FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB. 269 



mouth slightly opened while the red lower mandible shows con- 

 spicuously and the body is twitched convulsively. Each note is 

 accompanied by one or two vertical vibrations of the tail. 

 Rarely, and apparently when under the influence of some excite- 

 ment, the vibrations are increased ia length, force and rapidity 

 until a maximum of motion is attained. Then there is a second's 

 pause, the tail-feathers are spread to the fullest extent and pointed 

 forward over the back until the tips of the long central feathers 

 nearly touch the back of the head. The effect, as may be 

 imagined, is most striking, the birds suggesting diminutive 

 Turkey-cocks. 



More or less frequently a rival would approach, buzzing 

 loudly, when the calling bird darted recklessly at the trespasser, 

 and the two birds dashed wildly through the forest, one apparently 

 in pursuit of the other, squeaking loudly and uttering an explosive 

 took, tock. This sound can be closely imitated by pressing the 

 tongue against the roof of the mouth and withdrawing it forcibly. 

 Generally the perching bird returned within a minute and 

 resumed its interrupted song. 



It therefore appears that Pyginornis longuemareus and 

 Phaethoruis guyi — and probably also other species of these 

 genera — have regular resorts which they visit for the purpose of 

 singing and that they evidently sing at no other time. The 

 significance of this habit — unique so far as we know — we cannot 

 satisfactorily explain. All the specimens killed at these singing 

 haunts were males. Whether the females are present we 

 cannot say. 



There are few natives of Trinidad who do not know, by name 

 at least, the animal locally termed ' Poor-me one.' This name is 

 given to a small Ant-eater (C)/clothiirus didactylus) which is 

 popularly supposed to utter the notes serving as the origin of the 

 words. Mr. Carr, however, as quoted by Mr. Chapman 1 , defi- 

 nitely proved that Poor-me-one was a species of Goatsucker by 

 shooting the bird in the act of calling, but failing to preserve the 

 specimen, its specific identity could not be determined. 



Only a person who lias heard Poor-me-one calling from the 

 moonlit forest can understand how ardently one longs to identify 

 the caller. Our curiosity was frequently aroused by the hooting 

 of some, to us, unknown species of Owl, or even the cry of some 

 night-bird whose identity was an entire mystery, but the cry of 

 Poor-me-one is possessed of a human quality which appeals to 

 one as strongly as the voice of a fellow-being. Its tone is so 

 sweet and tender, so expressive of hopeless sorrow, that even the 



Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., VI, 1S94, P- 59- 



