Nestiny of Cassicus persicus, S^c. 367 



Frankly speaking, I had for a long time the same opinion as 

 to the correct position of Gijmnomystax as is indicated above. 

 But I became somewhat doubtful when I noticed the Stai'ling- 

 or Molothrus-Wke mode of life, and the results of my obser- 

 vations of the last two years as to the breeding of this bird 

 indicate an aberrant and rather isolated position of Gymno- 

 mystax in the Icterine group. 



I have two nests of the "^'Aritana/' both from the island 

 of Marajo. The first is a present from a friend, and was 

 taken in December 1895 on his extensive cattle-settlements; 

 the second I took myself during a recent journey to the same 

 locality, Cabo Magoary, in August and September, 1896. 

 The photograph of the first nest (fig. 1, p. 366) will give a 

 good idea of it. 



These nests are open and porringer-shaped, similar to 

 those of certain Thrushes, and quite different from the bag- 

 nests of Ostinops and Cassicus, so far as I know them, and 

 from other constructions of the Icteriuse that w^e see figured 

 in many ornithological works. The material consists of 

 grass-leaves (whole and longitudinally split), slender roots, 

 and fragments of small climbing plants^. There is no 

 softer lining. 



The second nest, taken by myself at Fazenda Livramento, 

 Avas situated in the fork of a branch and well hidden in the 

 foliage of the crown of a "^^ morcegeira-" tree [Andira sp. inc.), 

 some 8 or 10 m. above the ground. The tree was distant 

 not more than, perhaps, some 30 steps from the central 

 buildings of the above-mentioned fazenda, in the open farm- 

 yard, and in the midst of a considerable and constant crowd of 

 men, horses, and cattle. Nevertheless the '^Aritan^^' is very 

 circumspect in the vicinity of its breeding-tree, and, when it 

 finds itself observed, does not readily approach. Tiie discovery 



* The sleuder roots Avith exquisite nodules, which can be perfectly 

 perceived ou the photograph, and play au important part in this nest, are 

 those of au iuteresting aquatic plant, Mursilia poli/carpa, Hooker etGrev., 

 the nodules being the macro-sporangia. The climbing plant used in both 

 nests is one of the Cucurbitacea;. I am indebted for this information to 

 my colleague, Dr. J. iluber, the Botanist of the Parii Museum. — E. A. G. 



