:::::::::«? TWO BIRD- LOVERS IN MEXICO m=^ 



of the leaves — a curious kiud of gall caused by the 

 ovipositor of some insect. 



Certain charming little birds occasionally flitted 

 close to the camp, never leaving the underbrush. They 

 were active, insect-hunting warblers — grayish above 

 and scarlet below, the bright hue bordered in front by 

 a collar of black across the breast. Sometimes they 

 mounted a twig and sang a brief, silvery song, but 

 a sharp call-note marked their presence, when busy in 

 quest of food. Only when the song was heard might 

 we hope for a good look at their rosy feathers, as at 

 other times they persisted in presenting their dull 

 upper plumage. 



We called them Scarlet Ground Warblers, but Sci- 

 ence demands Granatellus venustiis, or at most only 

 unbends enough to permit us to speak of them as the 

 Du Bus Red-breasted Chat ! Fie on human names ! 

 What jjoetry or significance does the appellation 

 convey? What iota of the bird's habits or hint of the 

 dainty song or form or colours is conveyed in those 

 first syllables ? 



One A^ery remarkable fruit attracted our attention. 

 Scattered over the tree were many round, green seed- 

 pods. These, when ripe, split ojjen on one side and 

 the slit gradually widened. The seeds within now pro- 

 truded in two rows, bright scarlet at the base with 

 black and white tips. The effect was most startling, 

 for, as we stood below and looked upward, a thousand 

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