AGRICULTURE IN YUCATAN, 55 



towns and haciendas. The Aztec Paroquet was seen 

 in small flocks about the mountains near Ticul. The 

 Groove-billed Ani, or Crotophaga, was everywhere abund- 

 ant. After dark, on the roads, the Parauque was seen 

 frequently. The little Cinnamon Humming-bird was 

 quite common in the suburbs of Ticul. The Least Fly- 

 catcher, Yellow-bellied Green Jay, and Great-tailed Grackle 

 were quite common. The Yucatan Cardinal was one of the 

 most beautiful and conspicuous birds. At Ticul it was com- 

 monly seen about the slopes of the mountains. Among the 

 smaller birds, the following were seen and many captured: 

 White-eyed Vireo, Parula Warbler, Sycamore Warbler, 

 Black-throated Green Warbler, Yucatan Mockingbird, and 

 Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher. Many of these small birds were 

 seen feeding on the berries of the Palmetto trees. 



Gray's Thrush {Merula grayi) was seen about Ticul, 

 but none captured at that place. One was shot by Mr. 

 Stone at Labna. Our visit occurred during the dry season, 

 and was not the best for ornithological purposes. Later in 

 the season, we were told, occurs a migration of birds north- 

 ward, and at that time they are much more numerous, both 

 in species and individuals. 



On the 18th we left Ticul for Merida. The road be- 

 tween Ticul and Merida bordered large tracts of ground, in 

 which henequen and corn were being cultivated. The 

 system of agriculture in Yucatan is rather primative. Be- 

 sides hemp and sugar, the principal products of the country 

 are corn, beans, and calabazas, like our pumpkins and 

 squashes, camotes, like our* potatoes, and chile or pepper, 

 of which last an enormous quantity is consumed, both by 

 native and Spaniard. Indian corn, however, is the great 

 staple, and the cultivation of this probably differs but little 

 from the system followed by the natives before the conquest. 

 In the dry season, generally in the months of January and 



