The Toucan’s Beak DSi 
evidently partial to fruit, was eager after cockroaches and 
other insects; its long bill being useful in picking them out 
of crevices and corners. It used its bill so dexterously that 
it was impossible to put one’s hand near it without being 
struck, and the blow would always draw blood. That in 
the tropics birds should have some special development for 
the protection of their breeding-places is not to be wondered 
at when we reflect upon the great number of predatory 
mammals, monkeys, raccoons, opossums, etc., that are 
constantly searching about for nests and devouring the eggs 
and young ones. I have already mentioned the great danger 
they run from the attacks of the immense armies of foraging 
ants, and the importance of having some means of picking 
off the scouts, that they may not return and scent the trail 
for the advance of the main body, whose numbers would 
overcome all resistance. 
After examining round the rock without finding any place 
by which it could be ascended, I rejoined Rito in the valley 
below, and we continued our journey. We passed over some 
ranges and wide valleys, where there was much grass and a 
few scattered huts, but very little cattle; the country being 
thinly populated. On the top of a rocky range we stayed at 
a small house for breakfast, and they made us ready some 
tortillas. As usual, there seemed to be three or four families 
all living together, and there were a great number of children. 
The men were two miles away at a clearing on the edge of 
the forest, looking after their “ milpas,” or maize patches. 
The house, though small, was cleaner and tidier than the 
others we had seen, and in furniture could boast of a table 
and a few chairs, which showed we had chanced to fall on the 
habitation of one of the well-to-do class. The ceiling of the 
room we were in was made of bamboo-rods, above which 
maize was stored. The women were good-looking, and 
appeared to be of nearly pure Spanish descent; which perhaps 
accounted for the chairs and table, and also for the absence 
of any attempt at gardening around the house—for the 
Indian eschews furniture, but is nearly always a gardener. 
We finished our homely breakfast and set off again, crossing 
some more rocky ranges, and passing several Indian huts 
with orange trees growing around them, and at two o’clock 
in the afternoon reached the small town of Comoapa, where 
