80 
rope hanging to the roof of the house*, which is situated at an ele- 
vation of 13,454 feet above the sea-level. It forms a large compact 
mass of wool and hair mixed with dried moss and feathers of the 
curious shape portrayed in the accompanying woodcut. A little 
cup-shaped opening at the top forms a receptacle for the eggs, and 
is balanced and brought into a horizontal position by the weight of 
the mass on the opposite side of the rope by which it is suspended. 
Mr. Fraser again says, speaking of two specimens obtained on 
Guagua Pichincha in June, “‘ From the mouth of one of these fwo 
birds a quantity of very pale yellow fluid of a slightly sweet taste 
flowed ; but I did not find any in either crop or gizzard. Amongst 
some of those, of the same species, which I skinned the other day, I 
observed the same thing. If my memory serves me correctly, it has 
occurred twice before in other species. 
“I observed three specimens of this bird all of a row, hanging to the 
bare rock, (this now explains the use of those large feet and claws, 
which the species of this group have, and which has hitherto puzzled 
me,) like Sandmartins ; it was under a ledge, well protected from the 
weather, consequently well adapted by nature for nest-building. 
They would fly away and then return; this was done in my sight 
three or four times in succession. On examining the spot, which 
was almost inaccessible, I found much excrement, proving to my 
mind that they bred in societies. My countryman, Col. Stacey, on 
a visit to this mountain, happened to have on a new bright yellow 
oil-skin cover to his wide-awake hat, and one of these birds flew 
round and round it for a considerable time, as he supposes, mistaking 
it for a flower. . 
“No snow on the ground this visit (June 5), and all birds were 
* See ‘Ibis,’ 1859, p. 115. 
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