240 BIRDS OF THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA — PART 3 



ing an intruder or in feeding into the lower branches. They have 

 been seen near ant swarms, but keep carefully under cover so that 

 usually their presence is known from their chattering calls, as only 

 rarely may one be seen. It is certain that they are now reduced in 

 number in many areas due to forest destruction. 



The first report for Veraguas is that of Salvin (Proc. Zool. Soc. 

 London, 1867, p. 146) of two specimens labeled Santa Fe (on the 

 Pacific slope), collected by Arce. The second record, also by Salvin 

 (idem, 1870, p. 196), lists one from Calovevora on the Caribbean side, 

 beyond Santa Fe, taken also by Arce. Two males and two females in 

 the American Museum of Natural History were collected by Benson 

 at Santa Fe in March and April 1925, at elevations of 550 to 760 

 meters. Another specimen was captured in a mist net on Cerro 

 Campana, November 2, 1966, by G. V. N. Powell. W. M. Perrygo 

 and I collected one on the Ouebrada Carriaso on the south face of 

 Cerro Azul on April 25, 1949. One received from the Biological 

 Survey is from the Rio Bayano, 15 kilometers above the mouth of the 

 Rio Mamoni, taken January 20, 1914, by H. B. Johnson. Eastward 

 these birds are fairly common. In March 1950, at Quebrada Cauchero, 

 on Cerro Chucanti, and at Charco del Toro, on the Rio Maje, we col- 

 lected four females. In Darien the bird was found by Festa in August 

 1895, at the Laguna de Pita on the lower Rio Tuira. On Cerro Sapo 

 specimens were taken in 1922 by Barbour, and in 1941 by the Vander- 

 bilt expedition. We collected or recorded several on the Rio Jaque in 

 April 1947. 



Early records for the Caribbean side include Cascajal, northern 

 Code, February 27, 1889, by Heyde and Lux, and in the Canal Zone, 

 those of McLeannan, with later reports from Goldman, Jewel, and 

 others. Single individuals have been seen from time to time by Willis 

 and Karr near Gamboa. In eastern San Bias the species has been 

 more common, as von Wedel secured several at Puerto Obaldia and 

 Perme ; and I collected one near Armila. 



April 14, 1947, on the upper Rio Jaque, as I followed a hunting 

 trail in heavy forest, one of these birds appeared suddenly on the 

 ground only 3 or 4 meters distant, and ran, scolding with chattering 

 calls, through the heavy undergrowth. I followed it slowly for nearly 

 a quarter of an hour while it called regularly but always remained 

 hidden. Finally, its calls ceased and I returned to the original point 

 to continue along the trail. Then, by chance, as I looked about, the 

 reason for the actions described became evident as in the crown of a 

 low tagua palm I saw a large cup-shaped nest with two beautiful 



