of some Guatemalan Birds. 67 



no doubt ; I have frequently had described to me such a nest, but 

 never by one who had seen it. — 0. S. 



18. Geococcyx affinis. "Siguamonte" ov^Guardacamino." 

 San Geronimo, April 3, 1860. Bird and four eggs. 



The egg is pure white with a smooth surface ; it measures, 

 axis 1*45 in., diam. 1'05 in. 



This is a very common bird at San Geronimo. It builds its 

 nest in the forks of trees, generally about 12 feet from the 

 ground. The nest is a loose unfinished-looking structure, con- 

 sisting of a few dried twigs lined with stalks of grass. 



19. Centurus SANTACRUZii. *' Carpentero." San Geronimo, 

 June 2, 1860. Bird and four eggs. 



The eggs are pure white, but somewhat stained with spots of 

 foreign matter; they measure, axis 1 in., diam. "75. 



These eggs were taken in one of the high trees w^hich are 

 scattered all over the plain of San Geronimo. They were quite 

 fresh. 



20. PoLYBORUs THARUS. " Quebranta-hueso^ San Gero- 

 nimo, April 2, 1860. Two birds and four eggs. 



The egg, which is well known in North American collections, 

 has a light-red ground colour, but is spotted and blotched all 

 over with several shades of a darker red. It measures, axis 

 2*15 in., diam. 1*6 in. 



One nest which I took was built on the very crown of a high 

 tree in the plain of San Geronimo. It was made of small 

 branches twisted together, and had a slight lining of coarse 

 grass. It was shallow, and formed a mass of considerable size. 

 I had some trouble in getting the eggs : the position of the nest 

 and the thick branchless trunk of the tree were difficulties which 

 the Indian whose services I had engaged pronounced insur- 

 mountable. All my proposed expedients for facilitating his 

 ascent were knocked on the head by that everlasting " Quien 

 sabe. Patron V and it was only on the following conditions that 

 my dusky friend allowed himself to be tied to one end of a 

 lasso, the other end being thrown over the lowest branch and 

 hauled through the air until he got into fair climbing. I was 

 to pay him well if he went up and came down again safely ; but 



r2 



