The Birds of British Guiana. 105 



they arc chiefly nocturnal in their habits. They make strange 

 noises; sometimes with a harsh, metallic ring, hence their 

 name. Strangers co the bush are sometimes surprised at dusk 

 by hearing voices calling from all sides in mournful tones. 

 "Who are your" This is the N yctidronuis aibicollis, which 

 is very common in open places. 



Night- Jars frequent the open, laying eggs on the bare 

 ground. There they crouch during the day and will almost 

 allow themselves to be trodden upon before moving off. They 

 do not perch upon trees, but will lie along the branches. Their 

 plumage is soft, and moth-like in colour. Their eggs are 

 mottled with purple. They feed on moths and' beetles which 

 they pursue with open mouths; their gape is enormous and- 

 is generally beset with strong bristles. 



Certain species o'f the genus Chordiles are semi-diurnal 

 and may sometimes be seen chasing their prey with vigour in 

 in broad daylight. There are twenty-three genera and one 

 hundred and forty-nine species. 



The Jay is our solitary example of its kmd and has 

 no affinilies in this colony. Its habits are not known. The 

 European Jay feeds on berries, fruit, young birds, and eggs, 

 and in England has almost been exterminated on account of 

 the depredations it inakes in orchards and pheasant runs. 

 It builds its nest of twigs and roots and therein lays from 

 four to seven eggs of a light green colour closely freckled 

 with olive. Uur Colony Jay has probably similar habits. 

 Of the Crow tribe, there are some forty genera and some two 

 hundred and eighty species, of which about sixty species 

 belong to the New World. 



0\\ Ls (Colonial; . Strigifonnes. 

 Owls— 



Large eared Owl Bubo vii gin.anui. 



Small-eared Owl A>^'(0 rlamator 



fSharp-bighted Owl. /'ii/satnx perspicillata 



Collaied Owl I'lilsaliix tor<iiia\.a. 



Scops Owl Scopi bi asiliana. 



ijcops Roraima Owl ,^ roi uimae . 



^■Tufied Scops Owl ,, atiicapilla. 



Guatemalan Scops Owl. ,. oiuitcinuLac . 



Scops Small-eared Owl ,, asio . 



fHawk-Owl Ciccaba virgata. 



