AN AFTERNOON IN NICARAGUA. ri 
The mosquitoes soon put an end to my pleasure in survey- 
ing the beauty of this secluded spot, and I made my way 
with some difficulty between the wild pineapples, which, 
bearing no edible fruit, add a positive evil to their deficiency 
of good, by pushing in every direction fheir sharp, saw-like, 
and inflexible leaves. 
Reaching an open spot I saw a beautiful bird balancing 
himself on a slender twig, and occasionally uttering a plain- 
tive note, of no great melody, but far from disagreeable, as 
is the case with many tropical birds. His body was a rich 
chestnut brown, and the underside of the tail of a bright 
golden hue. A lucky shot added him to my collection. It 
was the Inca Bird ( Ostenops Montezuma) ; the “Oro-pendula” 
or Golden-tail of the Spaniards. Another moment and a 
flash of fire seemed to pass from one bough to another; my 
gun was brought into requisition again, and I brought down 
a fine male Fire Bird (Ramphoceles passerina), probably one 
of the most beautiful of American birds. The body is of 
the most brilliant scarlet, and the wings and tail jet glossy 
black. Others of our party obtained another species (2. 
icteronata) almost equally beautiful, where the most brilliant 
yellow on the rump and back takes the place of scarlet; 
while still another (FR. sanguinolenta) glories in a dress of 
the richest velvety maroon. 
It was growing rather dark in the dense thicket, and I 
retraced my steps towards the beach. On my way I added 
several other interesting birds (Momoti) to my collection, 
and one, a dark-colored, sad-looking bird, which proved 
the greatest prize of all, being a new species, afterwards 
described by Mr. Lawrence as Spermophila badiiventris. 
Reaching the edge of the wood, I found a small brook be- 
tween me and the sand. The banks being low, were cov- 
ered for several rods on the farther side, with a succulent 
plant of the order Portulacacew, with round leaves about 
half an inch in diameter. I noticed little well-beaten paths, 
about one inch wide, running all through this bed of green, 
