20 January 1972 To Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. About 2 p.m. for Merida on big air-conditioned modern bus. More and more cultivation, but much second growth scrub and low-bush tangle. Arrived in modern bus terminal at Merida about 5 p.m. Many Americans in town, Confused by Cuba being mentioned in both districts (but one way odd, after noon). Ended up at Hotel Margarita, near 61 and 66, 4.50. City crowded, unattractive. Best food rather expensive. 21 January 1972. Saturday. Looked through market, which was large and bustling. Saw no turtles, live wild animals, or birds. Visited zoo - 1 jaguar, 2 jaguarundi, no ocelots or margays. Took crowded but second class bus at 2:30 p.m. for Chichen Itza. Camped about 4/2 mile E. of ruins entrance. Heard many birds in the scrub, some of it thorny. Almost no mosquitoes. Saw large bats before dark. 30 January 1972. Sunday. Many birds called morning - including Oriole, Yucatan Jay (gp. 10+). Saw goshawks, owls, black vultures, barbets (?). Visited ruins. Good birding (and potential bat nesting) in entrance. Afterwards gotten about 3 miles E. Center may be attractive to bats, but little bat sign in ruins. About 1/2 overcast, but dry (one rain shown yesterday afternoon). Swallow in Las Margarita ruin. Swifts (white-throated) seen good. Saw 2' long agouta. Ruins: Snitch Castle, jaguar with green side eyes. A platform with gargoyles heads, some of jay water, S.E. of Bell Court. At edge court, a small jaguar town - 3' long statue at foot, some in bas-relief or some heads at tops. Many other scarcely recognizable jaguar motifs elsewhere. | About 3:00, departed on bus to Valladolid, a bustling but serpentine town. Thence south to Tuxtla, where bus had a flat. This area had many