:::::::::C TWO bird- lovers in MEXICO ;*::::::::: 



lapjjed eagerly at the little pool. From the top of the 

 rock he then took a flying drop and was olt' on his 

 night's hunt. 



The light had now lessened considerably, and, half 

 concealed in a little hollow among the boulders, we 

 were not observed by any of the creatures which passed 

 to the water. Almost at the same minute each evening 

 doves began to drop down and drink — long and 

 thirstily — dove-fashion. Monrning and White-fronted 

 Doves whistled by ns in hundreds, drank and flew on 

 past the tents up the arroyo to some secluded roosting- 

 place. During the day these doves were scattered 

 abundantly all over the surrounding uplands, feeding 

 on berries and fruits. They were fat and tender and 

 formed our staple diet, being always easy to obtain and 

 quickly prepared. 



Shortly after the last bird straggled past, there arose, 

 from some quite indeterminate direction, a low, sooth- 

 ing monotone ; a sound so indefinable, so minor a chord 

 in Nature's harmony that it escaped the ear at first. 

 Soon it became more distinct — a double throb could 

 be distinguished. It seemed to come from a solitary 

 dead tree which was silhouetted against a certain spot 

 over the barranca wall, where the moon would soon 

 rise. " Whip-unll ! lohip-will f wkip-icill ! " we inter- 

 preted it. But the resemblance to the note of our 

 Northern bird of the nio^ht was but slio-ht. Soon a 

 something appeared from the dusk and a patch of black 



«4 216 ^ 



