366 BULLETIN 16 2, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



of the single, fat squab that it held. Another similar nest, in much 

 the same kind of a location, held a single fresh egg. 



Three typical nests are described by Sennett (1878) as follows: 



The locality was a grove of large trees, with undergrowth, and clumps of 

 bushes matted with vines. While prying about the thick vines I flushed the 

 bird off its nest, and it alighted in one of the tall trees near by. It took me but 

 a moment or two to examine the nest and shoot the bird. In less than ten min- 

 utes' time I had also its mate. The nest was only eight or nine feet from the 

 ground, and set upon the horizontal branches of a sapling in the midst of the 

 vines. It was composed of sticks, lined with fine stems and grasses, had a de- 

 pression of an inch or more, and was about eight inches in outside diameter by 

 two and one-half inches deep. It contained one egg, with embryo just formed. 

 Dissection of the bird showed that she would have laid no more. 



On May 8th, at Lomita Ranche, a few miles above Hidalgo, in the fine grove of 

 ebonies in the rear of the buildings of the ranche, I found two nests. Both were 

 well up in the trees, one about twenty-five feet and the other about thirty. The 

 nests were situated close to the body of the trees, on large branches, and were 

 composed of sticks and grasses, with an inside depth of about two inches. One 

 contained a single egg, far advanced ; in the other also lay a solitary egg, from 

 which a young chick was just emerging. The parents persisted in staying about, 

 notwithstanding we were making a great disturbance, even shooting into the 

 same trees. Whenever we would go off some distance they would immediately 

 go on their nests and seemed loth to leave them at our return. These were the 

 only ones seen breeding so near habitations. The grove was a common resort 

 for man and beast, besides being the place where wagons, tools, etc., were kept 

 and repaired. 



On May 11th, I obtained my fifth and last nest. I found it in the woods at the 

 fork of two roads, a mile or so from the village, down the river. This nest 

 I had discovered a week or so before, complete, but empty. It was situated 

 about ten feet from the ground, in one of a thick clump of small trees, at the 

 junction of several small branches. It was composed of twigs and rootlets, 

 without grasses, and had a depression of one and one-half inches. The bird was 

 flushed from the nest and shot. Upon examination, the solitary egg showed that 

 incubation had begun, and dissection of the bird proved that no other eggs were 

 developed for laying. 



Again (1879) he says: 



This bird breeds irregularly and lays several times in a season. I found 

 nests during the whole time of my stay, containing eggs and young in all 

 stages of development, but in no case did a nest contain more than one egg or 

 young. The parents are fond and affectionate, and both assist in incubation. 



A. J. Van Rossem has sent me the following notes on its nesting 

 habits in Salvador: 



The breeding season apparently extends throughout the year, for males in 

 breeding condition were taken in January, April, May, July, September, Novem- 

 ber, and December, and females either laying or about to do so in July, Sep- 

 tember, and November. A nest was found at Lake Olomega on April 11, 1926. 

 It consisted of only a few twigs, barely sufficient to keep the egg from rolling 

 about, placed on top of two crossing fronds about 6 feet from the ground. The 

 very sheltered location was the only thing that prevented the haphazard col- 

 lection of twigs from falling to the ground with the first passing breeze. The 



