File:Two bird-lovers in Mexico (1905) (14564929997).jpg

Identifier: twobirdloversinm00beeb (find matches)
Title: Two bird-lovers in Mexico
Year: 1905 (1900s)
Authors: Beebe, William, 1877-1962
Subjects: Natural history -- Mexico Birds -- Mexico
Publisher: London, A. Constable & company, ltd. Boston and New York, Houghton, Mifflin and company
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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Text Appearing Before Image:
o near,one wing had l)ec()ine caught, and instantlv the tinybody had been precipitated upon the mass of prickles,every strui»le holdino- it but the tighter. At the southern jungle-edge of the tangle was a greatfig-tree, all but throttled with a vine, which twinedand knotted its mighty folds about the trunk andbranches, until it was hard to say to which belongedthe leaves, to which the fruit. Large currant-like bei-ries, with a black stone in each one, hung from thetendrils of the vine. The lessening vitality of the an-cient tree had attracted devastating insects, and itsvine-shadowed and strangled twigs were wreathed inthousands of webs and caterpillar nests — a perfectfeast for all l)irds. insectivorous and frugivorous. In this land overflowing with life, we found nowand then evidences of tragedies, which had beenenacted in the deej) silence of the woods — piles offeathers, scattered bones, which told of pursuit andflight, battle, surrender, and death. But we were less «4 808 ^
Text Appearing After Image:
A TRAPPED FAIRY :::::::::C THE HOT LANDS OF THE PACIFIC m::::::::: likely to take note of the struggles to the death, goingon all about us, as the various forms of vegetationfought for space and light. Because the movementsand the tightening of the great liana coils were slowerthan any serpent, no less was death in their grip. Oc-topus-like, they reached upward and dangled theirtendrils over every twig, shutting out with their leavesthe life-oivino; sunlio-ht. These vines seemed of interminable lenj^th and ofincalculable age. In certain places, huge regular coilslay along the ground, like giant hollow screws. Acareful search showed that once these screws embracedsome mighty tree, which, suffocated and killed, hadgiven way and crashed to the ground, carrying with itits destroyer. Soon decay and insects attacked itsfallen trunk and it sank and merged into the mould. The vine, unharmed, had bent pliantly, as its victimfell to earth, and with insatiable fingers reached outfor other prey.

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