:::::::::*; TWO BIRD -LOVERS IN MEXICO B::::::::: 



all the beauty dashed the Vermilion Flycatchers. No- 

 where else in Mexico did we see them as tame as in 

 this beautiful garden. A male in full plumage seemed 

 to outburn every other scarlet object in Nature. His 

 back, wings, and tail were dark gray, as if the scarlet 

 had really burnt itself out in these portions. His round, 

 full crest and underparts, from bill to tail, were flam- 

 ing brilliant red. There were also numbers of young 

 males, scarlet only to the breast, and females with 

 throats and breasts of cooler, grayish hues. Their 

 favourite perches were the stakes which supported the 

 vines and weaker plants, and thence they dashed 

 groundward for small moths and grasshoppers. No 

 note was heard save when one bird was pursued by 

 another; then the two streaks of crimson gave utter- 

 ance to loud, shrill chirps. 



This beautiful creature must have had some talisman 

 which a'liarded him from the fate which overhang-s 

 brilliantly coloured birds, for he seemed to have no fear 

 of showing his beauty. There was no attempt at skulk- 

 ing or concealment. He selected a bare perch, with his 

 breast turned toward the sun, and now and then Hashed 

 out and back — a spot of brilliance which could not 

 be overlooked. Althouoh we watched lonof and care- 

 fully, we never saw a Vermilion Flycatcher assailed or 

 threatened by shrike or hawk. Sometimes a Ground 

 Squirrel rushed at one in a rage, but the bark of a 

 Ground Squirrel is much worse than its bite, so this 



«4 70 -^ 



