( - ) 



It would be interesting to examine into a local plague or pest of the potato. The 

 tubers are full of larvae of a beetle while in the ground, and are destroyed by the same 

 insect when stored. A larva of a moth adds to the destruction of the stored potatoes. 

 The beetle did not exist in its perfect state during the month of April. 



The people credit the hail, which falls quite often, with producing the worms, 

 and nothing to the contrary will convince them of their error. 



Petasophora iolata is the most common of humming-birds here, and Oreotro- 

 cliUus stolsmanni, Patagona gigas, Metallura opaca, and Lesbin (near victwiae) 

 are also found. 



Here also I observed 0. stolzmanni invariably sitting on rocks instead of on dry 

 twigs like other humming-birds. 



OTUZCO. 



Two days' travel from Porcon, over several ridges more than 12,000 feet high, one 

 comes to Otuzco. The roads are very bad, and during the rainy season quite imjjas- 

 sable for pack-animals. There is no shelter for the traveller, with the exception of a 

 rock, in the lee of which the night may be passed, though not without some 

 discomfort. 



Otuzco has an elevation of about 9000 feet, and lies on an inclined ledge of 

 sandstone, upon which not a tree or bush grows. 



A few miles down the road towards Truxillo some little vegetation and brushwood 

 can be found. The latter is principally found along gulches and creeks. 



Along the barren hills, where only a few small flowers could be seen, I found the 

 first Thauviastura cora. The male bird generally rests upon some dry limb, and can 

 be seen a long distance away on account of its long whitish tail playing in the wind. 

 It is a known fact that every humming-bird sits head to the wind, and so it is not 

 difficult to go in the proper direction for a shot. 



During the pairing season the male is often seen with the tail spread so that the 

 two longest feathers form nearly a straight line, and thus it flutters before the female, 

 which may be sitting in a small bush. The male also flies, like the Leshiae, high up 

 in the air, and then comes down swiftly, making a noise with the tail like a ribbon in 

 a strong wind. 



I have found the nest and eggs of this species in the latter part of April. The 

 nest is built between small twigs near the top of a bush. 



Sappho caroli is also to be found in this locality. The retiring habit of this bird 

 could be better observed here than in Cajabamba. The birds always sit inside a bush, 

 especially preferring one in or above a ravine. After feeding they always return to 

 their old place of rest. 



Myrtis fanny, Petasophora iolata, and Patagona gigas are the only other 

 hummers in this locality. 



PLATANAR. 



Half a day westerly from Otuzco is the Hacienda Platanar. The elevation of the 

 place is about 4500 feet. 



Nothing but barren rocky mountains surround the narrow strip of cultivated 

 land which lies along both sides of the Tnixillo river. 



Bird life is exceedingly scarce — too far inland for coast birds, and no( high enough 

 for those of the mountains. 



