14 



SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



which sound often led to their destruction by 

 preparing me for their approach. They 

 attack the eyes of the larger birds, and 

 their sharp needle-like bill is a truly for- 

 midable weapon in this kind of warfare. 

 Nothing can exceed their fierceness when 

 one of their own species invades their ter- 

 ritory during the breeding season. Under 

 the influence of jealousy they become perfect 

 furies ; their throats swell, their crests, tails, 

 and wings expand ; they fight in the air (ut- 

 tering a shrill noise) till one falls exhausted 

 to the ground. I witnessed a combat of this 

 kind near Otumba, during a heavy fall of 

 rain, every separate drop of which I sup- 

 posed sufficient to have beaten the puny 

 warriors to the earth. 



In sleeping they frequently suspend them- 

 selves by the feet, with their heads down- 

 wards, in the manner of some parrots. 



These birds were great favourites of the 



