Dr. P. L. Sclater on the known Species o/Dacnis. 313 



in colour from the same bird received from Bogota, but are not 

 specifically separable. In the forests of the Peruvian Amazon 

 five species are found, and four of these were also obtained by 

 D'Orbigny in Bolivia, on the upper confluents of the same 

 river. S.E. Brazil possesses only the two widely distributed 

 D. cayana and D. plumbea, and the peculiar D. nigripes. Guiana 

 and Cayenne have the two first-named species, together with 

 D. speciosa and D. melanotis. From Venezuela I have only 

 seen examples of D. plumbea and D. cayana ; but it is probable 

 that D. melanotis, and perhaps D. speciosa, likewise occur there. 

 The following table gives the distribution of the twelve 

 species of Dacnis in a concise foi*m : — 



Concerning the habits, nidification, &c., of the species of 

 Dacnis very little has as yet been recorded. They appear to 

 live in small flocks in the tops of the highest trees in the forests, 

 flitting from branch to branch, and searching for food. Prince 

 Max. of Neuwied describes this, in the case of D. cayana, as 

 being mostly fruit ; but D'Orbigny speaks of the species met 

 with in Bolivia as feeding entirely on insects. 



1. Dacnis cayana. 



Motacilla cayana, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 336 ; Buff. PI. Enl. 669. 

 f . 1 (c?) et 578. f. 1 {s). Motacilla cyanocephala, Gm. Syst. 

 Nat. i. p. 990. Dacnis cyanocephalus, D'Orb. Voy. Ois. p. 221. 

 Fringilla cyanomelas, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 924. Certhia spiza. 



