32zL Cherrie, List of Birds oj Saii yosl', Cos/a Rica. [October 



Young birds differ but slightly from the adults ; in young males the brown 

 band across the chest is but ill defined. The species is found on both 

 coasts and to an altitude of 8000 feet. 



99. Chordeiles texensis. — I have never met with the species mvself. 

 There are, however, two examples in the collection of the MuseoNacional. 

 Both were collected at San Josd by Sr. Don Anastasio Alfaro, the first 

 (a male) Nov. 6, and the second (a female) Nov. 7, 18S8. 



100. Nyctidromus albicollis. — Abundant resident, found from an 

 altitude of about 8000 feet down to both coasts. Known here by the name 

 ' Cuyeo.' 



There are many superstitions, current among the country people, re- 

 garding the Cuyeo. For example, it is a very bad omen to have the 

 Cuyeo cross 3'our path in the evening. And foolish indeed would be he 

 rash enough to shoot at this agent for working untold evil; fortunate 

 might he consider himself did he escape with no greater mishap than the 

 breaking or twisting of his gun ban-el ! Yet in spite of all evils attributed 

 to the bird, if one can be secured its happy posessor is overjoyed with the 

 consciousness of holding the wherewithal to work a charm infallible — to 

 bind, with cords as true as steel, heart the most fickle, change coldest disre- 

 gard into fond caressing. To work this miracle the heart is removed and 

 dried over a slow fire until it may be crushed into a powder. The body of 

 the bird is buried for a time sufficiently long for the soft parts to decay. 

 Then the bones are carefully collected together, washed, dried, tied into a 

 bundle, and carried in the pocket. All is now ready. The object of the 

 lovei-'s fancy is invited to a drink. A little of the powdered heart is secretly 

 sprinkled in the liquor. Once drunk, the fires of love begin to burn ! 



The heart of the Cuyeo, dried, and bones of the Lechusa (Owl), carried 

 in the pocket give one success in love affairs. But the philter that "is 

 absolutelv certain " in its working is composed of a powder made from 

 the dried hearts of the Cuyeo, Lechusa, and Gorrion (Hummingbird). 



loi. Chsetura brunneitorques. — Resident about San Jose, but not 

 common. 



102. Cypseloides niger. — There is a single specimen in the Museo 

 Nacional collection, taken at San Josd by Mr. J. C. Zeledon. There is a 

 note on the back of the label stating that the bird was breeding. 



103. Campylopterus hemileucurus. — Rare visitant about San Jose. 

 Tolerably common at a little lower altitude. 



104. Floricola longirostris. — I took a single specimen Sept. 16, 1S91. 



105. Floricola constanti? — A rather common resident. In the ten ex- 

 amples before me all have the chin blackish and the throat metallic 

 crimson with the feathers tipped with gray. This character, according to 

 Elliot's 'Synopsis,' belongs to /''. leocadite, and not to constanti, the form 

 supposed to be found in Costa Rica. 



106. Trochilus colubris. — Very rare visitant at San Jose. 



107. Lophornis adorabilis. Mr. J. C. Zeledon took a single example 

 at San Jose. The bird is tolerably common in the open prairie country 

 about Boruca in southwest Costa Rica. 



