147 
Mr. 0. Salvin’s Quesal-shooting in Vera Paz. 
My bag to-day consists of a Swift (Chcetura vauxi), two speci¬ 
mens of a beautiful Tanager (. Pyranga erythromelcena), and a 
large addition to my collection of ferns. Cipriano and Eilipe 
bring in seven Quesals between them, and one of the guides a 
single specimen of Vireolanius pulchellus , 
March 18.—As my time is limited, I have decided to remain in 
this spot, which seems likely to be productive, as long as I can, 
and then return straight to Coban, All to-day Cipriano and 
Eilipe have been out; I have been chiefly occupied in skinning 
the specimens which resulted from yesterday 5 s excursion. I 
have taken no small amount of pains to secure good examples 
for my own collection, as I wish my Trogon-drawer to look as 
well as possible. To-day Cipriano and I have had a long chase 
after some Parrots, one of which we have at last secured*. It 
cost us many a fruitless shot, as the trees in which we find 
them are of great height, and a bird at the top of one of them 
is almost out of gun-shot. We had just secured this bird 
when a distant noise warned us of approaching heavy rain, and 
we had just time to reach our camp when a thunderstorm came 
on—a real tropical storm. It is astonishing to notice the noise 
rain makes in the forest when striking the leaves of the trees. 
An approaching storm may be heard many minutes before the 
rain comes up. 
March 19.—All last night rain fell in torrents, accompanied 
by thunder and lightning. Rills of water we had stepped across 
yesterday are now small rivers, and the whole night long we 
could hear the crash of falling trees. My companions were 
seriously alarmed lest we should be swept away. I did not 
share their anxiety, as the limits to which watercourses rise are 
easily traced, and I knew that we were safe. The downfall of 
our rancho was a danger much more imminent. To-day we 
have a long journey before us, and I order an early break-up of 
the camp. On the road we shoot several Quesals, and I add 
materially to my collection of ferns. The day is far advanced 
when I find that our guide has missed his way, and knows no 
* This bird proved to be an undescribed species. It now stands as 
Pionus hcematotis, Scl. et Salv., and a drawing of it will be found in the 
second volume of this Journal, plate 15. 
