Skpt. 14, 1901.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
208 
ROOM 13, LOTS 178 TO l86. 
1() wild dticks, broadliills. 
12 grtmse, sharp-tail. 
Id wild ducks, mallards. 
17 grouse, sharp-tail. 
15 wild ducks, mallards, 
100 grouse, sharp-tail. 
6 wild ducks, mallards. 
IhO quail, Virginia. 
49 grouse, ruffed. 
ROOM 12, LOTS 187 TO 202. 
58 wild birds, golden plover. 
5 wild ducks, pin-tail. 
40 gray squirrels (Sciiirus ciinilliifiisis). 
600 wild birds, sandpipers. 
600 wild birds, sandpipers. 
COO wild birds, English snipe. 
COO wild birds, sandpipers. 
GOO wild birds, sandpipers. 
2IjO quail, Virginia. 
300 wild birds, greater yellowlegs (Tulaiiiis niclaiioIriiciKs-), 
•500 quail Virginia. 
100 grouse, pinnated. 
400 wild birds, golden plover. 
600 wild birds, sandpipers. 
2400 wild birds, English snipe. 
S4 wild ducks, mallards. 
ROOM IT, LOTS 203 TO 2o8. 
144 grouse, ruft'ed. 
1 carcass venison, Virginia deer. 
48 ciuail, Virginia. 
120 quail, Virginia. 
1S00 wild birds, English sniiJc. 
■12(1(1 wild birds, golden plover. 
Notes from Central America. — III. 
This is the tniddle of August, and, here in the central 
part of the Repuhlic of Honduras, invierno — literally 
"winter," but throughout tropical America applied to the 
rain.v season — has now been with us somewhat more than 
two months. During the rainy season the rain falls ahnost 
every day — sometimes only in showers, the, sun shining 
brightly for hours and frequently producing, toward 
evening, beautiful rainbows; while at others it rains most 
of the day and all of the night. The heavier rains are 
generally at night. During the month of August there 
is usually a certain marked interinission in the rains, espe- 
cially along the northern coast. This is the "Canicula," 
or reign of the Dog Star — corresponding tq -the "dog 
days" of North America. 
Relative to the climate and other meteorological data 
of the_ tropics, a wide diversity of statement will be 
found in the accounts given by travelers, and- even in the 
information obtained from inhabitants of quite closely 
connected districts. This apparent discrepancy is quite 
easily explained, in that marked meteorological variations 
occur in comparatively limited districts, and depend prin- 
cipally upon geographical location and topographical 
peculiarities. To illustrate: A person visiting the coast 
of Ecuador or region of the Amazon in Brazil would 
certaiirly be impressed with the tropical heat encountered. 
Init it would be far froin the truth to say that all parts of 
the equatorial zone of South America agree in climate, 
for quite under the Equator, and between the two localities 
just inentioned, we find snow-clad peaks of tlie Andes, 
.upon which one may experience the reality of tropical 
snow storms — thus illustrating variations in climate due 
to variation in altitude. Again, as one recedes from the 
Equator and approaches the Tropic of Cancer or of Capri- 
corn, as the case may be, there is a difference in the time 
of the appearance of the rains^ — due, the meteorologists 
tell u,s — -to variations of atmospheric pressure and local 
influences affecting the trades and other winds. But these 
variations are also observable in approximated localities, 
even in precisely the same latitude — as on the two sides of 
the Andes — evidently because of topographical peculiar- 
ities affecting both atmospheric pressure and the influ- 
ences of winds which sweep o'er neighboring seas and 
plains. So, when one .speaks of climate and of other 
meteorological peculiarities, a general application can- 
not be made to even the same tropical zones — in a word, 
they must be made local. 
Of course, here, as elsewhere, there <1re minor varia- 
tions, in the character of different seasons for the same 
locality, just as in New York one smiimer — as, for ex- 
ample, the present — may be memorable for severe heat, 
and another regularly mild and pleasant. So here the 
rainy season may begin a moiith earlier or later ; may be 
severe, flooding the rivers and deluging the land, or there 
may be only moderate rains throughout its entire session. 
The rains this season began ^quite a month later than 
usual in this section, and so far have put in an appear- 
ance alm.ost every (lay, though of a rather mild character. 
However, some of the hardest rains usually occur here 
after the Cauicula, and there is time yet for disturbing 
iloods and rainfalls. 
■ The climate of the tropics is equable: in the low lands 
regularly warm, at a high elevation regularly cold, and 
at a moderate elevation — say at from 4,000 to 5,000 
feet for this latitude (about 14 degrees) — regularly tem- 
perate. 
So nurch for the weather — a subject, we understand, 
that has been much di.scussed in "temperate" climates 
this season because of the ' severity of the heat. The 
highest point reached by the thermometer here this year 
was 94 degrees Fahrenheit — as shown by an accurate 
recording thermometer — and was touched one day la?£ 
week, about 2 o'clock in the afternoon. By 6 o'clock the 
temperature had fallen to 78 degrees, under the effect of 
a cooling shower. It is rare for the thermometer to go 
above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. .We are 3.500 feel above 
sea level. 
Since writing my last coimnunication to Forest and 
Stream we have had at our Honduras home but two new 
animal pets — one a cute, little, native squirrel, or ardilla, and 
the other a young parrot, or lorito. Not a little has re- 
cently been written in Forest and Stream, by various 
contributors, on the intelligence and economy of the 
squirrebs, and those of us who have read Thoreau's writ- 
ings, as well as the published observations of even 
earlier naturalists, cannot fail to note that, m 
some instances, at least, space might have been 
saved by simply^ referring the reader to these publica- 
tions. So, omitting further discussion on the habits, in- 
telligence and economy of squirrels in general, let mc tell 
you of a ti"ait possessed by this little native of the Central 
American basques, viz.. gentleness — gentleness to a fault. 
Never have I seen quadruped more gentle and trustful 
than this three-quarter-grown squirrel. Of the exact 
species of the particular ardilla, which' is the common 
.squirrel of tropical America, I am not certain. It greatly 
resembles in size and appearance the gray squirrel of 
North America, but the coloring of the adult squirrel 
runs more to black, and while in size the body of the 
animal is somewhat smaller, the tail is longer' and less 
bushy. It is not a rare animal, but, as we say in 
Spanish, "Bicn conocida;" and my ignorance of its specific 
name is simply the result of personal non-identification. 
But passing these technicalities by. this particular 
ardilla was brought to San Juancito as ""supercargo" by a 
native bringing .some cargoes (mule loads) of vegetables 
or fruits to our market. There six reales (equivalent to 
about 33 cents United States currency) was paid for it 
by a denizen of the pueblo, who presented it to the little 
girl of our household. A short cloth string was already 
tied about its neck, by which it could be "anchored" to a 
chair or other place, but the string was hardly considered 
a necessary feature in order to prevent the little animal 
taking French leave, as it was frequently not fast- 
ened to anything but the squirrel, and at other times was 
entirely removed. Like other members of his family, this 
little creature, when not sleeping, was always active-;— 
either with his mouth in eating, or with his nimble legs in 
moving about. As soon as any one apjiroached sufficiently 
near him, he would jump on their arm and run up on the 
shoulder. Then he would play hide-and-seek around the 
neck, poking his nose into one's ears and examining every 
part of the head within reach; then down the arm, and. 
with a soft, clucking sound, quickly back again. He would 
explore the recesses of one's pockets, one's .sleeves and 
sometimes crawl high up the legs inside one's pantaloons. 
Up and down he would run. always contented when occu- 
pied with one of three things — viz., eating, sleeping and 
associating with human beings. His ti.sual sleeping place 
was a large cloth, into which he literally rolled himself 
when darkness came on, but he also enjoyed an occa- 
sional nap, and frequently spent the night snuggled in the 
depths of a knitted woolen slipper. 
We did not really know how greatly we had become 
attached to this little creature until one morning he was 
found dead beside the cloth in which he had gone to 
sleep in the early evening. He had never been inoody. 
never "out of sorts," during the weeks he was with us. 
Nvcr had be attempted to bite — not even when our criada 
(female servant) one day clumsily stepped, with her bare 
foot, on one of his paws. It was undoubtedly both his 
cheerful nature and gentle confidence in everybody that 
made his loss so keenly felt. The cause of his demise is 
obscure, but doubtless he ate too much sugar cane, or 
banana, or something of the sort, during the day preced- 
ing it, 
Of the loriio, or parrot. I have little to say. Fie was 
brought to me from the south coast. His bright, green 
pluiriage was certainly beautiful, but as he wouldn't talk 
— oidy sort of quack— and seemed bent on destroying all 
the n'lorniirg glory and other vines that had been care- 
fully trained about our corridor, I sold hitn to a native 
for two pesos. Perhaps his present owner can get him 
to talk, as the bird is not very old, and they .say that 
practically all the- Honduras and Salvador parrots are 
"talkers." Certainly some that are kept above here are 
verv adept not only at talking, but at laughing and 
whfstling, as well. Dk. J. Houakt Egpekt. 
San Juancito, Honduras, C A. 
How Beardy Miller Lost a Bet. 
Beardy Miller reined in his pony before the abode of 
his friend. Harry Reynolds, and gave a loud halloo, after 
which he swung one leg across the pony's withers, lit his 
pipe and makin,g himself as comfortable as possible. Availed 
for .■somebody to appear. Inaction sat well on this man 
of the plains. Loafing is an art in itself. It is a com- 
plete relaxation of the mind and body — a trance-like, 
quiescent state of immobility bordering on the land of 
dreams. By dint of lotig practice and careful study, com- 
bined with a congenital aversion to bodily exertion, Beardy 
Miller bad acquired this art in all its perfection. It was 
only when necessity urged that he laid aside his ponder- 
ous'ness for the time being and becatne thoroughly alive. 
Presently the owner of the Horizontal Bar ranch ap- 
peared in the doorway in answer to Beardy Miller's sum- 
mons. ' 
"Flello, Beardy!" he called out in greeting. "What's 
up?' Why don't you get down and come in?" 
"Waitin' to see if you all was to home first," Beardy 
made answer. "No use takin' unnecessary steps, you 
know." So saying, he slipped out of the saddle without 
apparent effort, threw the bridle over the pony's head and 
slouched forward to meet his friend. The pony, a buck- 
skin mare, immediately dropped her head and went to 
sleep. This was an accomplishnient that greatly endeared 
her to the heart of her master. 
"Pretty day. ain't it?" Beardy Miller yawned, seating 
hiimself on the doorstep. 
"Fine." 
"Good day for huntin'. if 'twa'n't so much trouble, eh?" 
"Couldn't ask for a better. I was out this morning." 
"Get anything?" 
"Yes, one coyote and a couple of jackrabbits on the 
side." 
Beardy Miller puffed away at his pipe in silence for a 
few moments. 
"To h with coyotes," he at length drawled, in lazy 
tones. 
To Reynolds the remark seemed somewhat irrelevant, 
not to say surprising. He waited for an explanation, but 
manifestly his companion considered a bare statement of 
facts wholly adequate for the occasion; not only that, but 
he took three long puff's at his pipe, and repeated his for- 
mer statement so as to avoid being misunderstood. 
"Why ?" asked Reynolds. 
" 'Cause the only thing they're good for is to wake a 
man up with their infernal yelping at night. They ain't 
worth huntin'. They aitvt got as much nerve as a 'pos 
sum." 
"Ever run one with fast hounds?" 
"Can't say as I have. It don't sound wildly excitin'." 
"You ought to have a hunt behind my dogs some day 
and you would change your tune." 
"So? Don't gamble on that, son. Windy Bill Robin- 
son told me that you had a pretty good pack of — wolf 
hounds, he called 'em." 
"Well, he told you the truth." 
"What they good for?" 
"Oh! wolves or antelope or any old thing, in fact." 
"Ever try a cat with 'em?" 
"Not yet; but I'm going to some of these days. You 
sec, they are all sight dogs, and I doubt if they could 
trail a cat." 
"I Mfouldn't give a cuss for a sight dog. Let's have a 
look at the pack, though. Raised 'em from Old Duke, 
Windy Bill told me?" 
"Yes. they've all got Old Duke's staying qualities, too." 
Reynolds led the way to the kennels. He surmised that 
Beardy Miller's sole object in visiting the Horizontal Bar 
ranclvwas to ascertain the truth or falsity of Windy Bill's 
report. Beardy Miller owned a pack of fox hounds, of 
which he was inordinately proud, and his jealousy was apt 
to become arf)usecl when another man's dog was praised. 
He inspected the staghounds with much interest, and 
listened to his friend's glowing enumeration of their many 
virtues until his patience could brook no tnore. 
"Go.sh a'mighty, Hal," he at last interrupted, "any- 
liody woidd think you had the only pack of hounds in the 
State of Texas. You mustn't forget there's others. There 
ain't many flies on my dogs, for instance." 
"I wasn't saying anything against your dogs," Harry 
assured him. "But yotu" dogs are only fox hounds. 
They're not fighters." 
"They ain't, eh? Well, you admit your dogs never 
tackled a cat." 
"I've got fifty dollars says they would, though," 
"1 doubt it a whole lot. A wildcat's a different proposi- 
tion from a coyote." 
"Did your dogs ever kill one?" 
"Plenty of 'em." Beardy Miller told the lie unblush- 
wgly. 
"1 iiever saw a fox hound with grit enough to tackle a 
cat in a fair fight," Reynolds declared. 
"Well, you've nevdr seen mine, then," Beardy Miller 
retorted. 
"It would be a case of seeing is. believing," Reynolds 
laughed. "When you going on the n^xt hunt? I'd like 
to be along," 
"I'll go to-night, if you say so," Beardy responded. 
"The moon will be full, and I'll show you some sport." 
He was somewhat nettled at his companion's apparent 
lack of faith in his veracity, especially as he was well 
aware that it might be questioned in the present instance, 
and he was therefore correspondingly anxious to justify 
himself. 
"I'll go you," Reynolds readily agreed. "And just to 
make it interesting. I'll bet you a five spot that the hounds 
don't kill any wildcat." ■ 
"Done," said Beardy Miller. "Get your horse, and 
we'll ride over to my place and have :iupper and start out 
when the moon rises.'' 
It took but a few moments to saddle J. C. and in a 
short time the two men were on their way to the B. Dia- 
mond ranch. 
Beardy Miller's pack consisted of five fox hounds. 
There was Music, the best trailer of the pack, but a slow 
runner. Then came Trump and Sounder, both long- 
winded, fast-footed hounds, but inclined to be too reck- 
less when following a trail, occasionally making the mis- 
take of running on their back track. Old Loud could 
make more noise than ally two dogs of the lot. and last 
was Bruiser, the fighter of the pack. Beardy Miller was 
justly proud of his dog. but a fox hound is never much 
of a fighter, and Beardy regretted, when it was too 
late, that he had allowed his pride to get the better of his 
judgment. His dogs had never killed a wildcat, and he 
Itad grave doubts of their ability to do so, but having made 
his boast, nothing remained save to make the attempt. 
The moon was rising over the edge of the plains when 
they set oat for a fork of the Devil's River, where Beardy 
said he never failed to find a wildcat or two. The night 
was very still. The moonlight lay bright all around them 
— so liright that the night seemed turned to day. The 
coyotes began calling to one another in the distance with 
their musical voices. Occasionally a dark form would 
appear on the top of some hillock, sharply silhouetted 
against the skj' for a brief moment, only to vanish like a 
shadow as the hunters came in sight. 
"I'd like to have Old Dttke and some of the pups here 
and I'd show you some fun,'' Reynolds remarked. 
"You'll see it .soon enoirgh as it is." Beardy Miller re- 
plied, and his words had a prophetic ring, had he but 
known it. "The dogs will strike a trail pre<ty soon." 
The hounds were running ahead, with noses close to the 
ground, working in open order like skirmishers of an 
army of soldiers. Trtimp was the fir.'-t to declare him- 
self. His clear voice suddenly pealed forth the bugle 
note, sounding the charge, and Sounder joined in, with his 
deeper tones. Old Loud, who held a position on the ex- 
treme left wing of the skirmish line, was studying the 
landscape and waiting for somebody to do something. He 
never aspired to leadership, and seldom as.sumed the re- 
sponsibility of'announcing the presence of an enemy; but, 
as the voices of the other two hounds broke the stillness 
of the night, he raised his head and made the plains echo 
with his loud baying, and then he closed in and followed 
fast on the heels of his brothers in arms. Music satisfied 
herself that the trail was genuine, then gave tongue, and 
with Bruiser joined in the chase. As the whole pack led 
away under full cry, the coyotes ended their evening con- 
cert abruptly, and hastened to put a safe distance be- 
tween themselves and these rival singers of the night ; and 
every creature of the plains within hearing of the hounds 
paused in alarm, listening to see if the chase were headed 
in their direction. " 
"Come on," cried Beardy Miller. "Music says' it's all 
right, so it's a go." ' 
He dug the spars in his horse's sides and followed fast 
after the hounds. Reynolds spoke a word to J. C. and 
passed his friend with a rush. 
"No use killing you horse," the latter called after him. 
