118 BRITISH GUYANA BIRDS EGGS. 
They hatch in January, February and March. — Two 
eggs (N°. 27). 
5. Molothrus atronitens Cab. 
Lazy Bird. 
They lay one egg in the nest of other birds, especially 
in the nest of the wren (Troglodytes furvus): frequently 
the egg is found in the nest of the yellow-headed rice bird 
(Xanthosomus icterocephalus) which builds in the open fields. 
The egg — 20 mm. by 17 mm. — is pink white, thickly 
marked with grey; many of the marks have a pink tinge. 
— One egg (N°. 21). 
6. Xanthosomus icterocephalus (L). 
Yellow-headed Rice Bird. 
They make an open nest, in colonies, on the rushes in 
the swamps, or on the stems of growing rice, of pieces 
of the leaves of the sugar-cane or of rice-straw; the nest 
is held up by being built round the stems of three or 
four of these water-plants, near their top. 
They lay three eggs. 
The egg — 22 mm. by 16 mm. — is a light greenish 
blue, marked with black and light grey spots and lines: 
many of the spots end in lines. 
They hatch from February to June. — One egg (N°. 28). 
7. Leistes guianensis (L.). 
Red-breast. 
They build an open nest of grass, on the ground, on 
open fields. 
They lay three eggs. 
The egg — 21 mm. by 16 mm. — is white, thickly 
covered with light violet-red marks. 
They hatch from January to June. — One egg (N°. 30). 
8. Quiscalus lugubris Sw. 
Boat-tailed Gracle. 
The nest is open and very deep, and is built of rushes 
Notes from the Leyden Museum, Vol. XV. 
