Viewing page 29 of 75

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

& low scrubby trees characteristic of higher parts of the arid tropical zone in this region and streams were scarce & small. From [[strikethrough]] Teh [/strike-through]] val. of Oax. to Tehuantepec the country is a broad belt of low mountains averaging from 4000-5000 ft with the canons descending to from 2000-3500 & the higher ridges to from 6000-7500 ft here & there.
¶When we crossed the riv. ne Tequisistlan I was surprised to see several small animals in the water rush suddenly across in front of my horse & then dart away for 12 or 15 yds. by a series of jumps on the surface of the water. These seemed to be made by a frog, so high & long were the jumps one after the other, each animal making from 3 to 6 jumps of from 2 to 3 ft each.  A Moment later it turned out that these were a curious species of fish of which I secured a specimen here after some work.   Afterwards I learned that these fish are common in the streams & lagoons of the coast country & are called quatro ojos "4 eyes" by the people. They swim along the surface of the water with their eyes (which stand out on top of head very prominently) projecting just above the surface.  These eyes are clear & refract the light so that they often have an almost diamond-like brilliance. As they swim usually in small schools these staring eyes moving about