::::;"::*; TWO BIRD-LOVERS IN MEXICO M-^^ 



and at last a ferocious snarl ! Its botanical name is 

 Tahernciimontana 'palriierl. 



Band-tailed Pigeons and Red-bellied Ground Squir- 

 rels were very abundant, and our larder never ran low. 

 The White-winged Doves were building their rough 

 platforms of sticks high up in the Mimosa trees, but 

 none were quite finished before we broke camp. 



Ever since we began to observe Mexican Nature, 

 the Caracara Hawks had attracted our attention, but 

 not until now had we seen them so numerous or so 

 tame. They fairly equalled the vultures in numbers 

 and excelled them in audacity. In habits they were 

 vulturine, joining these birds in their feasts of car- 

 rion and refuse. Indeed their almost bare face hints 

 of such habits. They are interesting birds, and odd to 

 very grotesqueness. Psychologically speaking, there 

 is a very distinct line between the vultures and 

 hawks. The latter are iisually stolid and severe in 

 their demeanour, while vultures are endowed with 

 a spirit of rollicking fun and humour which is remark- 

 able. Caracaras share this characteristic, and are 

 the most playful of all birds in captivity. I have 

 seen them frolic with each other in a most unbird-lilie 

 manner, rolling over and over upon the groiind, turn- 

 ing somersaults until every feather seemed to be on 

 end. 



We found them no less amusing in their wild state, 

 and their antics over the bones which we strewed 



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