:::::::::C TWO BIRD-LOVERS IN MEXICO B'-"-" 



The day on which I found my first Motmot was very 

 Avarm and sultry, and I was glad of the shade of an 

 acacia. A Black-throated Gray and a Pileolated Warbler 

 were fearlessly feeding within a few feet, snatching 

 tiny insects from the blue flowers which covered the 

 tree. 



Every green and gold feather on the body of the little 

 Pileolated was unruffled, and his tiny monk's cap shone 

 in the sunlight like burnished jet. My glance slipped 

 past him, and there sitting motionless was a Motmot. 

 I had often wondered, when I saw mounted specimens 

 in museums, with what special immunity from danger 

 these birds were blessed, their beautiful colouring would 

 seem to be such a startlino- advertisement of the bird's 

 whereabouts. But in reality the very diversity in hue 

 is their protection, and they merge perfectly into their 

 environment of green foliag-e and brio-ht sunlio-ht. 

 Although these birds measure fully a foot from head 

 to tail, yet it is not their size but their voice which 

 usually betrays them. This is a most startling utterance ; 

 several harsh churrs ! followed by three distinct, 

 beautifully liquid notes ; but even when this was heard 

 near at hand, little clew was given as to the bird's 

 whereabouts, for the tones were so loud and had such 

 ventriloquial power that they seemed to come from 

 all directions at once. No sound that I heard them 

 utter could possibly be construed into the syllables 

 motmot. 



-s^ 202 ^ 



