54 TYRANNIDA. 
numerous in the low-lying heavily forested country north of Coban, and thence north- 
ward in the direction of Peten. Here we obtained several specimens in the early 
months of 1862. It was usually found in the neighbourhood of streams, its note being 
familiar to the Indian hunters, to whom it is known by the name of “ Pilok,” and by 
the Spanish name of “‘ Resplendor.” It is also found in the forests of the Pacific side of 
the cordillera, where our hunters obtained examples at Retalhuleu and at Paraiso, half- 
way to the port of Champerico. 
Mr. Nutting found it both in Nicaragua and in Costa Rica, and gives the following 
note on its occurrence at La Palma in the latter country :— 
“This exquisitely ornamental Flycatcher is abundant in the vicinity of La Palma, 
especially along the watercourses. Indeed, I never saw it away from the water. It 
builds its nest on a branch overhanging a stream, seems to be quite content to remain 
in the vicinity of its home, and is quiet and modest in its manner. 
‘“‘Never having seen this bird before, my surprise and admiration were unbounded 
when I held one in my hand for the first time and saw its wonderfully beautiful fan- 
shaped crest. The bird was only wounded, and the crest was fully spread, while the 
head was slowly moved from side to side, which gave it the appearance of a bright 
flower nodding in the wind. While admiring this new wonder I heard a twitter of 
distress immediately above me, and, looking up, was delighted to see the female perched 
on a twig not more than ten feet above me, with her crest erected and spread, and 
“making the same waving motion of the head. Is it not possible that this bird is pro- 
vided with its remarkable crest for the purpose of attracting its insect-prey, and that 
the slow and regular waving motion is calculated to still further deceive by a simulation 
of a flower nodding in the breeze?” 
Galbraith describes® the nest of this species as placed in very secluded spots, and 
surrounded with a mass of loose straggling material, so that he had no suspicion of its 
being a bird’s nest until he observed the bird enter it; inside of the loose grass &c. is a 
curious hanging structure about three feet in length, large in the centre, and decreasing 
in size towards each end; the entrance is on the side where the diameter is largest and 
where the nest proper is placed, this being very perfect in form; the number of eggs 
was found to be invariably two. These appear small for the size of the bird; the 
ground-colour is dull pale reddish white, marked for half the length with dull reddish 
brown, lighter at the ends, which gives the appearance of a confused broad belt just 
beyond the middle; the smaller end is irregularly spotted and streaked with the same 
dark colour. | . 
CNIPODECTES. 
Cnipodectes, Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1873, p. 281 (type Cyclorhynchus subbrunneus, Scl.); Scl. Cat. 
Birds Brit. Mus. xiv. p. 197. 
A genus of uncertain position having the appearance of a Rhynchocyclus of the larger 
