedingly numerous and easy to approach. It 

 is by no means unlikely that novelties in this family will yet be re- 

 ported from the Gulf of Nicoya. 



The prevalence of the "zygodactyle" foot is a very marked feature of 

 the birds of this region. 



In concluding my remarks upon this region it may be well to men- 

 tion some of the difficulties to be met by the naturalist, together with a 

 few i^ractical hints as to how they are best surmounted. 



The climate is much more bearable than might be supposed. The 

 heat is never so intense as that which we frequently experience in the 

 United States. Indeed I never found it so oppressive as it is here in 

 Washington as I write. The nights are always comfortably cool and 

 one always finds use for his blanket before morning. 



By far the most favorable time for collecting is during the dry sea- 

 son (October to May). The seasons (the wet and dry) are very distinctly 

 defined, so that the collector may know what kind of weather to expect. 



Ants are very troublesome to the collector. They attack the bills of 

 his specimens and frequently ruin a rare bird in a very few minutes. 

 But there is a sure remedy for this pest in the oil of bitter almonds, 

 Proc. Nat. Mus. No. 82 25 Sept. 5, 1883. 



