The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-15
FORETOLD BY THE R R
FEATHERED EARTHQUAKE sHARPs
IN qua FMAL1,

Excitement Among the Birds just Before
the Shock C~ame-Respect Inspired ir
Natives by Their Reputed Dealings with
Sntan-A Forest Duel Between Parrots
You had best not ride the black mule to.
day. Don Carlos" said the old Indian oil the
Guatemnlsn coffee lnca to the young Ameri.
can. The latter was preparing to take n nine
milo ride to the Post Office and return before
the noon breakfast. There is going to be a
bad EARTHQUAKE" the Indian continued. "and
the mule will be frightened to death. Take the
little bay beast instead"
Don't you think / can manage the mulel
I'm not afraid Of her" replied Don Carlos.
ITS not that. Senior. II the quake comes
when the mule Is tied. she will break away for
Nothing will hold her. and l know
there is going to be a big earthquake"
How do you know that, MANUEL Did the
spirit in the Takana volcano inform you or
are you a good guesser on the 'subject2" asked
Don Carlos incredulously. Are you an earth
quake eNpert?"
THE parrots have been making much noise
this morning, Don Carlos. i know there will
be an earthquake and a bigger one than usual.
The parrots always raise such a rumpus when
a heavy one is coming. You will see l am
right. Sehor."
The parrots had been keeping up a terrible
AbNhSN NNNA INV way blCuh lhhb IlO lhk W
much 30 that Don Alexandra. whose English
blood had resented deeply their intrusion on
his plantation without permission, had risen
wrathfully in his pajamas and fired a load Of
shot at the birds nearest the house. This
only had the effect OF driving them to q safer
distance in the tops OF the tall. sentinel-like
trees scattered sparsely among the coffee
plants. From these points OF vantage they
jeered and hooted at.Don Alexandra for an hour
or more In the native parrot language. The
parrots were wild and knew not the speech Of
man-only such profanity as was directed at
their heads on account of their noise and
clamor. They made such a discard, flying
from one tree TO another and telling their
stories In harsh. strident tones. that sleep was
out Of the question. Don Alexandra was
forced to forego his morning nap. He there
fore got under the refreshing shower bath and
notwithstanding cup of coffee. with the
slice of bread accompaniment, which in the
tropics does for breakfast.
Don Alexandra and Don Carlos drank their
coffee and then the younger man ordered the
mule saddled. He took the advice OF Manuel
and rode the steady mule. The parrots must
have had some sort OF n tip after all. Don
Carlos had ridden scarcely two-thirds OF the
nine miles when the earthquake came and
proved to be a big one. 1t was. indeed. much
worse than the imaginary earthquake seemed
to be on the night when the big house dog
sneaked under the lone bed. and, rising. made
the sleeper think the world was coming to an
end. This time the quake was 50 pronounced
that the pools Of muddy water in the road-it
was in the rainy season-were greatly agitated.
The mule spread her legs apart like the sup
ports of a particularly bow-legged dachs-
hund and waited until the thing was over.
The animal swayed and rocked under Don
IL nc &c l. IaI 1--- -
sea. When the uuakinG had ceased. the mule
gave a sigh Of relief, n snort. and proceeded.
All the time the parrots had been flying over
head. shouting out in.their Earring. discordant
tones. Il told you so! l told you SOL"
Don Carlos scratched his head and marvelled.
Il wonder how those birds knew what was
coming he said to himself. They must be
in leag ne with Old Nick"
In Guatemala the parrots have. much the
same reputation among the natives as the blue
JAYS possess among the negroes of the States.
Like the Jaws they are popularity supposed to
have private dealings with Satan. On this ac-
count they are respected to a certain extent.
Though the Indians and country people are
fond of making pets or them they seldom kill
the birds. The most sought after are not the
pure green. but those with yellow or red
marks on the neck and crest. From being
feathered boiler factories in sound when IN
their wild state. they become honey-voiccd
creatures when tanned and educated. They
lisp in the soft melliiuous Spanish tongue.
with the accent of the pure Castilian. They
even shrug what shoulders they have in keen.
"Adios. chico" tgood-hy. little one. it will re-
spond quickly and cheGrful!y with ,Adios.
senior bueno." followed by n string of felici-
ties a yard lonawith. as n fitting ending. a kiss.
WHICH expresses the essence of bliss.
The parrots OF Guatemala are something of
birds of npGg1Up and plnaSnrp In tho nF1v
morning they can be seen flying from the low
lands. where they make their roosti ng places. to
the high ground. They frequent the coffee fin
cas- situated at an elevation OF from 1000 to
1000 feet above sea level. in the day. They
Always cheerful ever restless, they skip from
one to another Of the tall trees. enjoying them
selves py w shIiinh IhGs r{ up ~ n True Ibn po ontot Styie me
They ilnisI! up their business in the highlands
regularly about an hour before the. sun sets.
or Hooks of six or seven. for their r~oosting
places further down. where til warmer at night.
on the wing. but not moving so swiftly. While
In flight they utter their accustomed cries. SO
regular are the parrots in their comings and
by them. If IN Indian Is asked the hour In
the early morning ming ne vii RESPOND; MI.
parrots have not long come" II at noon, or
thereahou.s. he will -ay; 1t must be mid
rest Of the inhabitants Of the country who can
do so. the parrots take u siesta at noon. At
any rate IncN NTb silent. |
1t was the writer's fortune to witness q novel
conflict In the heart OF a Guatemalan forest
between two parrots. 1t was In the afternoon,
and the long wait for a deer. which never came.
by the side of Il mountain stream had been ia
tiguing. 1t was warm in the forest. Or one
side Of the stand a little river rippled over the
stones. Save for the drone always heard in
such IA place, the occasional chirp Of an insect,
the rustle of an animal, probably a peccary, in
the foliage. all was still. The gigantic ferns
and vines matted together ,cfrectually CON
ceRIed the watcher, as he leaned his back
the smooth. white trunk Of n tree,
which ran straight up in the air, without a
limb. for seventy five or eighty feet. The hunt
err had almost fallen asleep. Suddenly. scream
ng shrilly and flercely. two parrots dnrtcd out
from the surrounding foliage, apparently so
intent on their quarrel as to be totally una
ware Of the presence OF n man. Up and down.
around the tree. first one in pursuit then the
they flew. with feathers ruilied and
every evidence OF parrot rage. Several times
they vanished into the dark depths Of the for
their cries growing fainter and fainter.
I hen as quickly they appeared. and the chase
about the white body OF the tree began again.
Apparently with ono accord the two birds
They We're. fine specimens. 10th
males. from their brilliant plumage and their
giyp The deer forgotten. the hunter watched