:::::::::^; NEAR THE TWIN VOLCANOS m::::::::: 



Motmots are not shy, but will permit one to approach 

 quite closely before taking a short flight to a neigh- 

 bouring tree or bush. Just before they fly they usually 

 o-ive utterance to a low chuck ! chuck ! — evidently an 

 alarm-note. This was the common sound uttered by 

 my tame bird when I attempted to catch it. What 

 betrays a Motmot more surely than its colours or even 

 its voice is the curious pendulum motion of its tail — 

 from side to side, and, more rarely, up and down. 

 When the bird blends so perfectly with its surround- 

 ings that the eye fails to locate it, the horizontal swing 

 of its tail marks it out. This is not a true pendulum 

 motion, as the tail snaps to the highest point, and is 

 held there for a moment before being jerked to the 

 opposite side. 



Although the feet of the Motmot are weak and 

 adapted only for perching and its usual method of feed- 

 ing is to catch insects upon the wing, yet more than 

 once, while watching these birds, I saw them fly to 

 the ground and scratch awkwardly, picking up food 

 after each disturbance of the leaves. There was still 

 another habit which I should dismiss as an individual 

 freak, except for the fact that it was observed in three 

 diiferent birds. These particular Motmots v;ere not 

 aware of my presence, and after feeding for a time, 

 they flew to an open sunny spot, flung themselves flat 

 upon their backs and, spreading their wings, enjoyed 

 a sun bath. The only other bird which I ever knew thus 



«4 203 ^ 



