8 4 



General Notes. I j " n _ 



Cornwall, New York. When first seen it was on the ground, but on 

 approach flew to a fence near by. On being shot at, it flew with a steady 

 but leisurely flight to a tree, when it allowed an approach within easy 

 gunshot. While on the tree it exhibited no fear, merely turning its head 

 to watch the movements of its capturer. Mr. Howell adds that the speci- 

 men is a beautiful one, highly colored, and having considerable black on 

 the under parts. The following measurements were taken from the 

 mounted specimen : wing, between 18 and 19 inches; tarsus, 2 x \ inches, 

 middle toe, if; tail, 9. These large measurements would indicate it to 

 be a female although the sex was not ascertained by dissection. — William 

 Dutcher, New York City. 



The Nest of Panyptila cayenensis (Gm.). — On Aug. 23, 1892 after an 

 early morning trip in the woods, I had nearly reached the edge of the 

 plantation when my attention was drawn to a mixed company of birds 

 feeding on berries in an immense tree. The tree belonged to a species 

 common in these forests, a giant among its surroundings, the trunk at 

 least five feet in diameter and the first limb over seventy feet from the 

 ground. Numerous vines of various sizes hung down from the limbs 

 like ropes. Near the ground the trunk spread out into long, flattened 

 arms and buttresses, giving it a diameter at the ground of over thirty feet. 

 Among the birds were a flock of Yellow-tails (Ostinopsmontezumce), two 

 species of Toucans {Rci7nfthastos carinatus and Pteroglossns torquatus) 

 and some small Parrots too high up to identify. Wounding a Yellow- 

 tail, I was endeavoring to keep sight of it, when a small bird dashed past 

 and disappeared on the trunk of the tree about seventy feet from the 

 ground. Looking in that direction I noticed a nest, eight or nine inches 

 in length, hanging from the trunk, and so nearly resembling it in color 

 that ordinarily it would have been passed unnoticed. The trunk was per- 

 fectly straight for a distance of seventy feet, at which point there was a 

 division, the portion with the nest leaning very slightly, and the nest was 

 attached to the smooth grayish bark on the under side of the trunk, 

 hanging vertically and at the same time almost against the bark, render- 

 ing it a very inconspicuous object. The nest when first observed was 

 still quivering from movements made by the bird, proving it to be made 

 of some soft, yielding material. The nest almost exactly matched the bark 

 in color; the entrance, at the bottom, was very large, nearly the diameter 

 of the nest, which appeared to be about three inches at the lower end, 

 with a slight bulging near the top. On shooting into the nest there was a 

 struggle inside which shook it considerably, and presently the bird 

 dropped to the ground. It was a Panyptila cayenensis, and on dissection 

 proved to be a raa'e, with the sexual organs only slightly developed. 



Visiting the spot next day with a pair of field glasses, I tried to identify 

 the material composing the nest, but beyond its having the appearance of 

 being stuccoed with some substance resembling the bark in color, I could 

 determine nothing. The bark was quite smooth, and the nest appeared to 

 be glued on; although this was not positively ascertained to be the case. 



