::::::::»x TWO BIRD-LOVERS IN MEXICO B-""""' 



It is strange that this host of famished ones never 

 gets up courage enough to attack living creatures of 

 any size. We once observed a half-hearted attempt 

 upon an Iguana. The vultures often swoop close to 

 these lizards as they lie basking in the sun, but this 

 particular vulture alighted close by and made an ugly 

 rush at the prostrate reptile — hissing and pecking at 

 him, The Iguana did not drop at once, but turned 

 tail, not to run, however, but evidently to bring this 

 member into play, and a single fell swoop of this mus- 

 cular appendage knocked the feet of the vulture from 

 under him and he flew off hissing with disappointment, 

 while the Iguana dived to the bushes below and sought 

 his hole. 



THE POOLS AT EVENING 



The most interestino" time to watch the Maofic Pools 

 was toward late afternoon, when our shadow dial had 

 climbed well up and only the higher parts of the cliff 

 still glowed with the sun's rays. The Iguanas which had 

 been basking high among the branches now clambered 

 down or voluntarily pitched themselves head first into 

 the underbrush. When they are flattened out close to 

 a branch, it is almost impossible to detect them, not 

 only on account of their marvellous likeness to the mot- 

 tled bark, but because of their habit of slowly slipping 

 to one side or the other, keeping the branch always 

 between you and themselves. If we sat quiet and sent 



- «4 214 #* 



