276 SCANSORES. — CUCULID^. 



them liead foremost, and the stomach being of a 

 roundish form, he conjectures that the lizard must 

 necessarily be coiled in this manner. Mr. Hill 

 had one alive for several weeks; it seized cock- 

 roaches and other insects, when put into its box, 

 and ate fresh meat, if chopped small. 



I know nothing of the nest, except what the 

 following note may afford. A young friend informs 

 me that he once observed a Rainbird carrying 

 "trash" into the hollow or fork of the divergent 

 limbs of a logwood tree. Some little while after, 

 passing that way, he observed a nest-like accumu- 

 lation of similar substances, but as it was beyond 

 reach, he took a long stick to poke it out. In doing 

 so, he pushed out an egg, which was about as long 

 as that of the Tinkling, but not so broad : its colour 

 white with many spots, but he had no distinct re- 

 collection of what hue they were. 



" When pairing," observes Mr. Hill, " the male 

 bird attracts the female by gracefully displaying 

 his plumage. His long graduated tail, which insen- 

 sibly blends tints of di'ab-grey with black, and ter- 

 minates with a border of white, is then seen ex- 

 panded. The short rufous wings are spread out, 

 and the whole plumage, from the sage-grey, hair- 

 like, downy web of the back, to the soft, dull yellow 

 under feathers, are in motion, as the bird endea- 

 vours by playful dalliance to win his mate's atten- 

 tion." 



