The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-08-26
BODY Is OLIVE BROWN.

inciiilihg TO green on the abdomen and I'M
deroaii-coverts, and to emerald green on the
throat. Lessoni motmot measure about fif-
ueeh ihches In length, while the long, spatu-
la-ulled central tail feathers average eight
ana one-haf inches in length in adult spec
linens.
Inc specimen at the Field Columbian
museum, while being good example of
lessons motmot is probably young bird,
ana consequently does not show the trim
ming OF the central pair of tail feathers as it
appears In fully adult birds.
several years ago an pathological friend,
VINO mas had much experience in the study
10 the Central American birds, and who had
examined number of nests of lessoni
motmot-probably the most common and
best known Of the motmots-gave me this
description of the nest of this species:
Inc entrance tunnel extends back horizon
tally oftimes for a distance of six feet. At
aoout half its length there is a sharp bend
upward for some six inches, then the course
Is again horizontal as far as the chamber
occupied by the nest. The nest space is
Twelve or fourteen inches in diameter, being
round, and about six inches high, with a
level floor and ceiling. A few rather coarse
dry twigs are strewn oaver the floor. He al
so says that If one of these nests be opened
at about the time, or a little before the
young are ready to leave their underground
home, 1t is found to be one of the dirtiest,
most foul ceiling places than can well be
imagined. Young birds when they leave
the nest are able to fly pretty well and take
care of themselves. The plumage of the
young resembles that of the adult, being only
a trif1e more lax and fluffy. The bill at this
tlme Is also much shorter than in the adult,
and the cutting edges have no yet acquired
the serrations. Sepia brown eyes of the
young bird change to chestnut with matu-
rity.
Early in May in the year 1889 the writer
was living in San Jose, Costa Rica, and
through the aid of some enthusiastic young
friends secured four live young Lessoni mot
mots. My birds were nearly naked, having
only few pin feathers for covering. But
there. were lusty, strong young fellows and
grew rapidly, so that twelve days later they
were fully feathered, and the tail of one of
the birds measured three and one-half
inches in length. Three days later the imi-
tat1ng notes of the adults commenced; and
the gray of the iris had given place to the
bright chestnut of old birds. With the first
utterances of the notes of the adult birds,
the peculiar jerky motions of the tail be. an.
1t was 4 u
Ia Il VERY AMUSING
to watch the four birds sitting in a row to-
gether, sober as judges, erect and dignified,
holding the body rigidly motionless, yet all
the time giving the tail first a jerk to this
side, then to that, now up and now down;
to see 1t held for the space of a couple of
minutes almost at right angles to the body,
and then go with whisk to the other side,
uttering at regular intervals their peculiar
cooling notes.
Three weeks after secured my pets they
were not only fully feathered, but their tails
had grown to be four and one-quarter inches
long, and each began to think himself a
bird worthy the respect and attention of
his fellows. fed them on raw meats. and
about this time they began to fight vigorous
ly for their shares. If two CHANGED to get
hold of the same piece neither was to let go,
and each would close its eyes and hang on
for dear life both squealing only young
birds know how to squeal. Also about this
time the serrations on the cutting edges of
the bill began to be manifest. And five
weeks from the time the birds were first Sc
cured the tails seemed to have attained their
full length, and the birds began to pick at
the webs on the central pair a short dis
lance from the tips. Two weeks later the
spatula.hke form was complete, the trim
ming process had ended and my birds wer
in full plumage.
The.two specimens of motmot ON. exhibition
in the Field Columbian Museum may be
found in the general collection Of birds in
room 26, section Il, of the wall case.