JUNGLE LIFE AT y\REMU. 345 



The quartet showed an interesting sequence of growth 

 there being several days' difference between each onc^ The 

 youngest was clad only in quill-like blood feathers; number 

 two had the scapulars, part of the crown, the l^reast and a 

 half inch of the tail feathers out of the sheath. Number three 

 was pretty well feathered except for face, throat, under 

 wmgs and sides, while number four was to .'all intents and 

 purposes a real Parrot! The way in which the old birds kept 

 hidden was remarkable. 



One day Milady and I started out with only the lay of the 

 land and a comjjass for guide and walked straight toward 

 that unknown region lying to the northwest. A whole 

 chapter could be written of our observations on that single 

 tramp, but I shall keep our notes for a future work on the 

 natural history of this region and add to this already too 

 lengthy account only a few paragraphs. 



We saw many Lavender Jays "■" restless and numerous, 

 yet curious to know what manner of beings we were. Their 

 alarm note Keeeow! accompanied us for a long distance. 

 Later in the morning we spent some time watching a dense 

 line of parasol ants. They were as gay as Fifth Avenue on 

 Easter Sunday, being laden with the purple and white blos- 

 soms of some forest tree. The broad wavering banners 

 interspersed with those insects which bore stamens and 

 pistils lance-like, presented a most humanly comical appear- 

 ance. The tiny creatures are so serious and in such a hurry 

 and yet look so tipsy and political, that one never tires of 

 watching them. 



Black clouds and a high wind overtook us and we walked 

 rapidly on, looking for some sort of shelter. We were lucky 

 enough to discover a huge tree, hollow, even to the centre 

 of the buttresses and this we made our headquarters during 

 the storm. From each of four natural windows we watched 

 the jungle life during the rain. A small patch of the black 



