Journey throvgh Colombia and Ecuador. 711 



237. Lathria rusco-ciNEREA (Lafr.). 



One male from Baeza (5500 feet), Eastern Andes. Shot 

 in the clearing. Evidently not numerous there, for we only 

 saw one example during a month^s stay. 



238. Lathria cinerea (Vieill.). 

 Lathria cinerea Sol. Cat. B. xiv. p. 352. 



Two c?s, 2 ? s. One pair was shot at a deserted Indian 

 village on the upper reaches of the Suyano, Bio Napo, and 

 the other pair at a Zaparo village away in the forest some- 

 where opposite the mouth of the Coca. These birds frequent 

 the small clearings around the huts, and I think I never 

 noticed, more than one pair in each clearing and seldom a 

 clearing without a pair. In the early mornings and late 

 evenings they sit on the tops of the bushes uttering their 

 loud but short mournful strain. The notes evidently 

 resemble some words in the Zapara language, for these 

 Indians regard the birds with superstitious awe, and when 

 we shot a pair they plainly showed their annoyance and it 

 caused quite a disturbance. Fortunately we were leaving the 

 neighbourhood the next day. When I started to skin the 

 birds the Indians left the hut, no doubt thinking that some- 

 thing dreadful would happen. 



239. Bupicola peruviana (Lath.). 



Six males were shot on the eastern side of the Eastern Andes 

 a little below Baeza, at an altitude of about 4000 feet, on 

 the trail to Archidona. We met with them singly in the high 

 trees near the banks of the rivers. It is hard to believe that 

 these birds are difficult to detect among the foliage, when one 

 considers their size and the remarkable brilliancy of their 

 plumage, but such is the case. This form is confined solely 

 to the Amazonian side of the Andes, and I imagine it 

 to be rather scarcer than R. sanguinolenta of the Pacific 

 side. Certain tribes of Indians who live on the headwaters 

 of the Napo make excursions to the mountain -forests to 

 shoot these birds, as their skins are in great demand by them 

 for decorating their persons and ornamenting their weapons. 

 They also consider the flesh a delicacy, but we found it 



