::::::::a:g TWO BIRD-LOVERS IN MEXICO B-— - 



wide-topped scraj) of blue or white paper, taken from 

 some food wrapping, and looking absurdly like a little 

 banner or standard. 



These prickly-skinned ants were seldom eaten by 

 birds, but, as the heat increased toward midday, when 

 flies and wasps appeared, birds quickly gathered. The 

 tiny Western Gnatcatchers were ever twanging their 

 little vocal cords, and they were perhaps the most 

 numerous small birds hereabouts, but up on the higher 

 ground along the harraiica top, Audubon Warblers 

 excelled in numbers. Associating witli the gnatcatchers, 

 though not so numerous, were Yellow-bellied Vireos — 

 a new acquaintance. They have the habits of fly- 

 catching warblers rather than of \areos, and they were 

 constantly about the camp, snapping up tiny flies and 

 gnats, and uttering their sharp chit! chit! The colour- 

 ing of: these birds is rather characterless, being yellow- 

 isl) green above and greenish yellow below, but they 

 are bright, vivacious little creatures. 



Occasionally in the mornings, numbers of tiny gray- 

 ish warblers came slowly down the w^alls of the bar- 

 rajicci, feeding as they descended, taking short flights, 

 and keeping close to the ground among the dense 

 underljrush. These birds lingered at the camj) for a 

 time, and then, Avith soft, low chirps, all passed on to 

 the water, where they alighted on the sand and drank. 

 Then, as if at some silent signal, all flew u^) and re- 

 turned quickly, still keeping close to the ground, zig- 



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