THE ANDES SOUTHWEST OF POPAYAN 39 



always resorted to the top of a tall tree that towered far 

 above its contemporaries for a short rest; this was rather 

 unusual, as the birds are rarely seen perched, and the na- 

 tives said they never alight during the daytime. Live 

 birds, or specimens freshly killed, have the glistening black 

 back covered with a beautiful grayish "bloom" or powder 

 that gives it a soft, velvety appearance. However, this 

 disappears soon after death. 



A species of pigmy squirrel (Microsciurus) lived in the 

 forest, but we seldom saw any of the little creatures scarcely 

 bigger than one of the larger kinds of mice. I have always 

 found these animals much rarer than the ordinary squir- 

 rels; usually they live in pairs. They seem to prefer for- 

 ests abounding in palms and to feed on the various kinds 

 of palm-fruits and nuts. They frequently evince a great 

 deal of curiosity and can be approached to within a short 

 distance before taking fright and scampering out of sight 

 among the leaves. 



The minute creatures move rapidly and gracefully and 

 make long, daring leaps. In running over the leaves and 

 branches they follow the lateral stems, and on reaching the 

 ends ascend through the tree-top or thick foliage by leap- 

 ing crossways from twig to twig, as if ascending the rungs 

 of a ladder. 



I kept one that was given to me by the natives as a pet 

 for some time. It made its home in the pocket of my flan- 

 nel hunting-shirt, where it was always sure to find a bit of 

 cracker or sugar, and to which it could retreat when fright- 

 ened. Whenever anything of an unusual nature occurred, 

 the bright, inquisitive little eyes always appeared suddenly 

 so as not to miss a single thing that might be of interest. 

 It never attempted to bite or run away, and seemed per- 

 fectly contented with the company of the friends that fed 

 and protected it. 



Eventually we started back toward Popaydn. We crossed 

 the high brush-covered divide July 4; a violent electrical 

 storm had been staged on the wild mountain-top as if in 



