TROGANS. 27 



height. It is very rarely that ants are seen at work on these 

 mounds; the entrances seem to be generally closed; only 

 now and then are the galleries opened. 



The woods in the vicinity of Tunkas abound in various 

 species of cacti, the most abundant form being that of the 

 organ cactus, which grows to a height of from twenty to 

 thirty feet. In one of these groves of cacti I first saw a 

 trogan; it was seated alone on a branch, at no great eleva- 

 tion; a beautiful bird, with glossy back and rose-colored 

 breast. The note of this handsome bird, uttered at inter- 

 vals in a complaining tone, closely resembles the words 

 *'qua, qua." It is a dull, inactive bird, and does not read- 

 ily take to fiight when approached. 



We spent three days in this interesting village, and 

 added largely to our collections. Collecting, preparing our 

 specimens, and making notes kept us well occupied. One 

 day was so much like another that a description of each 

 would be but a repetition. I was much interested one 

 afternoon in the habits of a flock of blue jays; as I ap- 

 proached the flock, they flew across the road in a perfect 

 string, presenting a fine shot. 



The number and beauty of the birds did not equal our 

 expectations. The majority we saw were small and ob- 

 scurely colored; they were similar in general appearance to 

 such as are met with in southern Florida. Occasionally a 

 flock of parrots, green, with a patch of white on the fore- 

 head, would come at early morning to the trees near our 

 hut. They would feed quietly, sometimes chattering in 

 subdued tones, but setting up a harsh scream and flying 

 off, on being disturbed. Humming-birds we did not see at 

 this time, although we afterwards found them in the interior. 

 Vultures we saw only at a distance, sweeping round at a 

 great height over the village. The Mexican Goshawk 

 {Asiurina plagiata), was quite abundant. Flycatchers, 



