of some Guatemalan Birds. 63 



provide oneself with a long light cord with a running noose at 

 the end, and a few wild canes lashed together, so as to make two 

 rods of the required length. At the extremity of one a bush- 

 knife must be tied firmly, so that when the rod is held up with 

 the knife uppermost, it points to the ground, the edge facing 

 the cane at a small angle. By means of the other rod the noose 

 is slipped over the nest a little below the aperture through which 

 the bird passes, and the other end left hanging down. When 

 the bird returns to the nest the string is drawn tight, and 

 nothing remains but to cut the twig by which the nest hangs, 

 with the knife, first twisting the other rod into the top of the 

 nest, so as to lower it gradually when free. The number of 

 eggs laid by one bird is two. There are, however, often eggs of 

 the " Tordito " in the nest. 



10. Cyanocitta melanocyanea. " Charra." San Gero- 

 nimo, April 29, 1860. Bird and several eggs. 



The nest and egg of this species are described in ' The Ibis,' 

 vol. i. p. 21, and the egg figured on pi. 5. 



The nest is invariably found in low thick bushes, about 6 feet 

 from the ground. 



11. PiTANGus DERBiANus. " P echo amarUla." San Gero- 

 nimo, April 10, 1860. Bird, two nests, and several eggs. 



The nest and eggs of this bird are described in ' The Ibis,' 

 vol. i. p. 120, and the egg figured on pi. 5. 



Among the eggs sent, there is considerable variation in size 

 and colouring. Three correspond with the figure ; the rest are 

 much more distinctly spotted, with smaller and darker spots. 



One of the nests I send has two openings j one, however, 

 seems to be the rule : they are usually built at the ends of 

 boughs, at various elevations from the ground, but always ex- 

 ceeding 8 feet. A favourite haunt is the Banana groves, where 

 their nests may be found firmly wedged in among the golden 

 clusters of the Banana fruit. 



12. Tyrannus melancholicus. " Pecho amarilla.'' San 

 Geronimo, May 10, 1860. Hen bird, two nests, and several eggs. 



The nest and egg of this species are also described in * The 

 Ibis,' vol. i. p. 121, and the egg figured on pi. 5. 



The nest of this bird is built upon the tops of low bushes or 



