CAMP LIFE IN THE TROPICS. 17 



acteristic of them. The first bird that greets me on 

 the edge of the ravine is the humming-bird, as he 

 dashes here and there from flower to flower, scatter- 

 ing the dew-drops in tiny showers, and reflecting al- 

 most prismatic hues from breast and back. There are 

 three kinds here in this mountain valley, the smallest 

 of which has a lovely crest of metallic green ; the 

 largest, with a length of five inches, and stretch of 

 wing of seven and a half, has a gorgeous garnet throat, 

 purple back and wings, and tail of green, reflecting 

 most delightful hues. The prevailing hue of the other 

 species is green, with a throat sometimes green, some- 

 times blue. 



I leave the humming-birds to my little chasseurs, 

 who with bird-lime catch for me all I want. Of them 

 more anon ; let us plunge into the ravine. A move- 

 ment in the branches of a tall, slender tree claims at- 

 tention. I look up ; see nothing. The broad, glossy 

 leaves vibrate again, and I discern above the lower 

 branches a bird the size and shape of our brown 

 thrush ; he has a long, stout beak, a yellow eye, and 

 a glossy, brown coat. He hops from twig to twig, 

 feeding upon the coffee-like berries of this strange 

 tree, silent, engaged in the gleaning of his morning 

 meal. But however intent upon securing those white 

 berries, the husks of which he drops almost upon my 

 head, he does not forget to stop every few seconds and 

 shake his wings and jerk his tail in a most comical 

 manner. A hop, a quiver of wings and tail ; a skip, 

 with accompanying shake all over ; a jump, with a 

 convulsive shake, quivering and spasmodic twitching 

 of head, wings, and tail. As I watch this inter- 

 esting bird I am conscious of the presence of an- 

 2 



