::::;::::*; TWO BIRD-LOVERS IN MEXICO B:"""- 



stream not more than fifty feet in width and fretted 

 with the larger boulders of its bed. If we could follow 

 its course, we should find it gathering to itself springs 

 and small streams, swelling in volume until it over- 

 rides the rocks in its way, flowing swiftly and smoothly, 

 ever descending, until the corn-stubble is left behind, 

 over-ripe coffee-berries stain its waters, and low-bend- 

 ing banana leaves are rent and frayed by the touch 

 of its power. From the uplands through temperate to 

 tropical scenes it flows, until, after its waters have been 

 shadowed for many miles by the great primeval forests 

 of Tepic, it reaches and merges with the Pacific. 



Along the brow of the barranca where we had come 

 out upon it, the mesquite and cactus still held their 

 own, but were overshadoAved by a much larger growth, 

 — the leafless tree morning-glories, clothed in a blaze 

 of white convolvulus blossoms. Swarms of January 

 insects filled the air with their humming and attracted 

 many birds. It was here that we first met with two 

 species of hummingbirds with which we were later to 

 become very familiar. One, the Broad-billed Hum- 

 mingbird, was wholly iridescent green, save for the 

 throat and tail, which were blue. The Blue-crowned 

 Hummingbird Avas, like the Broad-billed, a rather 

 large species, and very conspicuous as it swung back 

 and forth among the blossoms. Its cap of intense blue 

 contrasted strongly with its pure white under parts 

 and brownish green back. Although the effort was 



*i- 96 ^ 



