"""-m TWO BIRD-LOVERS IN MEXICO B:-""-" 



The Raccoons, the Ring-tailed Cats and the Coati 

 Mondis are all expert climbers, and the birds must 

 indeed be careful in selecting their nightly roosts. I 

 noticed that instead of choosing perches near the main 

 branches or trunks of the trees as is usual in the North, 

 they preferred the more slender twigs toward the top, 

 showing less fear of owls than of terrestrial enemies. 

 If near the ground, they chose some dense, thorny 

 tangle, impenetrable to even a hungry coon. 



How perfectly the actions and the general mien of 

 these nocturnal creatures reflect the efl&ciency of their 

 means of defence ! The life of the little mice, the prey 

 of all, is one great fear ; they nibble, wash their fur, 

 scamper about, but ever with large, fearful eyes, ever 

 with feet braced to spring to the protection of their 

 holes. The opossums start at every sound and slink 

 tremblingly away. The Coatis make little show of 

 defence, but, when there is any avenue of escape, flee 

 quickly. The Ring-tailed Cats turn a moment and 

 bare their teeth in a defiant snarl, before taking to flight. 

 The armadillos potter serenely on their way, heeding 

 little to right or left, respectful of others' rights, but 

 calmly confident in their tooth-and-claw-proof armour 

 of scales. The skunk alone dares to herald his pre- 

 sence with floirrishing tail. No haste, no terror marks 

 his gait. He rolls along with an impudently noncha- 

 lant air, daring any to ojjpose his path. " I am Skunk I " 

 reads his demeanour ; " I am small, slow of foot, and 



«4 280 ^ " 



