498 
dry season is the better season for 
shooting, because the migratory birds 
are here from the North, and because 
the game has come down from the hills 
to the water-holes and rivers. 
As in many other things, Panama 
can be extreme in its seasons and after 
RECREATION 
try, in each of which we find different 
and clearly marked classes of birds and 
animals. Along the coast and in the 
swamps, on the low meadows and 
among the river mouths are found 
many of the migratory shore and marsh 
birds, such as the curlew, yellowleg, 
SKIN OF A “TIGRE” (JAGUAR), 6 FEET 3 INCHES FROM TIP 
TO TIP, SHOT BY THE AUTHOR 
the torrential rains of the wet season 
are over, the Isthmus becomes almost 
as arid as the proverbial desert, al- 
though retaining its green forest color. 
The smaller streams run entirely dry 
and many of the larger ones are repre- 
sented only by isolated pools; the large 
fivers are very low and all animal life 
must come to water, and that means— 
“to the hunter.” Considered geograph- 
ically and from the standpoint of the 
sportsman, we have rather a sharp divi- 
sion into the lowlands and the hill coun- 

godwit, Wilson’s snipe and teal, with 
now and then a widgeon and “cinna- 
mon” duck. Swans and geese are some- 
times seen, but are rare, while gallinules 
and rails are common. Here the re- 
semblance to our Northern shore birds 
ceases and many species peculiar to the 
tropics or to Central America alone are 
found. The spur-winged jacdna or 
“yellow-wing” is flushed in nearly every 
lagoon or pond and, although he is not 
a fast flier, is prized for the table. The 
newcomer will perhaps see a flock of 
