44 



Mr. Ambrose A. Lane — Field-Notes 



with as little noise as possible (tbough in such dense growth 

 this usually amounts to a good deal, in spite of all precau- 

 tions), and generally got a shot, but invariably had to go 

 very close ; otherwise I could not see them at all, and indeed 

 I seldom saw one openly ; but one gets used to catching a 

 glimpse of them through the bush, and they are easily killed. 

 They appear to feed exclusively on insects, which they search 

 for on the ground, amongst the decayed vegetable matter, 

 scratching a good deal like gallinaceous birds. I was told 

 that they nest in a hole burrowed in the ground, and lay 

 two eggs. 



38. Hylactes megapodius (Kittl.). 



Hylactes megapodius, Sclater, B. M. C. xv. p. 349. 



(Hacienda Mansel.) 



This species appears to be plentiful in Central Chili, 

 amongst the hills. It was fairly numerous on the hills near 

 Hospital, but I do not know exactly how far south it extends. 

 I was told it occurs near Coronel, but did not see it there, 



Tm. 4. 



^A' T/fA/VC£ 



(^ 2 n ^tejf^ — ^ ^-"^ 



Nesting-hole of Hylactes megapodius. 



and fancy that my informant had mistaken H. tarnii for it, as 

 its notes, descending in a chromatic scale, are similar. The 

 notes, when heard for the first time, cannot fail to attract 

 the attention of even the most indifferent observer, making 

 him wonder what sort of creature it can be. Many English- 



