SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



13 



have been known had they not been seen 

 constantly together, and proved to be so by 

 dissection. They breed in Mexico in June 

 and July ; and the nest is a beautiful spe- 

 cimen of the architectural talent of these 

 birds: it is neatly constructed with cotton, 

 or the down of thistles, to which is fastened 

 on the outside, by some glutinous substance, 

 a white flat lichen resembling ours. 



The female lays two eggs, perfectly white, 

 and large for the size of the bird; and the 

 Indians informed me they were hatched in 

 three weeks by the male and female sitting 

 alternately. When attending their young, 

 they attack any bird indiscriminately that 

 approaches the nest. Their motions, when 

 under the influence of anger or fear, are very 

 violent, and their flight rapid as an arrow ; 

 the eye cannot follow them, but the shrill 

 piercing shriek which they utter on the wing 

 may be heard when the bird is invisible, 



