A SEARCH FOR SCYTALOPUS 



ig: 



of rope. iVfter a number of days, how- 

 ever, a narrow fissure was discovered 

 leading to one of the ravines from 

 whicli came faint bird calls that we at 

 once recognized with a fair degree of 

 certainty. On account of the high alti- 

 tude and tangled plant life it was slow, 

 tiring work to follow along the bottom 

 of the jagged gash; there was also the 

 unpleasant possibility of breaking 

 through the matted brush and falling 

 into deep crevices among the rocks. 



As we struggled along slowly, high- 

 pitched whistling calls rang clear and 

 loud from numerous points nearby, but 

 still it seemed as if our efforts might 

 be of no avail; for among that chaos 

 of vegetation it was impossible to 

 move without causing great disturb- 

 ance and frightening the birds away. 

 Then there recurred to us the old say- 

 ing about Mahomet and the mountain 

 and we resorted to quiet concealment. 



Presently there was a crisp little 



chirp and a rustle among the mosses 

 a few yards away; one, two, five min- 

 utes passed; then a minute, shadowy 

 form darted out of the darkness, 

 perched on a moss-covered bowlder, 

 and turned a pair of bright, inquisi- 

 tive eyes upon the strange monsters 

 which had invaded its snug retreat. 

 The white throat gleamed conspicu- 

 ously among the deep green surround- 

 ings as the bird paused a moment to 

 complete its inspection; then up went 

 the short, barred tail, straight into the 

 air, and a succession of low, scolding 

 notes emanated from the feathered 

 mite as it hopped about in angry ex- 

 citement. 



We found that the bird existed in 

 numbers ; once we had discovered a way 

 of entering its stronghold, it was pos- 

 sible to make the desired studies. Thus 

 our difficult search, covering so many 

 hundreds of miles, came to a pleasant 

 and successful close. 



Sci/taloinis, thf tiny, w;iry bird in scarcli of wiiicli th(> Soutli Anifrican l-Api'ditiou of tlie Ameri- 

 can Museum traveled many iiundreds of miles. Sci/talopus was finally discovered on the cold, bleak 

 jinrnmo above Tafi del Valle, Argentina. Drawn for the -Tovexal by Mr. Henry Thurston 



