The morning news., 1894-11-11

guarded by a colony of Ormegoes, which
penetrate any kind Of clothing and VIC
iously attack the flesh beneath it, being
known to destroy large numbers OF young
parrots. The sufferings of the poems from
the Mexican ants, in their assent of trees
in search of parrots, is sometimes pitifuL
Their breasts are sometimes covered with
blood; in their agony they fairly tear their
clothing from their bodies and cast them
selves upon the ground, weaping ana
moaning. Often times the effect is to
nauseate them, so terrible is their suffer
ing. According to Jacobs, if their white
masters showed the slightest sympathy
they would refuse to go up again, Tor
under the pitiable condition OF serfdom IN
Mexico, these men are no better than
slaves. compelled to do what they are DID
den, regardless of life or limb. IL Is
fortunate if, when peon is nearly de-
voured by ants, he is within easy reach
of water in which to battle himself and
assuage his agony. AS the parrots always
hatch their young where water Is plenty
it seldom happens that the tortured peon
cannot avail himself of natures palliative
at first hand. This experience is one
which no white man would endure, and
which of itself deters many jungle hunters
from the exciting sport of capturing par
rots. One popularity of these feroclous
forest ants is that myriads of them move
in a solid phalanx from tree TO tree, car
rying a leaf in an upright position at tine
head of the column like a banner, and
resembling in their self conscious progress
a conquering army on march oil IN
vasion
The finest parrot country in Mexico is
about the wooded bottoms of the La Cruz
river, in the province of TaumauEpas, on
the east coast. II is a wild, picturesque
region Of swamps, jungles and savannahs,
here and there interpunctuated with a
solitary hacienda where 300 or 400 poems
are at work; for the country is very fer
tile, despite its savage aspect Here, 5OJ
miles south of Matamoras, the nearest
American settlement is the spot where
your pet parrot probably first opened his
ewes to the light of day, stealing through
the branches of the ebony and coma trees,
amid surroundings that might suggest TO
an imaginary polly the first dawn OF crea-
ton. The forests in this region abound
in all kinds of birds of rich plumage, as
well as ravenous beasts. Parakeets are so
abundant that with the screeching and
cawing of the parrots, 1t is sometimes
impossible to hear ones own voice Hunt
ers however do not trouble themselves
to secure them, as they are not worth car
rving to market. There are some fine
species of macaws-a parrot OF uncom-
monty splendid plumage-that nest in the
sierra Nadre mountains, and can be seen
almost any time winging their way over
the tree tops. As they never learn to ar
ticulate they are not much sought by the
hunters. There is apparently profit only
IA the double yellow head" This bird
retaiIs from $12 to $50, and is surpassed in
popular esteem only by the species which
fanciers denominate the African gray
which is sold at an average price OF S25.
The Mexican bird IS green Gyith colored
head and shoulders. There are two kinds
of Mexican parrots, both of which are
abundant on the La Cruz. but which are
held in far different esteem. Don't buy
green pa riot with a red crown. The MeXi-
can parrot in general favor as a talking
net Is the double yellow head, a yellow
Ton. which, with age, developes into
complete hood, extending completely over
the head: and the better kind have red
epaulettes The difference between this
bird and the African gray is that the
American learns 10 talk earlier than the
bird from the dark continent, but Is sur
passed by the latter In intelligence, while
AZ the same time he Is an expert whistler,
and often learns TO pipe tune. The dif-
ference In gross Is very slight, however,
and in a practical sense the Mexican par
ROT Is a popular biped, and sells two TO
one. as compared with his African COM
petitor.
To avoid the ormeEoes as far 90 possible
and facilitate climbing the MeXicans use
ropes which they cast from one limb TO