146 Mr. O. Salvin's Quesal-shooting in Vera Paz. 



hears from the feathered tribes. Should, however, a troop of 

 Monos {Mycetes palliatus ?) be within hearing, every echo of the 

 forest is awakened with their discordant bellowings, which it is 

 no exaggeration to say may be heard at the distance of a league. 



March 15, — After some delay we start westward again, as, 

 from what we can gather from the Indians, it seems evident 

 that we have reached the limits of the Quesals in this direction, 

 and the country between us and Co ban seems to offer the best 

 prospect of success. The only mishap that overtakes us is the 

 leakage of my large bottle full of reptiles. On examination the 

 cork proves imperfect — a defect easily remedied, had not the 

 Indian who carried it got it into his head that the rum having 

 snakes in it would produce festernig sores wherever it touched 

 him ! After a great deal of arguing on the subject, I induce 

 one of the guides to take charge of the maligned bottle. That 

 night we reach a large 'ermita,' where we sleep, and secure 

 another guide for the next day to conduct us to the district of 

 Rashchay, said to abound with Quesals. 



March 16.^ — On going out I perceive a pair of Ictinia plumbea 

 preparing to build in a pine-tree close to the rancho we have 

 been sleeping in. As there is no chance of procuring the 

 eggs, I secure the birds for my collection. On entering the 

 forest, a fine male Trogon massena falls to Cipriano's gun. This, 

 thi-ee Quesals, and a few other birds, form the day's bag. A 

 rancho half in ruins in a small clearing in the forest gives us 

 shelter to-night. We prop up one corner, which has a deplorable 

 tendency to droop for want of its coi-ner post, and patch up the 

 most open places in the roof with the extra stock of 'suyacales' 

 (mats made of reeds to cover an Indian's pack) we have brought 

 from Lanquin. Filipe's hammock gives way on the first trial 

 and lets him down with a run ; mine seems inclined to remain 

 where it is. 



March 17. — A heavy rain tests our last night's repairs, and 

 it requires no small amount of managing to place ourselves and 

 our baggage out of the drops that fall in many places from the 

 roof. The day clears up at 10 o'clock, and I send Cipriano 

 and Filipe in diflferent directions with a guide apiece to shoot 

 Quesals, whilst I and the third guide search for other things. 



