260 



FAUNA. 



Guatemala. There are numerous varieties of the parrot tribe, 

 many of them of the most magnificent description with regard 

 to their colouring, Here, also, the forests are adorned with 

 the gay plumage of the red and blue macaws, as also by a 

 toucan with a yellow tail. It is remarkable not only for its 

 bright colour, but for its curious pendent nests, of which 

 frequently fifty are seen hanging together from the branch of 

 a single tree. Among the birds of prey, the ever-present 



turkey - buzzard and 

 other vultures, hawks, 

 owls, and sea-eagles, 

 are common ; as is the 

 Mexican jay, the ring- 

 bird, the rice - bird, 

 swallow, and numer- 

 ous varieties of hum- 

 ming-birds. Among 

 the water birds are 

 the pelican, the mus- 

 covy, and black duck ; 

 the spoon-bill, plover, 

 curlew, teal, darter ; 

 THE TIGER-CAT, OK OCELOT. whllc herous, ibiscs, 



and cranes, are found in great numbers on the shores of the 

 lagoons and rivers. In the interior of the country the splen- 

 did Honduras turkey, as well as the cm-assow, and several 

 varieties of the wood-pigeon and dove, as also the partridge, 

 quail, and snipe, exist in abundance. 



Of the reptile tribes, alligators of great size are found in 

 nearly all the lagoons and rivers. There is an infinite variety 

 of lizards, — the most noted of which is the iguana, ^^'liich 



