340 Mr. W. A. Forbes on Eleven Weeks 



in the interior of Pernambuco. Though local, the bird was 

 common where it occurred, flying about in large flocks, like 

 Starlings, in the neighbourhood of sugar-plantations. They 

 were rather wary and not easily approached. The Brazilians 

 called it " Arumara.''' 

 -ff Eyes brown. 



45. Fluvicola climacura. 



This bird is, I consider, the most characteristic of the 

 country of all the species met with during my trip. Save in 

 the thick forest, it may be seen nearly everyAvhere, even in 

 the busiest parts of the town of Recife, close to the sea, and 

 everywhere it is conspicuous alike by its tameness and its 

 sharply contrasted colours. To the structure of a Tyrant- 

 bird it unites the habits of a Wagtail and a good deal of the 

 appearance of a Saxicola. It spends a great part of its time 

 on the ground, running swiftly, like a Wagtail, after the 

 insects which it puts up, and seizing them as they rise from 

 the ground. It is by no means afraid of man, coming up to 

 within a few yards of the houses, and mixing freely with the 

 poultry and dogs of the establishment. Usually it is seen in 

 two or threes, but never, so far as my experience goes, in 

 flocks or larger parties. Frequently two may be seen perched 

 on the top of a wall or house, '^standing up '' to each other, 

 with fluttering wings, spreading tails, and outstretched necks, 

 chattering away vigorously at each other the whole time. It 

 is nearly the only bird that is not shot or eaten by the Bra- 

 zilians. They call it the " Lavendera," or Washerwoman, 

 from a legend of its having formerly performed those func- 

 tions to the Virgin Mary. Hence they hold it almost an 

 act of sacrilege to kill one, and think very much the same of 

 a man who shoots a " Lavendera " as we do in England of 

 one who kills a Robin. In consequence of this immunity 

 from destruction, the Lavendera is, as I have already said, 

 exceedingly tame and familiar everywhere, and even nests 

 close to the houses. One or two nests that I observed were 

 built in low bushes, and composed of a loose fabric of grass- 

 stems, vegetable fibres, &c. Both the birds seemed to take 



