THE CHACO 381 



The most beautiful of all South American birds' eggs 

 are laid by the tinamou. They are placed in a depression 

 in the ground, usually under a tuft of grass or near a log 

 or stone. Their color varies in the different species, run- 

 ning through turquoise and deep blue, lavender, brown, 

 green, and gold. The shape is rounded or broadly ovate 

 and the shell is very smooth so that it glows like a varnished 

 or highly polished sphere. In spite of the glossy texture 

 of the surface, minute scrutiny wiU reveal the fact that it 

 is pitted like that of the eggs of the rhea to which the tina- 

 mou are closely related. 



We saw a fox occasionally, slinking across a trail and al- 

 ways well out of gun-range. Each morning there were tracks 

 of cats and large cavies in the dusty paths, but mammals 

 were scarce and few came to our traps. 



There were no mosquitoes during the day, and only 

 enough at night to make the use of a net desirable. Sand- 

 flies, however, often appeared in considerable numbers and 

 were troublesome. The climate was intolerably hot during 

 the greater part of our stay. Each day the thermometer 

 rose a few degrees higher until we found even the lightest 

 and scantiest amount of clothing uncomfortable; all through 

 the long afternoons we sat shirtless with streams of per- 

 spiration pouring down our backs, preparing the specimens 

 that spoiled within a few hours unless properly preserved. 

 About every fourth or fifth day the weather broke and a 

 deluge of rain falling throughout the afternoon and night 

 brought with it a lowered temperature and welcome respite 

 from the oppressive heat. 



Our greatest problem was deaUng with the hosts of small 

 red ants that persisted in getting at our specimens. We 

 kept the latter on a table the legs of which stood in tin cans 

 half full of kerosene; but a trailing thread, a piece of paper 

 blown by the wind, or any one of a dozen other trivial things 

 that happened daily furnished bridges over which the in- 

 satiable hordes promptjy swarmed to destroy our hard- 

 gotten trophies. 



